The last few months I've noticed a growing soreness in my forearms; specifically, the backs of my wrists and the muscled part of my forearm near the elbow. A few times, I've woken up to hands that were numb, and once they were even unresponsive for five or ten minutes. They weren't asleep - no pins and needles as they 'woke up' or anything. A relative mentioned that this might be tendonitis/carpal tunnel made worse by hormones from lactation - we're still breastfeeding. I intend to make an appointment with my midwife or my osteopath, but thought I'd see whether anyone else had experience with something like this.
Thank you all for your swift and thoughtful responses. Friday, my chiropractor worked with my wrists and elbows, which brought some relief - the muscles around my elbows were indeed very tight, and some adhesions had developed.
I looked up DeQuervains tendonitis and went through the self-diagnostics and --bingo-- looks like a winner! My plan at this point is to rest my thumbs as much as possible, use alternate ways to pick up my son, and pursue the alternating ice/heat therapy when possible. I'll also get back on my prenatals and watch my diet better to make sure there is no underlying nutritional deficiency.
I used to have that plus in my hips & knees. I recently (3-4 months) started seeing a new doctor that ran a bunch of blood work. What she found was that I was low in all my minerals plus vitamin D. Since, I've started taking an extra vita D suppliment and taking walks outside. So far, all of my pain & numbness seem to be fading...even when I wake up!
My wrists and ankles have been helped a lot by my chiropractor! He adjusts them the same way he does the rest of me. I LOVE it!
HTH!
C.
definitely get it checked out because the numbness for so long is concerning. But I have gone through this every three months when my daughter had a growth spurt. I wore a wrist wrap for a couple days and that helped. I am now wearing an elbow brace sometimes. Good luck.
My dad swears by Cod Liver Oil....he and my mom take it everyday (the capsules) and their joints don't hurt. Just a thought. Another thought too is that you may have a pinched nerve somewhere and it travels down to your arms and hands. Maybe you could take a nice bath relax the muscles first. then maybe move to getting help from either a chiropractor or a massage therapist. I have tendinitis in my hands and wrists...when the weather changes I tend to have more pain. Good luck.
Shortly after my daughter was born I developed similar symptoms. Mine where mostly near or in my elbows. As it turned out I have Tennis elbow and golfers elbow in both elbows. It was caused from lifting my daughter. My arms were not used to that much constant lifting and carrying to my elbows got inflamed. Causes my forearms to ache and my writs to hurt too. Anti-inflamatorys and a GOOD massage therpist fixed me right up, it did take several treatments though. Good luck.
Normal when you are holding a baby a lot. With my now 5 yr old, I could barely lift anything, every night I would wake with everything from shoulder down aching and frequently my arms would go numb. I went to the dr and he decided it was from holding my little one. As my daughter got older it went away. Then my now 2 yr old was born and the same thing happened. Now that she is 2 and walks and self feeds, it is gone.
It could be from how you are holding her during nursing. these muscles may be getting used in a new way!
It sounds like De Quervains tendonitis, which is basically wrist tendonitis commonly found in new moms...I got it too from the way i was lifting my baby on a consistent basis...I had the same symptoms with the numbness, and i would also always say that it felt like the joint connecting my thumb and wrist was out of place all the time...it was quite annoying. As it turned out, I did see an orthopedic dr. who gave me a wrist brace which i hated wearing...I started working on lifting and carrying my baby differently and for me, it totally went away on its own with no other interventions and no more brace. I dont know if everyone is so lucky, but start at least by being cognizant of how you lift and hold your little guy and see if that helps at all...looks like everyone else has some good thoughts too, this definintely is not an uncommon thing for new mamas! Good luck and feel better!
Do talk to your dr, cause tendonitis is a possibility.
Another thing to consider is just your bodies hormones and readjusting. This happened for me closer to 3 months but all the stretching your joints did before in preparation for birth now your body is just trying to tighten them up again.
I did have occasional numbness in my thumb and index finger later on nursing, but that has went away. I wonder if it wasn't from how I was holding my daughter...repeatedly cutting off or reducing blood flow.
I've had very similar experience. I was told that the best way to fix it quickly was to stop using my hands! I, of course, laughed out loud. Then I was told that it should improve over time and as my son began to wean, and it has. I was also given the option of sleeping with wrist guards on, which will keep you from sleeping on your hands, which makes carpal tunnel worse. Didn't work for me because then I couldn't sleep at all. Might work for you, though.
The tendonitis is exacerbated by lifting and carrying heavy things (you know, like toddlers and diaper bags). By requiring my child to walk or ride in a stroller, and using the stroller or a backpack to carry diaper supplies, I managed to give my arms enough of a break to heal.
