Wrist/Medical Escapades

[crystalgaze]

Well, for a few days now, I have been in severe pain..... I have managed to bust up my wrist somehow. (Right now, I'm typing with only one hand.)

The pain became so bad that I went to the emergency room..... My wrist started to swell, too.

I have been unable to sleep & I've probably gotten 8 hours of sleep in the last two days (4 hours each day). The interesting folks over at the hospital gave me some advanced painkillers to hold me over, until I can see an orthopedist. However, the doctor might be booked!

It was suggested I use ice but I'm amazed no one mentioned Epsom salt.... I was just like,"WOW...." Even with Grosso Lavender Oil & Helichrysum Oil (full strength essential oils), I saw almost no ease in the pain. The Helichrysum allowed me to get to the emergency room; I was in so much pain that I couldn't put my hand through my shirt sleeve or even hold my pants to zip or button them up at all.

This morning I soaked my hand in a warm mixture of dissolved menthol crystals, Dead Sea Salt, green alcohol (Alcolado Glacial), & Florida Water. I may do another soak soon with just some plain Epsom Salt.

Currently, I don't know exactly what's wrong with my wrist....

It's been interesting to be doing things with my left hand.... I am originally left-handed, but my parents had decided that I should be right-handed (since most of our schools here rarely make accommodations for left-handed kids). It has been a pretty seamless adjustment. I still can't write very well/legibly or do certain things with my left hand, though. It will probably take time.

Any suggestions to beat this wrist pain? (I have seriously been considering a splint or sling for my arm....)

[Obayan]

So sorry you are in so much pain hon! Sounds like you are doing all that you can already. When i hurt my leg the docs had me alternate hot and cold packs to ease the swelling and relieve the pain.

[Warmsoul/Jeanie13]

(((((((((((((( Crystal )))))))))))))))))

Keeping the arm, which will help the wrist, kind of immobilized might help. I have had issues with my wrists and it did help me at that time. Something you might try and see. Anything to keep the pain at least at a level that you can manage.

Hoping you will be able to see the proper doctor soon.

Warmie

[crystalgaze]

Thank you both! My hand is better! The swelling went down & everything.

Some people think I was bitten by a centipede. (Ouch.) In addition to my hand & wrist swelling, I had this strange patch of redness on the underside of my arm. It was also pretty sore, too. Yet if a centipede really bit me, then I have NO IDEA how I slept through it at all!!

I went to an orthopedist, just to make sure everything was okay. He did not believe it was broken or anything. I did have him look at my knees because I was experiencing pain in them & HE HAD told me as a child that I had had a problem with my knees. I outgrew that problem kind of and then not quite.
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In this whole experience, something happened that was really disturbing to me. I went to the hospital & told the beautiful people there that I have a history of seizures & racing pulse.....

Do you know they STILL gave me a prescription, which had seizures & heart related problems as severe side effects?! If I can even excuse them for that, it was the recommended dosage that was also a problem.

The medicines I am talking of are Vicodin (1-2 tablets every 6 hrs, 500mg) & Ibuprofen (1 tablet every 8 hrs, 600mg). Mind you, I was extremely grateful for the ease in the pain in my hand. WHAT SAVED ME IS THAT I DID NOT TAKE IT AS PRESCRIBED. I wasn't taking 4-8 pills of Vicodin & 3 Ibuprofen pills per day.

I wasn't even following the proper dosage, when lo & behold, I woke up 1 morning, only to have my body shake violently & uncontrollably for a minute or more (like I was having a seizure). My muscles had started twitching randomly & very often.

Now that my hand is better & I don't have to take the pills, I haven't had any shakes. I'm still twitching a little, but it is much less than what it was when I was taking the medications.

The orthopedist gave me a similar prescription to the Ibuprofen, BUT EACH PILL IS ONLY 7.5MG, to reduce the likelihood of side effects. I thought that maybe there was an error on the bottle when I saw the dosage, but indeed, the pills are that small.

I was still pretty peeved that he prescribed something for me with those side effects listed. However, I can say that when he used this software he had on his computer that would tell him about drug interactions, it only gave him a warning that that particular medicine, Meloxicam, may decrease the efficacy of the other medication that I am taking (Atenolol). He showed it to me & I saw it + read it for myself.

However, the doctor needed software/internet database that would list the side effects, which the software he used did not provide.
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There is another matter at hand with the medication. One severe side effect for 1 of the medications was depression & you know what, it wasn't even a week good before I started feeling so horrible--emotional for no real reason and the works.

Again, I have since discontinued taking the Ibuprofen & Vicodin (& I am OK). I seem to be sensitive to medications.....

[Warmsoul/Jeanie13]

((((((((((((((( Crystal )))))))))))))))))))

Please make sure your family physician knows of these reactions. I have had to do that so my file gets flagged on meds that don't agree with me.

Hope you are doing better.

Warmie

[shakirah]

Seek for a physician help to have a better solution with your problem and don't discontinue any medications abruptly. Probably you will not receive a proper side effect or not relieve with that problem.