Aa
Physiotherapist ignoring my pain complaints.
Hi,
Last April I was involved in a snowboarding accident. A guy who was coming down the mountain flew through the air, and on his descent the edge of his snowboard hit the inside of my right arm - about two fingers width under the wrist. I tried to shake it off, but later it swelled up around where it had hit, and after a few days where it just got worse (couldn't bend my wrist, had difficulty forming a fist, buzzing, pins and needles), I went to the doctor.
She didn't get me to take an x-ray, and concluded that I had a trauma haematoma with secondary carpal tunnel syndrome, and referred me to physiotherapy. At the centre, I went through 3 different physiotherapists.
The first one thought it was just a traumatised nerve, gave me a brace, and used electro therapy and massaged the nerve. However, there was little improvement, and scar tissue was forming - plus, the bruising and swelling around the site was still there, even after 1 month. She was super confused, so referred me on.
The second physiotherapist was also trained in acupuncture, and it got rid of a lot of the scar tissue. But I was still having trouble with pain 5 months after the accident and so she referred me onto another physiotherapist also trained in acupuncture.
The last one continued with acupuncture - by this stage, I was probably at 89% pain-free. But I found that on the days before a huge storm, my arm would seize up and I'd get a flare-up, plus I wasn't able to properly do notes. But she pretty much told me this was all in my head, and that I was fully healed.
So now, almost 9 months since the accident, I just did a Pilates class. In an exercise where one puts all the weight on one arm - I was fine with my left arm, no pain at all. Then with my right arm - crazy pain. It's been 2 days, and still hurts. The other day there was a storm - randomly unpredicted during the Summer, but I could feel it in my hand the day before.
So sorry for the long story, but basically I'm at a loss at what I should do. I'm not on any long-term pain management plan, all I have is paracetamol, and that hardly helps at all.
Any advice would be lovely, and gratefully received.
Last April I was involved in a snowboarding accident. A guy who was coming down the mountain flew through the air, and on his descent the edge of his snowboard hit the inside of my right arm - about two fingers width under the wrist. I tried to shake it off, but later it swelled up around where it had hit, and after a few days where it just got worse (couldn't bend my wrist, had difficulty forming a fist, buzzing, pins and needles), I went to the doctor.
She didn't get me to take an x-ray, and concluded that I had a trauma haematoma with secondary carpal tunnel syndrome, and referred me to physiotherapy. At the centre, I went through 3 different physiotherapists.
The first one thought it was just a traumatised nerve, gave me a brace, and used electro therapy and massaged the nerve. However, there was little improvement, and scar tissue was forming - plus, the bruising and swelling around the site was still there, even after 1 month. She was super confused, so referred me on.
The second physiotherapist was also trained in acupuncture, and it got rid of a lot of the scar tissue. But I was still having trouble with pain 5 months after the accident and so she referred me onto another physiotherapist also trained in acupuncture.
The last one continued with acupuncture - by this stage, I was probably at 89% pain-free. But I found that on the days before a huge storm, my arm would seize up and I'd get a flare-up, plus I wasn't able to properly do notes. But she pretty much told me this was all in my head, and that I was fully healed.
So now, almost 9 months since the accident, I just did a Pilates class. In an exercise where one puts all the weight on one arm - I was fine with my left arm, no pain at all. Then with my right arm - crazy pain. It's been 2 days, and still hurts. The other day there was a storm - randomly unpredicted during the Summer, but I could feel it in my hand the day before.
So sorry for the long story, but basically I'm at a loss at what I should do. I'm not on any long-term pain management plan, all I have is paracetamol, and that hardly helps at all.
Any advice would be lovely, and gratefully received.
Hi and sorry about your accident. I would get the xray and/or MRI to be sure of whether there is a fracture. Go to an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands/wrists and go from there. Also, using two sinks or buckets althernate cold water (with ice in it) and warm water. Do 5 cycles ending in cold. This will help with inflammation. I have chronic tendonitis in both wrists and this helped. Also, if you go back to a PT I would go to a hand specialist.
mkh9
mkh9
Why did no one take an xray? That sounds a little negligent.
A hairline fracture could be causing the pains and flare ups. I'd suggest talking to a regular dr to see if it's possible you have a fracture that went undiagnosed. And ask specifically to get an xray. I would also ask about being referred to a new physiotherapist. Someone who ignores your complaints of pains is not doing you any good.
A hairline fracture could be causing the pains and flare ups. I'd suggest talking to a regular dr to see if it's possible you have a fracture that went undiagnosed. And ask specifically to get an xray. I would also ask about being referred to a new physiotherapist. Someone who ignores your complaints of pains is not doing you any good.
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