Good luck!
Oh, I remember having the same pain when my so was just born. I thought I was getting carpel tunnel syndrome from carrying his car seat, but then all the mothers in my mom's group seemed to have the same thing. I think it's pretty normal, though yours sounds extreme - you should consult your doctor about it. Mine went away after about three or four months even though I was still breast feeding, so not sure what you're experiencing is "normal" per se.
I don't know but sounds like you might have tendonitis. I have it, it's the pits! I'm taking tylenol and an antiflamatory drug. I'm also in phys. therapy. Go talk to your doctor but do it soon. Tendonitis can cause scar tissue and get worse.
Definitely make an appointment with your doctor so your symptoms can be diagnosed.
I’ve had a bad shoulder since my second daughter arrived, she is now 15 months old and enough was enough. I think I caused the pain by carrying her diaper bag and my purse on my right shoulder while I carried her in my left arm. Plus, I’m always reaching into the backseat of the car to give her a toy or bottle. My doctor recommended that I take Ibuprofen twice a day for a week and do some exercises. I tried that for a few days but didn’t like taking the medicine and didn’t feel much relief, plus the pain would return when I didn’t take the medicine. I didn’t want to continue stressing out my liver. What has worked for my joint pain, knees and rotator cuff is a natural supplement called Isotonix OPC-3. It's a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory qualities plus many other great benefits that you can read about. If you want more info I’d be happy to give you some resources.
After taking OPC-3 for a few days I already had greater mobility in my arm and I’ve started jogging again. Now I just take it regularly along with my Isotonix daily vitamins.
Also, wearing a wrist brace during the night had been helpful for my mother in law who had some carpal tunnel type symptoms with her wrists and arms. Wearing the brace also helps with the numb hands.
I hope this was helpful and if nothing else, gives you some things you can ask your doctor about.
It sounds like something you would want to have a doctor diagnose rather than on a chat board! It could be anything from Carpal to MS.
My daughter gained weight really fast and I have tendonitis in my wrists and forearms/elbows. She is now almost 8 months and I have been taking Ibubrofen 800 1x/day. I also see a rolfer! This is probably the best thing for it. The Dr. suggested wearing wrists splints but that really makes it much worse...I tried it. The rolfer can release the facial tissue that is bound up from overuse. Definitely before accepting any suggestion of surgery, you should find a rolfer in your area.
Best
Sounds just like the tendonitis I experienced years ago and am now again thanks to carrying around a 16 lb. infant in the carseat all the time! Massage and chiropractic, along with ice, stretching, and a wrist brace when lifting help but the only thing that made it go away for me was acupuncture. There was one visit where it hurt so bad down my arms afterward that I cried all night, but the next day it was gone for years!
Hello:
I am sorry for the pain you are going through. Any added stress is always a pain the rear when you are a mom! Anyways, I am a distributor of a product called Xango. It is a NATURAL juice supplement that is FULL of natural Anti-Inflammatories! It has pretty much disipated my husbands joint pain as well as his allergies!! It has MANY other healing properties as well. Please check out my website... www.mymangosteen.com/bandt I would love to hear from you and answer any questions on this product. AND, it is TOTALLY SAFE FOR NURSING MOMS! As I am one also! It's all natural and is derived from a tropical fruit. You can't take too much of it! And, it tastes wonderful. My 3 year old LOVES it!!
I had it so bad at the end of my pregnancy that I would wake up almost crying it hurt so bad! My chiropractor helped a little, but it was due to the hormones and my tissues swelling from the pregnancy. Hormones are wierd that way. What REALLY helped me was icing on for 20 minutes and then off. That's probably way too much but I swear it's the only thing that helped me. I took lots of vitamin B too but the ice is what really helped. You're in my prayers!
C. M.
Yep. I have the same problema. I have a 9 month old daughter and am still nursing her. I have been told, by a friend that went to a physical therapist for it, to put your wrists in cold water for 1 minute, then hot water for 1 minute....just cold and hot from the tap. Hope that helps! It helps me a bit, when of course I find the time to do it! :)
Hi! From what I have learned and experienced, our bodies give us signs like aches and pains to tell us they are not getting enough of the right nutients...80-90% of preventive degenerative disease is caused from a nutritional deficiency according to the USDA. My muscle aches and TMJ were due to a lack of calcium and when I got enough of the right kind that absorbed, it went away.
About me: I am a SAHM with a 6 and 4 year old. I own my own wellness buisness coaching people to achieve their own health and buisness goalw.
