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!

It sounds like a TFCC injury to me - www.bonsecours.com/health-care-services/orthopedics-sports-medicine/hand-wrist/conditions/triangular-fibrocartilage-complex-injury - does any of this ring a bell?

A calcified TFCC tear could absolutely show as crystallisation on an x-ray.

ok so the plot thickens

last night I twisted my wrist round trying to pick up a glass of water by my bed - ping - very sore - managed to sleep - this morning it is swollen and sore, not agony unless I twist it.

Go into the shower and wash hair - pain completely gone when I get out of shower.

it is so odd!

TFCC tear.

thanks - that sounds very likely. Sadly only confirmed by an MRI which gp has refused to give me, so I guess I will never know!

I believe a physio can refer you back to the GP with a probable diagnosis and recommendation for a scan to confirm.

Go back to your GP, say you think you have a TFCC tear, which is having an effect on your mobility and wrist function, and that you need an MRI and a physio/wrist specialist referral. If they say no, you need to ask why not. You have followed their advice, and your symptoms are worsening, so what do they suggest instead.
Be specific and firm.

@Masterblasterjammin

Go back to your GP, say you think you have a TFCC tear, which is having an effect on your mobility and wrist function, and that you need an MRI and a physio/wrist specialist referral. If they say no, you need to ask why not. You have followed their advice, and your symptoms are worsening, so what do they suggest instead. Be specific and firm.

Thank you. Having googled it it sounds very likely. I also have de quervains at the base of both thumbs, I'd got so used to my thumbs hurting when they are pulled back at all that I just ignore it.

I'm going to email them tomorrow in the 5 minute window they have for online requests!