Thanks again to all of you. This is not from carpal tunnel. I had the surgery on my right hand (same one that hurts now) several years ago and the tendon was released. This is on the ulnar side of my hand and not the medial side. The discomfort is on that side and affects the area on my wrist that would be under the ring and pinky fingers. It makes the meaty part of my palm on that side a little numb, but does not make my fingers feel numb. It comes and goes, depending if I am moving it certain ways. I will ask the doc when I see her if it doesn't go away soon. She may refer me to a hand specialist again.

I go to the chiropractor and he adjusts my carpals and U am go to go for a long time.

I use to do a lot of crocheting.....which is a lot of repetitive motion....Not only my wrist, but also my elbow started to bother me so much that I had to cease......basically, I quit crocheting. After two years, if I pick up my needle to work on a project, it isn't long before my old aches start to occur. The only thing I found to ease my pain was to stop what I was doing.....not what I wanted, but......I think ANY repetitive motion will cause this.

I found a hand exercise that solves my wrist pain. Here's a description, but if I don't explain it well enough let me know and I'll post some pictures.

1. Stand facing a wall, with your palm flat on the wall. You want your thumb pointing towards the ceiling. this stretches the muscles from the elbow all the way to your fingers. You'll feel the stretch, hold it while you slowly count to 10. Repeat this 10 times.

If youve never done this before your palm might not reach the wall. This is a sign that you need to do this exercise regularly. If this is the case, do what you can, every day, and you'll get it limbered up eventually.

'Normal' is when your wrist can be held at 90 degree angle on the wall without pain.


2. Once you reach 'Normal', add one more step to this exercise:

Gently, pull your thumb towards your head. This stretches the area that causes the sharp shooting pain going up the outside of your wrist.

Try to reach the 2nd step, doing this regularly should make it possible to take up crochet again.

I had the same problem after crocheting Barbie Doll clothes for my granddaughter for a year. Every time I picked up a pencil my finger/thumb would go numb. Went to library and got book that showed exercises for carpal tunnel and they helped a lot. But my symptons lasted a year. I can only crochet for a short time now if I hold my hook like you would hold a fork but can go longer if I hold my hook like a knife but it slows me down.

Wow - we've all got lots of problems, hope the solution to yours is easier than surgery - with similar symptoms to most of those who have already posted, my solution was to change my med for osteoporosis from the once a week pill - tried 2 different brands, to now using the daily nose spray - those symptoms in my hands, wrists, arms were all side effects of the meds!

I am not a doctor, but I visit one regularly. I have very similar pain to what you describe and it stems from my neck. There is a nerve that runs from the brain and through the spinal column to the outside of your hand. If you have disc compression problems in your spine it causes pain, tingling and numbness in the ring and pinkie fingers. You think its how you hold your hands, but its actually how you hold your neck.

I have Sjogren's Syndrome which includes a form of arthritis. I would wake up with searing pain in my hand and lower arm. I started wearing a brace at night and it really helped to reduce problems with my hand. I found a really good one at Wal-Mart for around $13. It can be used on either hand. It looks like it would be bulky and uncomfortable, but it really isn't. It doesn't bother my sleep at all. It has gel packs in it so the temperate of your hand stays stable which helps arthritis suffers, if your problem turns out to be arthritic.
Kay

I agree with Suze9395 and PastorPatti, see a chiropractor. When you call for an appointment, ask if he/she can do extremities. Some will only do the neck, back and breastbone and will often do the same adjustment regardless of your painful area. It is non-invasive and would be my first choice before pills and cutting.

I had trouble/pain in my jaw/ear (and chewing) and was told it was TMJ and would require surgery. My chiro put on a finger cot and adjusted my jaw, obviously with my mouth hanging wide open. Did he fix it, yes. He is my first choice of defense.

Recently, I was experiencing pain under my left rib cage. They medicals thought it was a kidney or spleen. My chiro said (over the phone) it was a floating rib, adjusted it myself and the pain is gone.

Guess I am just shy of the "pill pushers" and "cutters". Try alternative first. A good chiro will back out when he/she cannot help you.

Suz