I can hardly hold anything in my left hand due to weakness and pain in my wrist!!

by Maria arteaga
(Hayward, California )

Hello..well first of all I should start with saying that my name is Maria and I am 21 years old..


I just had a baby 2 and a half months ago.

About a month before giving birth (approximately July) I started to develop some pain in my left arm..the part right above my Wrist. As time went by the pain got worse and started traveling down to my wrist and thumb.

It hurts so bad I can't even do my daily activities.

I ended up going to the emergency room about 3weeks ago due to the fact that I woke up with the same horrible pain in my wrist but this time the bone in my thumb was popping back and forth a few times.


So after waiting 4 long hours in the E.R. the doctor then decide to give me a splint and diagnosed me with tendinitis. The ibuprofen he gave me did nothing for me. I then proceeded on to seeing another doctor. She diagnosed me with tendinitis as well.

I should mention that neither doctors performed an xray on me to rule anything else Out. So 4 months later I still have this horrendous pain and nothing seems to help. I go back to work December 2nd and would love to have some improvement by then because I work in a fast paced restaurant.

Also I must mention that I can't hold a lot of things with my hand such as a plate or my phone.

Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you soon!



----



Joshua Answers:

Hello Maria.

Congrats on the new baby.

Bummer on the wrist tendonitis and pain.

Question is, is it really Tendonitis?

I doubt it, but maybe.

See: What
Is Tendonitis?

I have a lot to say, but answer these questions first just to make sure my first impression is correct.


QUESTIONS:

1. What have you historically done with your hands? Have you had a hand intensive job? Sports?

2. Did the pain come on fast or slow? Did you do anything that started it?

3. What did the doctors do that had them diagnose you with Tendonitis?

4. Are you the stereotypical 21 year old, as far as exercise and diet? (Meaning, no exercise and crappy but normal american diet?)

5. Overall health?

6. Where do you fall in the weight range? Asking this both for nutritional clues and posture clues.

7. How was the pregnancy, other than the onset of arm/wrist pain?

8. Please describe symptoms in more detail. Numbness when and where? Weakness how and when? Say more about the bone popping thing.

9. Are you very flexible? Can you touch your thumb to your forearm? If you straighten your arm, does it bend past straight?



Answer those and we'll go from there.




----------------------
Please reply using the comment link below. Do not submit a new submission to answer/reply, it's too hard for me to find where it's supposed to go.

And, comments have a 3,000 character limit so you may have to comment twice.
-----------------------



Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com
















Subscribe to The Tendonitis Expert Newsletter Today!

For TIPS, TRICKS, and up-to-date Tendonitis information you need!

Email


Name



Then



Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.

I promise to use it only to send you The Tendonitis Expert Newsletter.













Reversing Wrist Tendonitis ebook cover


Reversing DeQuervain’s ebook cover


Carpal Tunnel Treatment That Works Dvd cover

Reversing Guitar Tendonitis ebook cover









Comments for I can hardly hold anything in my left hand due to weakness and pain in my wrist!!

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 16, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		PART 2 - responding to Joshua's questions - I can hardly hold anything in my left hand due to weakness and pain in my wrist!!
by: Maria Arteaga

Thank u for responding to what I wrote.

Now to answer your questions.

I don't have an intensive job to where I have to use my hands a lot. especially not my left hand.

I'm right handed. the pain came quite fast. it traveled down to my hand and at the same time the pain got worse.

I didn't fall or anything like that, but I should mention that postpartum I had to support myself get out of bed with my left hand, and I did notice the pain got worse after that.

so when the doctors diagnosed me with tendinitis all they did was have me move my hand in different positions..THATS IT!!

So yes I am a stereotypical 21yr old..no exercise and crappy Diet.

My overall health is great but I am overweight. especially after I gained 40pounds during pregnancy which makes me tip the scale at over 240lbs.

my pregnancy was great though..nothing I had to worry about. so my hand actually hurts a lot more when I wake up and that's usually when my bone in my thumb pops.

it feels like it pops out of its socket. It also hurts tremendously when I stretch my arms straight out. also my wrist looks somewhat swollen compared to my other one.

I have no numbness at all though.the pain is so bad I can't do my normal things such as comb my hair, open my baby's bottle. .etc. bending my thumb is impossible..and I won't even try to press on my wrist because of how bad it hurts. but my arm is straight when I straighten it. please if you have any more questions let me know.

Thank you for your time!


----

Hi Maria.

One possibility is that you have overstretched the ligaments in your hand/wrist. When you are pregnant the body releases a hormone called Relaxin. This hormone causes your ligaments to relax, loosen, for various having a baby reasons.

