Fellow DeQuervain's moms? Shot alternatives?

Bride2bMO

I got the shots when he was about 8 weeks and swore never again because they hurt so bad, but they did work.

 

But here I am about 6 months later and my wrists have been feeling progressively worse for a week. I'm scared to call my doctor because last time he just pushed the shots and said that was the only thing that works. He said you can treat the pain, but that once the inflammation starts, there's very little you can do to reverse it.

Is that true, in your experience? I really, really, really don't want to get those awful shots again. But I'm in pain and feeling weakness when I pick my son up. Boo-hoo!
 

kirbabe

Surgery. . . . . .?

Bride2bMO

Zoiks! I forgot that he mentioned that possibility. I'm guessing that's even worse than the shots.

Didn't someone on this board have the surgery?  

neya28

deQuervain...is that the wrist pain? I have insane wrist pain in my right wrist. I was just kind of hoping it would go away when I stop bfing and holding DS super heavy head up with the wrist.

Bride2bMO

Neya,

Yes, it's in the wrists, an inflammation of the tendons, I think especially where the two tendons cross over each other. So it just keeps getting worse and worse the more you move. I had never even heard of it before, but apparently life with a newborn is murder on your wrists! 

neya28

Yeah that sounds about right.  It would totally blow to get surgery & the shots don't sound too fun either. I'm wearing a wrist brace all the time but its not really helping as its meant for carpal tunnel I think.Tell me it goes away after you stop twisting your wrist juggling DC? I'm willing to tolorate the pain if its temporary.

Bride2bMO

My doctor didn't sound like it would go away on it's own...but I'm counting on him being wrong!

Some people have done physical therapy for it, I was hoping one of them would post to tell me it works. 

NYCred

don't give up yet - there's lots that you can do to treat the pain. 

 after a ton of research, I opted to treat it with motrin.  for a while there, i was taking motrin nearly every day - but for me that was a better option than surgery!  i also found that working out really helps, albeit temporarily.  i tried accupuncture a few times when dd was first born, and while it did help enormously, it was just too pricey to keep up with.  

dd is 10mths old and i'm almost 100% better.  about 1x every week or 10 days i'll feel that twinge, but nothing like what it used to be. 

 good luck!

 

Mrs.Backpack

I'm super late in responding, so I don't know if you will ever see this......

I have DeQuervain's in both wrists.  It is much much worse in my left wrist.  I got my first shots when DS when 3 weeks old, then again when he was about 5 months old.  I finally gave in and had surgery in my left wrist in the middle of October. 

I am SOOOOO glad that I did it.  I feel 100% better.  I can actually hold and play with DS again and I'm not in intense pain all the time.  I had one stitch in my wrist for about a week after the surgery and was bandaged up over that.  As soon as the stitch came out I felt much better but still took it slow with certain things.  Definitely 2 weeks out, I was myself again. 

I put off surgery as long as I possibly could and swore I would never do it, but I would do it again in an instant.  I actually wish I did it months and months ago instead!

ChefSarah22

I'm wicked late to this post but I have had DeQuarvain's for 4+ years now (developed well-prior to DD). ?I did shots a PT w/ shock treatments and had practically no relief. ?Shots worked fairly well the first time and did nothing the 2nd. ?I had the surgery Summer of 2005. ?Not bad at all. ?Quick recovery all things considered and I am significantly better than I was before it. ?Good luck!