Any joint experts/arthritis experts/anyone completely amateur who wants to have a go at diagnosing my wrist issue which my GP is bored with?

[treguffin]

So every now and again my left wrist does what I can only describe as 'pings'. It feels as though something has literally snapped - agonising pain - and I mean agonising, in that when I move it it makes me cry out, and if I twist it by accident it is so painful it makes me almost black out - trying not to be too dramatic but I am normally pretty stoic and this is horrific pain. Then after a while (usually a good few hours, the longest its lasted is about 12 hours), something 'releases' and its fine. It goes from agony to absolutely fine in seconds.

I've had it x rayed and they found crystals in the joint and some very mild arthritic changes. Tested me for gout and I didn't have it. GP says arthritis and just to take paracetamol. But this doesn't seem like arthritis - there is a definite bulge when it happens at the side of my wrist, which disappears when it releases. Also wouldn't arthritis hurt all the time, or at least ache? GP says there is nothing more they can investigate, but I'd love to know what it might be as it is completely debilitating when I am having an 'attack'. Thank you!

Apologies. Despite having had a good look at all the categories I have started this in completely the wrong section...

• * [Edited by MNHQ - moved thread to General health section] * *

I have no clue but mine does it too, right wrist for me though. Hurts like hell when it happens. I'm at the gp wed for another reason so I'm going to ask about it then.

Really? Let me know what they say. Ironically I broke my right wrist a couple of years ago, really badly, but that one is fine!

De Quervains syndrome?

www.bssh.ac.uk/patients/conditions/19/de_quervains_syndrome

My first question would be have you been to see a musculoskeletal specialist (physio would be your best initial first port of call)?
With a history like you have described you really need a thorough joint assessment which would involve a detailed history, examination and possibly some blood tests or further imaging doing. Attempting an accurate diagnosis without this is likely to be unsuccessful.

[quote Ihaventgottimeforthis]De Quervains syndrome?

www.bssh.ac.uk/patients/conditions/19/de_quervains_syndrome[/quote]
that sounds very like it except the pain and swelling are on the other side, under my little finger and just behind the knobbly bit of your wrist

@TheShadoutCrepes

My first question would be have you been to see a musculoskeletal specialist (physio would be your best initial first port of call)? With a history like you have described you really need a thorough joint assessment which would involve a detailed history, examination and possibly some blood tests or further imaging doing. Attempting an accurate diagnosis without this is likely to be unsuccessful.

No I haven't. Not sure how I'd go about it - none of the physios I know would do blood tests?

Ganglions? Diagnosis via ultrasound is required. Or an mri scan? If you can afford to go private it’s a few hundred pounds.

I also find wearing wrist supports helps too.

This happens to my DH when a ganglion appears ( they can go away on their own and then recur).

No idea what yours is though!

it does sound as though it could be some sort of tendonopathy - but it comes and goes so abruptly, it really does feel as though something has 'popped out' and then goes back in again

www.osmifw.com/volar-retinacular-cysts/

Volar retinacular cyst?

My hip does that. Usually when I'm getting on a horse which is helpful. It takes my breath away and I can't do anything for the time until it resolves

I had a ganglion a few years ago and the way you have described it going 'ping' and agonising pain which then disappears sounds very much like what I experienced. I knocked mine and it went although the pain when I knocked it was excruciating. I don't know if a ganglion would show on an x-ray?

Re physios and bloods. If you see an advanced physio (ACP) they can order bloods. However, that’s getting ahead of things. The most important part of an assessment is taking a detailed history which any MSK physio worth their salt will be able to do. If they have concerns that the cause is rheumatological they can discuss with the GP.

Honestly OP, fishing for amateur diagnoses on mumsnet is just a massive waste of time, you need someone qualified and experienced to ask the right questions and then perform a physical exam.

My knee used to do that and I could move the lump around under my skin, then it would go pop and disappear somewhere deeper into the joint. I was referred to the orthopaedic surgeon, who removed 3 little pieces of bone that had been floating around in the joint. They were the size of a pea.

I should add with my hip it is like it dislocates, I get excruciating pain and can't speak/do anything and have to stay completely still, then the pain goes and I can move again and it will be absolutely fine until the next time

@NotMyCat

I should add with my hip it is like it dislocates, I get excruciating pain and can't speak/do anything and have to stay completely still, then the pain goes and I can move again and it will be absolutely fine until the next time

yes - this is exactly what mine feels like. Hip must be even worse :-(

On Saturday night I ended up going to bed early with my forearm on a bed of cushions to try and keep it still. It was so painful I had half a teaspoon of morphine (supplied by dr for broken arm 18 months ago )

@TheShadoutCrepes

Re physios and bloods. If you see an advanced physio (ACP) they can order bloods. However, that’s getting ahead of things. The most important part of an assessment is taking a detailed history which any MSK physio worth their salt will be able to do. If they have concerns that the cause is rheumatological they can discuss with the GP.

Honestly OP, fishing for amateur diagnoses on mumsnet is just a massive waste of time, you need someone qualified and experienced to ask the right questions and then perform a physical exam.

I think of this as more like talking to friends about what's happening, with the added advantage that you might reach someone who has experienced the same thing.

Or you might reach someone who has experienced similar symptoms as a result of a completely different cause . I’m unsure how that is in anyway helpful 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, best of luck with sorting it OP.

@TheShadoutCrepes

Or you might reach someone who has experienced similar symptoms as a result of a completely different cause . I’m unsure how that is in anyway helpful 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, best of luck with sorting it OP.

thank you

@NotMyCat

I should add with my hip it is like it dislocates, I get excruciating pain and can't speak/do anything and have to stay completely still, then the pain goes and I can move again and it will be absolutely fine until the next time

I'm sorry to say that is exactly how my hip arthritis started. I thought it was groin strain for years, had phyiso for strain etc. Until the day I saw a different physio who packed me off for x-rays. I got a hip replacement just before the first lockdown which has changed my life. No more waking up in agony when my groin goes snap inside anymore.

well, yes, I suppose mine could be the arthritis, but I would have thought that would ache a lot generally

@thenightsky how old were you? This has been happening I would say since I was mid twenties
I generally just ignore it as I have a million other issues

Around late 30s

No clue what's going on with you, but as it's a joint definitely go see a physiotherapist

I have had 3 occasions where the GP could find nothing wrong, I was referred to orthopaedics, had x-rays, still nothing wrong. Still in pain!

Went to see private physios and they worked out what the problem was straight away.

One occasion my knees were hurting but nothing could be found there despite all the investigations that had been done on my knees. That was because the problem was in my feet - and the physio was the first person to look at my feet.