It's possible that when you were pushing yourself up to get out of bed, or any other weightbearing activities, that the ligaments in the hand literally became permanently longer.

This could explain why your thumb pops out of joint, or gets close enough to feel like that.

And the body is going to respond with pain, and ongoing pain as long as it thinks that there is a problem.

Let's cover the bases.

1. Ice dip and ice massage as described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page.

2. Get your Vitamin D levels up. This is vital, both at possibly reducing pain and the health of you and your child (if you are breastfeeding).

3. Supplement with Magnesium and Vit B6 and B12.

4. Learn how to make, and start eating regularly, Bone Broth as the best Tendon Supplements.


Let's start with that, lets see the results, and then we can talk about other self care measures.

But absolutely start with the options above.


And, more questions, more answers.
Mar 18, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		PART 3 - still painful - I can hardly hold anything in my left hand due to weakness and pain in my wrist!!
by: Maria Arteaga

Hey Joshua..so I don't know what to do..I have tried EVERYTHING you recommended for my tendinitis, nothing works. Its been over a year that ive been suffering from this.

I'm really starting to think its something with my bones. My thumb bone feels like it pops out of the socket..and I have to push it so it can pop back in. And its hurts horribly!

What should I do??


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Maria.

Ok, let's take a look.

What -exactly- have you done, just so we're on the same page.

The answer to this questions includes: How much Vit D do you take, and what is your Vitamin D level.

How much Magnesium are you taking? Are you taking your tolerance level?

How much are you ice dipping?

(What else have I told you to do.....)


Let's see what exactly you are doing, and then go from there.


Sep 13, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		PAIN!! PLEASE HELP! Thumb feels like it pops out of joint. I can hardly hold anything in my left hand due to weakness and pain in my wrist!!
by: Kassy

My right thumb bone feels like it pops out of the socket..and I have to push it so it can pop back in. And its hurts horribly what should I do? I've had an xray and it was normal. What should or can I do?


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Kassy.

Does your thumb joint actually pop out of socket, or does it just feel like it?

And, unless a bone is broken or the joint is actively dislocated, an xray isn't going to show anything useful.
Jan 18, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		me too
by: heather

i have been having the same problem for about a year,unlike you mine comes and goes.it usually starts after picking up something heavy.it will last for several weeks to a month,and i cant hardly use my hand at all because the pain is so intense,espeacialy in my thumb.

im goin to the doctor tommorow for the problem.my mother is a nurse practioner and she suggeted that it could be carpal tunnel.another symptom that i have is that my wrist pops really bad when i move it like ligaments.
Apr 01, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		After pregnancy pain in both wrists
by: britney

I just had my baby almost two months ago and during pregnancy I developed a crucial pain in my right wrist and then my left the doctor said that it wag because of fluid and soups go away.... Wrong it hasn't in fact it had gotten worse, I can't hold my baby the way I want I cant do many things period. What is going on and what should I do?


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Britney.

Congratulations (on the kid, not the wrist pain)!

It's from one or both of: A. hormonal changes and fluid retention from pregnancy and/or B. nutritional deficiency.

Could be some postural stuff too, but that remains to be seen.

1. DO you have any swelling in the forearms, wrists, etc?

2. Is the pain constant or come and go.

3. Is the pain constant, or does it get worse with use?
Apr 29, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Not able to lift heavy weights with my left hand
by: Ravindra

Hello sir, I am RAVINDRA KUMAR ,a 18 year old boy .
I used to go gym daily in morning .

my problem is that I am not able to lift heavy weights with my left hand but can easily lift the same weights with right hand .
is there any problem in my hand ?

I can easily lift the normal weights and does not face any problem in left hand.

can you help me???


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Ravindra.

I need more information to have any chance of offering you any helpful suggestions.

1. Did you hurt yourself? Ever?

2. Is there any pain, numbness, twitching, spasming, etc?

3. Describe the 'weakness' in greater detali.
Jun 14, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Preggo carpel tunnel or tendonitis
by: Brandy

Hello Josuha,

Like that other commentor Britney I am pregnant and I am 31 weeks (8 months this monday) and when I am 25 week started noticing the numbness in the right hand and fingers.

I have had to deal with this since then NOW it has migrated into the other hand so now i have numb finger tips in both hands with my thumbs, pointer, index, and ringer fingers and my right thumb has now for the past three-four weeks seems to pop in and out of socket many in the mornings and if I move it a certain way i have horrible sharp pains when i try to extend my thumb to make a "L" or hold my hand up in a "stop" hand gesture.