Hello,
I used to work a factory job that had gave me hand/wrist pain due to repetitive stress. The best thing I did was to sleep in stiff wrist braces, but not use the braces during the day. When you sleep, you don't realize that you are laying on your hands, or having them in a quirky position that is stressful or cuts off circulation, weakening the area, and the braces help resist that. During the day, then, activity strengthens the muscles so that the joints are supported. Also a massage therapist may have good stretches for that.
good luck, and hope you feel better soon!
hi,I suspect you need to see a chiropracter first. Your symptoms are those of a spinal mis-alignment that can pinch/crowd the nerves to your arms and legs. A consultation is free,to start with,and could be your best answer. Good luck, N.
I had some of this since my last 2 pregnancies and I remember needing to prop up my arm on a pillow at night! My midwives said it was common during pregnancy as many nutritional deficiency symptoms are since the nourishment is going to the baby. This carried over while nursing and didn't even fully go away after that for me. It cleared up when I started taking the wonderful nutrition we heard about through a friend. We have another friend who had carpel tunnel really bad and was wearing magnets and braces at times and now is doing great and no longer needs them due to this great nutrition. If you want more information on it let me know.
M.
I have had tendonitis in both forearms for 14 years. I also have weak joints to begin with. Mine will never go away and I am destined to develop carpal Tunnel if I am not careful. I have done the Physical Therapy route (which is the BEST), visited the chiropractor (also AWESOME), rested (like that happens with kids), worn splints, taken Tylenol, Valium, and a variety of other muscle relaxers. It subsides for a while, then returns after a bit if I do too much and if I am not in good fitness shape.
Start with making sure you are hydrated and eating well. Proper nutrition is VERY important. Check your posture. I found that I would kind of stoop when chasing after my two kids...once I saw that on video, I started making sure I walked straight and tall. Build a strong core with yoga, pilates, or other strength-training exercises. Everything is connected.
Do stretching exercises: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXwfabQdcck&feature=re.... Use a heated wrap on the affected area before stretching, which will relax the muscles. One of my favorites is to sit in a chair, then let your arms dangle at your side, feeling your arms get longer and let your shoulders drop. Sometimes I hold a small amount of weight, which helps elongate those tendons.
Limit your time at the computer and check the monitor height and keyboard heights, as improper position encourage "hunching". Rest as much as possible and make sure that your activities are being performed properly. Don't "break" the wrist when doing activities, this causes your forearms to work harder.
I wish you the best of luck. With proper care, you can correct the problem.
Hi A.,
I have tendonitis, and I have never experienced any loss of control over my hands like you mentioned. I have had numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers, like they fell asleep (as you mentioned that yours didn't), and haven't been able to feel them or move them because of that, but once the circulation came back, I could use them again. I'm thinking I have an as yet undiagnosed circulation problems because of other symptoms in other areas, plus my hands are always cold.
My tendonitis *was* diagnosed years ago, though, by a nerve test they did using tiny electric busrts in different places on my fingers, hands, and arms. Not sure if there's a different way now.
Definately go get checked out and see if you don't have some sort of circulation problem, and have them check for tendonitis/CT and nerve issues too.
Depending on the degree of tendonitis, you can definately live with it and manage it. Some have surgery, but I was told it would only help in the here and now, and when I got old, the pain would be much worse, and almost non-stop.
Good luck,
K. W
I would try icing and see a massage therapist. If you rub perpendicular to the muscles it can help. If you lay your arm across your belly (palm on your waist) about 3 inches down from the crook of your elbow you'll feel your muscle and it's probably tight. If you rub across it that can help release the muscles. It's also good to press the thumb of one hand into the meaty part between your thumb and finger on the other hand. Good luck and see a reputable massage therapist as they can really help too.
Hi Up until about a year ago, I had your symptoms and more. I was having a very difficult time and a lot of pain. My doctor was leaning towards Carpal Tunnel, I was wearing braces on my wrists and my doctor was mentioning surgery and changes in my lifestyle, mainly not continuing to take care of my horse boarding facility. Quite by accident my best friend came across a supplement called Isotonix OPC-3 and she wanted me to start taking it, not necessarily for my wrist/arm problem, however within three months my pain, numbness, stiffness was gone and I haven't looked back since. I do not wear my braces at all, do not have any problems whatsoever, work my barn and horses full time again. I started taking the supplement a year ago April and by July of last year I have been symptom free. I have since become a distributor for the Isotonix products and more. Please look into this supplement, my web portal is www.mymalltoshop.com You will find all sorts of info on this product and it's many properties that are helping with many different ailments, including allergies, asthma, blood circulation, inflammation to name a few. There is an info video to watch as well and the science to back it up. If you have any questions or need any help please call me or email me, thanks and good luck! M. ###-###-#### ____@____.com
