Arthritis in wrist

[Lind28]

From: lind28
10 years ago, I was playing with my son on the floor and I suddenly tripped myself, and fell on my wrist.  It got really swollen and extremely bruised.  I had X-rays and no broken bones.  They told me I sprained my wrist and said wear a wrap for 6 weeks for healing.  It healed and I was able to use my wrist again, no pain.  But about two months ago, I started having severe pain in my wrist.  I had episodes of pain in my wrist before, for the last two years, but not this bad.  My hand swelled up and I suffered severe pain.  I had an MRI done, and it found, a small amount of fluid between my wrist and bottom part of hand (near my thumb); mild degeneration; and no tears in my tendons.  My doctor said I had tendonitis, and maybe an old fracture that x-ray doesn’t show. She gave me two shots, one was steroid and the other was something for the pain. Recently my wrist started hurting again. I can’t lift my wrist up because of the severity of the pain.  I have a wrap on it and am going to be taking non-prescription arthritis pain relieve medicine.  Does anyone know what’s wrong with my wrist? I first thought it was carpal tunnel syndrome because I type and write a lot, but I have no symptoms of this illness. And what medicine do you recommend for this?  I’m thinking an arthritis medicine to stop pain and inflammation, like Aleve?  Or extra strength arthritis and inflammation medication.
I can’t go to an orthopedic doctor because my insurance won’t pay for it, so I need to find comfort for these episodes.
Thank you

[ChitChatNine]

Have you tried a brace which stabilizes your wrist/lower forearm and keeps the thumb out at an angle?  My daughter had what is called DeQuervaine's Syndrome and hers was so so severe two times she ended up in a cast for 3 weeks to control the swelling .. they bypassed a cortisone shot altogether and went right into the brace.  The culprit for her:  Badminton at school of all things.  It is a severe swelling of the tendon sheaths of some sort and a cousin of carpal tunnel and hurts where you describe.  I'm not a Doctor .. just a mom like you ... maybe do a search under this crazy name (he's the guy who diagnosed the problem) and see if it is that and/or a dr. can treat you outside of an othopedist who may be less $$.

My daughter was 15 at the time.  it was very very painful and outwardly swollen.

Cheryl