I don't have any swelling in my forearms or wrist but I haven't been able to wear my wedding rings since I was 23 weeks because of my puffy fingers from pregnancy. I do retain a lot fluid with pregnancy and this is my first.

I wear splints at night on both hands this has helped but for two weeks i have noticed that my finger tips stay numb. I have a computer desk job so this doesn't help AT ALL!!!

I figured I have carpel tunnel in both hands with thumb tendintitis in the right thumb but I don't want to self diagnosis myself...i am afraid that this will not go away even though the doctors are always saying "this is normal and should go away after the baby is born"..i am a nurse so i don't always believe the doctors at first..lol!!!

ANy insight please you're the expert and this pregnant, computer typing 8 hours straight nurse needs anything you can give :(


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Brandy.

You don't always believe the doctors? BLASPHEMY!!!

First off, see: Pregnancy Carpal Tunnel

It's true. In most cases Carpal Tunnel symptoms in pregnant women does go away after pregnancy. It doesn't make the pregnancy very fun though.

See: Carpal Tunnel and Vitamin B6 Deficiency

More Magnesium

Make sure your vitamin D level is between 60-80 ng/ml. This is uber-important for healthy baby and mother, all CTS aside. Including the lifetime health of the child. Seriously, if you don't know much/anything about this, let me fill you in. Get your Vit D level up ASAP.


8 hours a day on the computer isn't helping, or at least, pregnant while 8 hours a day on the computer isn't helping.

So you could do some ice dipping etc to reduce pain in the hands/forearms. See: How To Reduce Inflammation

That will reduce pain levels if you do it enough.

Maybe you have real tendonitis, like in the thumb, or maybe it's other factors causing the pain.

But don't let a doctor tell you you need surgery. That's silly.

Having said that, you're in pain, so something has to be done.

Nutrition.

More water.

Ice Dipping.

Self massage pushing fluid from wrist to elbow/shoulder.


Start there.
Aug 06, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Housekeeper with 3 children and CTS
by: Hannah

Im 26 years old, mother of 3 small children, and work 40+ hours at a nursing home as a housekeeper ( sweep and mop all day) and in laundry ( folding 45-55 pounds of clothes).

When my pain first started in my wrists ( 3 weeks ago) It was more in my palm and wrist under it- it even hurt to touch my palm. I went to the ER, doc there said was CTS and asked ' The front side of your arm don't hurt does it?', I say no bc at the time my palm covered the pain.

Now that the pain has mostly gone in that area My fingers go numb and the front side of my hand, wrist , and half way up my arm aches so bad. My arm to my fingers feels tight, also some nights my arm feels as if to have muscle spasms ( usually when work has been rough).

I feel like i have to force myself to open and close my fingers and drop stuff all the time like i lose control of my hand. Is this just CTS?

Do you think i need to go to a Doctor again?


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Hannah.

You didn't leave an email or check the notification box, so I hope you find this.

I think that if the doctor knew how to help you you wouldn't have to be asking me these questions.

So while I'd never tell you to not go see you doctor, because that would be irresponsible of me, I would ask what your doctor would be able to do for you and why he didn't already do it?


What you describe are in fact Carpal Tunnel Symptoms.

Also, Magnesium deficiency symptoms.

See: Magnesium for Tendonitis

See: Carpal Tunnel and Vitamin B6 Deficiency

3 kids, hard work, and the standard american diet leave us nutritionally insufficient, if not deficient.

Plus hard work causes muscles etc to tighten up. Plus postural issues cause tightness/compression (of the nerve) at the shoulders and front of the neck.
Mar 05, 2013
Rating
star 		Not Impressed
by: Anonymous

Repetitive reference to diets - when it is a nerve that is pinched? In reference to carpal tunnel of course. Quite shocked that you have told someone not to let their doctor refer them for surgery. As this is sometimes the best option. (I've had it done myself)Especially in extreme circumstances when it is left too long and causes muscle damage that can be irreversible (meaning they could loose mobility of their hands or thumbs).

My advice is to ask your doctor about carpal tunnel syndrome, if he or she thinks necessary then you will have a nerve conduction study done to determine if surgery is needed, and your doctor will suggest to you what medication is needed for pain relief as the normal painkillers don't work for your nerves-only on muscular aches and pains which is totally different.

I've been there myself and if its bad then you will listen to what your told by your doctor. And by the way I have a very healthy diet and body. Still very shocked by this site.....



----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Nimp.

I've never ever told anybody not to let their doctor refer them for surgery, nor to not let their doctor do surgery.

