What would you recommend for pain reduction?
I need help. I'm currently using Lidoderm patches, vicodine and aleve for pain in my hands. But they are a costly bunch. Plus, I'm not entirely sure if they have a negative effect on my body. I'm hoping you lovelies out there can help give me suggestions to try. I'm having pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of range of motion. I had fractured my thumb which I think triggered this reaction. I have fibromyalgia, and any time I injure myself I end up with some kind of reaction. I think it doesn't help that I hurt my hands 15 years ago in a factory accident that caused them to swell up so badly that I couldn't bend my fingers at all. But being a workman's comp thing, I only got the barest of treatments. Something along the lines of take some motrin and use ice. Didn't really do much, just make it swell a little less and wait it out until it healed. Now I'm not so sure it really healed with the way my hands are reacting now. So, any ideas of things to try? I've been trying Arnica in tablet form and in a gel, and it helps a bit. But I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly (like using enough at each application, or using it often enough). So get your heds a-going people. Help me help my hands, please.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by MedWriter on -
Have you tried myofascial trigger point therapy? If not, I highly recommend it. For more info on it, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myofascial_Release
Also check out this workbook for self treatment:
http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment...
I'm sure I don't have to tell you how few and far between effective treatments are for fibro pain, but this is one of those few.
Best of luck,
MW
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Permalink Reply by BionicKris on -
Koryn- I am a new member of this group- just joined a few minutes ago. My reason for treatment is for RSD/CRPS which affects my whole right side, heel to neck. For the last 13 years I have been treated by a Pain Mgt. specialist and things have stayed fairly steady recently. We are also both "victims" of Worker's Comp- what a joy to deal with....
My RSD started in the right hand while the symptoms were masked with carpal tunnel impingement symptoms. In my case, humidity is a huge trigger for flareups and when they hit it makes it difficult and painful to use my right hand. Since it has spread over time down my fight side my RSD flareups make it painful even to breathe, much less any activity. One thing I try to do as often as possible is to stretch my hands and wrists as frequently as possible. The stretching has kept my range of motion fairly close to my uninjured hand, so I've been lucky.
Since your case started with a factory accident you more than likely have a limited range of motion depending on the type of injury you sustained. Many times during flareups of chronic conditions or after the initial injury people tend to hold the affected limb in a protective position. It may feel better but it doesn't take long before you lose much of the ROM in that joint and get "frozen" where the range is diminished greatly. Here's a quick description of the stretches I do a few times a day:
< To stretch the back of the wrist and forearm hold the bad arm in front of you at chest level or so. Keep your fingers together for this one. Bend the affected wrist down toward the floor. Take the opposite hand and position it in the opposite direction so the palm of the good hand will be able to press against the backs of your index- pinkie fingers. Your good fingers will simultaneously press down on your wrist. You won't have much range in this position but it will still help.
< For side to side flexibility take the bad hand and hold it in front of you around your chest/midsection- whatever is comfortable. With your good hand grasp over the bad one and place your thumb and index finger right at the junction of the hand and wrist, as if you were trying to get your index and middle fingers to meet around the opposite wris (seems to be the best description- hope it helps).
Using gentle pressure and while keeping the bad hand/wrist level pull the affected hand in towards you and hold 15 seconds, then repeat while pressing the hand away from you. Make sure the wrist/hand/fingers stay flat through this stretch. These angles may be limited also to start, but just go to the point where you feel the stretch but no pain. I usually to do 2 -3 long stretches on each wrist.
< I have found that by squeezing a soft rubber or foam ball I can also get relief and keep my fingers loose. This kind of activity is easy to do while I'm watching TV, reading, etc. You can find these balls at any department, toy store, or even PetSmart- where I found mine. Look around find one that's comfortable, fits well in your hand- but isn't too small- and one you can squeeze with a bit of resistance, but not too much. There are no times or reps involved and eventually you can do the squeezes without even thinking about it.
Sorry the reply was so long, but I know the stretching and hand exercise with the ball have helped me from losing too much ROM after 15 years. Maybe they will be of help to you also. Good Luck!
BionicKris
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Permalink Reply by BionicKris on
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Thanks for the tip- I'll have to check it out
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Permalink Reply by mothershaffer on -
I may be simplifying too much here, but I have a history with arthritis that often affects my hands and wrists (so I don't mean to minimize your pain in any way). Along with medications, I often dip my hands in paraffin wax. It feels so awesome and you get some soft skin too! It may be temporary, but heat always helps me.
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