Any ideas for fast relief of tendonitis attack?
Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 at
5:58 am
I’m a writer and some days at the keyboard end in severe pain. I know tylenol-arthritis helps, but does anyone have any real advice to help ease an attack after it’s already started? Any ideas to prevent this? I’m in agony!
Tagged with: agony • arthritis • keyboard • severe pain • tylenol
Filed under: Arthritis Pain Relief
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I’ve been suffering from tendonitis in my right wrist for over 3 years now, and it was pretty bad during exam periods so I know how you feel.
In the short term I found compression (i.e. tubigrips) when I’m doing a repetitive activity. I also always use a wrist rest with the keyboard and mouse. Taking ibuprofen regularly when it starts (or before if you know you’re going to be busy) also helps but may take some time to kick in. If it’s really bad you can combine it with a paracetamol based drug and if its severe an ibuprofen based rub.
Another thing to do is to massage the area regularly, every evening if you can, more if possible. I find although it’s a bit painful to do, it feels better after wards. Also, mobilise your wrist if you are stuck in one position for a long time (i.e. typing) by moving it gently up and down, side to side regularly.
Steroid jabs are also a good option. My first one worked for 8 months although the second one didn’t work. I found it took about 2 weeks to kick in though – not immediate relief. Some Dr’s may recommend a period of immobilisation before giving a jab. I found imobilisation works wonders in the short term, but the problem is you can loose muscle if you do it for too long.
An alternative, non-invasive treatment other than acupuncture is ultrasound. Some people find it works wonders, it didn’t work for me before the operation (trying again now I’ve had it, still too early for results though) but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. If nothing else it massages the area and gets you blood flowing well which promotes healing.
If all of the above fails, have surgery. If it is what I have, deQuervain’s this has about an 80% success rate (you can tell if you tuck your thumb into your palm and form a fist then tip your hand downwards, if you get a pain along the inside of your wrist you probably have deQuervains.
So basically, compression, ice and medication during an attack and seek medical advice for further treatments and rest and massage your wrist when you can.
Hope this helps!
advil
I have the same thing tendinitis and what I take for it is Ibuprofen about 250mg. Also I put ice on my elbows and wrists for about 10 minutes. Another thing what you could do is go to the doctor to have a cortisone shot to help relieve the pain.
I would highly recommend going to the dr and getting a cortisone shot….they are AMAZING and results are immediate. If this isn’t possible try to obviously not use it as much and ice it to reduce inflammation. Definitly keep up with an anti-inflammatory such as Advil.
If you’re willing to try it acupuncture is very effective. I’ll never understand how (comparing eastern and western medicine is like comparing apples and oranges). All I can tell you is that it works and many traditional MDs are now recommending it. It will keep you pain free.