Perhaps you are referring to my statement in this thread? "So while I'd never tell you to not go see you doctor, because that would be irresponsible of me, I would ask what your doctor would be able to do for you and why he didn't already do it?"

I very often say that surgery may be necessary. Rarely do I say that in the case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome of course, because it almost never is necessary (when you know how to reverse the syndrome).


Did you know that Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause carpal tunnel symptoms? With no 'pinching of the nerve' involved at all? And that doctors still do surgery in those cases because they don't bother to check?

I going with that you did not know that, since you're so 'shocked'.

I'm not sure why you're so shocked that nutrition plays a role in nerve pain and muscle function. I'm shocked that you can't see any connection between the two if you've spent more than 60 seconds on this website.



-CONTINUED IN NEXT SECTION-
Mar 05, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Not Impressed (Because I Don't Yet Understand How Carpal Tunnel Works)
by: The Tendonitis Expert

-CONTINUED FROM LAST SECTION-


Nimp, you said "I've been there myself and if its bad then you will listen to what your told by your doctor."

That's rather self righteous and imperious, don't you think? Telling people what they will do?

Doctors perform all sorts of unnecessary surgery, and mess people up. Those are the people I work with. When one educates oneself about the reality of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, one usually stops worshipping doctors as infallible, all knowing entities.

Before you get more shocked at that statement, please know that I am very pro-doctor. If and when a doctor can provide, benefit, great, I'm all for that. But performing surgery without checking to see if carpal tunnel symptoms are caused by a B6 deficiency, or other nutritional insufficiency, that's just irresponsible. It should be medical malpractice, but unfortunately it's not.


Nimp, you said "And by the way I have a very healthy diet and body. Still very shocked by this site....."

If you had carpal tunnel, and surgery, then it's an impossibility that you have a 'very healthy diet and body'. Obviously that is not an accurate self assessment. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome doesn't just show up out of the blue for no reason.


Again, I'm just not sure why you're 'very shocked' by this site:

* I don't tell people to not get surgery

* Nutrition very much does play a role in nerve pain and 'pinched nerves' and pinched nerve symptoms. If you knew that, you could quite possibly have avoided surgery. If you want surgery, that's cool too.

* Even long term 'pinched nerves' don't cause permanent damage (except in extreme cases). Carpal tunnel is simply a scenario of a boot on a water hose. Take the boot off, and nerve flow returns. It's really not that complex nor that big a deal when you know how.


So far you're 0 for 3 on your complaint.

Please let me know if you have any other concerns, I'm happy to address them.
Jun 04, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		FML
by: Dalton

Dear josh I'm 23 years old I use to be in boxing with a great diet till I was 16 then I started to do all sorts of labor and from the age of 17-20 I drank a bottle of vodka EVERYDAY and smoked 1-3 packs or just a pouch or roll your own cigarettes when I hit age 20 I looked at my life and cut back tremendously.

I found a job that I loved and for the first time ever it looked like life was good.

Then came winter I was raising grey hounds.

I would roughly carry 100lbs of meat in each hand when I had to get the ice out of there water buckets my gloves would get wet and literally suck the heat out of my hands (-2 to -15 was an avg. day) then It slowly started to get painfully to grip things the guy I worked for was the number 1 salesman in the country so he convinced me it was my tendons.

He said to keep working them and stretching them "they'll heal them selfs". Eventually I couldn't close my hand. I would try to make a fist but the pain would be so intense I couldn't even make a fist.

Then I went to the dr. He said it was tendinitis take some ib prophen and it would heal well my boss gave me two weeks to heal.

I returned to work and it was still hurting but I could close my hand again.

The Spring came and when the weather warmed up my hand healed completely the guy I worked for took off.

So I started delivering appliances when it got cold my wrist started to get sore again. I healed again the next spring. then I started pouring concrete did not smoke or drink at all and my diet was the best.

Cross fitness at night and multi vitamins in the morning plenty of carbohydrates protein amino acids in the daytime and more water than a fish.

The winter hit again with the pain. The spring came and my hand did not heal it's summer now and the hospital keeps dicking me around with my records I made an appointment in April it is now June and I have yet to see a dr.

Last appointment I whent to the they told me to come back in two weeks. My wrist pops cracks but is more flexible than my dominate wrist now I feel a "cable" that runs threw my elbow all the way up my shoulder if I rotate my arm my shoulder will pop sometimes when I hyperextend my elbow it will pop like no other. (My back and neck is not Lind up correctly could this be an underlying cause)

plz help josh because my hospital isn't and I need to get back to work.


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Dalton.

