Bad wrists? - clicking/crunching sounds and pain

vgf1995

Hi,

Apologies if this isn't posted in the right place.

I'm a 23 year old woman. Since i was about 12/13 i have had frequent spells of pain in my wrists (especially frequent in my dominant hand). Both of my wrists audibly click and grind all the time, but this is not always associated with pain. When i do get aches in my wrists they stiffen up and I can't move them very well.

As far as I can tell, many different things trigger the pains in my wrists. Things like typing for more than a couple of minutes, or writing, or my dog pulling on the leash when i'm walking with her, and lifting even slightly heavy things. Last year I attempted to learn to drive, but found that after driving for a short while, the small vibrations I could feel through the steering wheel were agony for my wrists and I had to give up.

When I do trigger the pains, it does not ease for days. What I have been doing to try help when this happens is minimizing lifting things and taking ibuprofen, but neither help very much.

I have visited by GP twice for this, once when I was 18 and again a few months ago.

He sent me for blood tests to check for arthritis when i visited him first, and they came back clear. He said all I could do is take painkillers when it hurts, and he also told me to take Jointace supplements. Neither helped, but i put up with it and only went back to see him about it this year.

When i saw him for the second time, he said there definitely was a problem, but he couldn't determine what it was, and there wasn't anything much else he could do. I know that my GP has tried to help, but I feel frustrated and miserable because I can't live the same way my friends the same age as me do. Every couple of days, something happens that triggers pain, and I feel useless in trying to deal with it because nothing works. Him not being sure of what the problem is has made me feel a bit like a hypochondriac, when I know I'm not exaggerating the pain or making it up.

I'm posting here mainly to see if anyone else experiences the same problem as me, if they know what it is, and what they do to help it. Thanks.

Monife

I would find another GP or definitely seek a referral to a rheumatologist.

Rheumatoid arthritis does not always show up in blood tests. You should request ANA, ESR and CRP blood tests, the first one is to check for auto-immune antibodies and the last two are inflammatory markers.

I have rheumatoid arthritis however did not test positive. My ESR and CRP levels were raised. I was diagnosed based on symptoms and the fact that my symptoms almost disappeared while on steroids for an infection.

Do you have any other auto-immune conditions like psoriasis? Any history in the family?

nikkibikki

vgf1995 wrote:

He sent me for blood tests to check for arthritis when i visited him first, and they came back clear. He said all I could do is take painkillers when it hurts, and he also told me to take Jointace supplements. Neither helped, but i put up with it and only went back to see him about it this year.

Not all types of arthritis show up in a blood test. Ask your GP for referral to a rheumatologist. Soon, because waiting lists are long. What type of pain killers did the GP prescribe? I have Psoriatic Arthritis. Diagnosed by a rheumatologist. Nothing much showed up in blood tests. Some inflammation sometimes. When it's active, I take NSAID's plus a tablet that has paracetamol with either tramadol or codeine. Sometimes need steroids also.

cassid

I would be looking for an xray first to see if its joints or muscles. You can get steroid injections to help with movement. I have osteoarthritis in my hands and wrists, was in my early 30, but had degenerative arthritis in my 20. Ask for a referral to rheumatologist or change gp. Not all arthritis shows up in blood tests, they have to check for specific markers. Arthritis ireland have a good site, have a read and there are lots of items you can buy to help if you work on a laptop.
My wrists and hands get really bad sometimes, cant brush my hair and holding the steering wheel can be really painful, so i feel your pain.

vgf1995

Hi all,

Thanks so much for your advice. I'm starting college again in a few weeks, which is really hard work with my wrists, so I've made an appointment with the GP for this week. I'll ask him if it's possible to refer me to a rheumatologist. My younger brother has psoriasis, and my mum has and all my grandparents had different forms of arthritis so there is family history.

TheBoyConor

If your GP cannot provide a satisfactory solution to your pain you should ask him to refer to you an orthopedic physician or a rheumatologist.

Monife

Also check if your college has a disability liaison officer. They should make reasonable accommodations for you to help make college life a bit easier.