1. That's a lot of alcohol. Which I only point out because alcohol depletes your body of nutrition.

It's safe to say you're still short.

Vit B6 is one of the nutrients it's famous for causing deficiencies of.


2. You were very physically active and still are. That requires/uses up nutrition.

It's safe to say you had been and are exercising with a lack of (at least some specific) nutrition. Multi's have very little in them. Better than nothing, but very little.


3. You had/have a significant Pain Causing Dynamic. You're stuck in a bad spot and getting worse (because you're always either in a Downward Spiral or an Upward Spiral).

Part of that is a Process of Inflammation

And of course, Inflammation eats up B6.

See: Inflammation Causes Vitamin B6 Deficiency


4. I would have thought that the cold water would help, but if you're short on B vitamins (and magnesium, which you very likely are), that affects your circulatory (and other) system(s) poorly, so it's possible that the shock of cold was too much for your system to handle.


5. See the Magnesium For Tendonitis link/page that you'll find in this thread.

Read the entire thread. It's not quite the perfect topic for you (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) but all in all it's the same dynamic.

If you want to get back to work, I'd get Reversing Wrist Tendonitis ebook. It has everything you need (explanation of what's going on, plan of attack for self care including nutrition and manual care), and will help you finger to shoulder (same concept you can use on forearm and upper arm/shoulder).

The big and first thing for you is therapeutic nutritional supplementation. No amount of massage or stretching will help until you start filling up that hole.
Jun 10, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Weakness in hand
by: Sarah

Dalton, Check out Theworkhand.com. It may help you carry & lift things!
Jul 23, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I am getting a sensation if I hold onto something longer
by: Raktim P

Hi !
I am Raktim .I was working as a live sound engineer for some time and had to leave cause I hurt my back real bad once trying to lift a box full of equipments. But after that I am noticing that I also cant hold something for too long and i start getting some kind of numbness or sensation where I in a minimal way lose control ( altough not droping things and all) eg. if I hold a pencil and draw I have to keep stopping it between every 4- 5 mins.

I would really appriciate if you could trow some light into it as I am quite confused and dont have a clue what its all about and what to name it.

Thank you
Raktim


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Raktim.

I'd be less concerned about 'what to name it' and more concerned with WHERE the problem is coming from.

You hurt your lower back? But are having some loss of motor control issues in your hands?

Or did you hurt your upper back?
Jul 25, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		thank you joshua for the reply back
by: Anonymous

@ joshua
Hi, Thanx a lot for the reply back. I think I hurt my lower back while lifting those equipments. And I was in bed for a month and was having issues with walking and even sitting straight up for long.

I am better now but my hands are troubling me I noticed. I am a fine artist and it worries me a lot .


----


Joshua Comments:

That makes a lot of sense with the legs etc.

But the hands....were in bed with your neck cranked up on a big pillow the whole time, or....?
Jul 30, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you for replying
by: Raktim P

@Joshua
Hi,Thanx a lot . well yeah I was in bed for almost a month .But If i recall correctly, after joining my sound company again without completely recovering from my back pain, I did this mistake again for one more time.This time while lifting I felt something in my wrist.So immediately I stopped and called it a quit.

But I never felt any kind of pain that time but I knew something was wrong. Now slowly I am experiencing pain holding on to things for 3-4 minutes. Also sensation.

Thank You
Raktim


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Raktim.

Well, I imagine the tightness in the low back has spread to the upper back/neck, and that's compressing the nerves down the arms.
Jul 31, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Please suggest
by: Raktim

Hi, So Could you please suggest what should I do now as it's now coming in between what I do.is it possible for me to cure it at home.

Thank you so much.

I really appreciate.


----


Joshua Comments:

1. You need to make sure your nutrition is replete. When you don't have certain nutrition (which you don't when you've been so tight for so long), your body can't work right and muscles can't relax.

See the Magnesium for Tendonitis link and other links in this thread.


2. You need to do self massage etc to relax the muscles (which won't happen unless you've taken care of the nutritional lack).

This will remove compressive forces compressing vertebrae in your neck and back.


That's it, basically, though obviously it's not as simple as that, but those two factors must be effectively dealt with.

I suggest you start working with the Reversing Whiplash program, as it will cover the nutrition (whole body including neck and back) and will tell you how to open up the too tight tissues in your neck and shoulders (that you can also then use for your back).
Mar 01, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cervical spine stenosis
by: Anonymous

You could have spinal issue. I am 44 and I always thought it would go away 2 triple fusions later. Check with a arthritis or Ortho doc. Just a thought your symptoms fit mine. C4 through customs.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Ask The Tendonitis Expert .





Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.