computer arm/wrist pain orthopaedic query

dustinjames

sorry dont know if this is right thread to post this:

hi
Have been seeing GP for weeks about computer pain in arm and wrist, he dismissed it and just said rest. Finally he sent me to orthopaedic.

Orthopaedic meeting felt like a waste of time. Firstly, he didnt even seem qualified and said his background was in Physiotherapy.

And it seemed he had another agenda which was to deny anything was wrong and my health was perfect. He gave me no advice, no medical terms were given to him from me, i had to question and question him:
is it RSI? no, is it carpel tunnel sydrome? No, is it tennis elbow? No.
So what is it? "its nothing"

He answered NO to everthing. It was like he didnt know what to say or do. There is something clearly wrong as i get pain and discomfort in arms and wrists and it has slowed me down and i hardly use computers anymore because of it. There must be a term for this, or i could be in early stages for something? Ive adjusted my computer technique and use specialist equipement even, yet the pain

I said do you suggest a wrist support? He said NO, he said i would become reliant on it.

It was like he wanted to save money with his "budget" and wasnt willing to investigate or do anything helpful.

He said my joints are fine. I said so is it a muscular thing? he said possibly.

I said can you not give me or tell me ANYTHING so i can go away and read up on it on internet? he said NO. He said nothing was wrong with me.

Can i get a second opinion? Thing is GP was reluctant to send me to orthopaedic too as he is worried about his budget.

My friend had similar symptons and went private, they did test after test and found the problem and surgery was done and now they are using computers daily comfortably.

Should they have done x-rays on me?

thankyou for any advice.

is orthopaedic the correct doctor to treat me?

sox8369

Hmm that all seems a bit odd - if it still hurts i would ask for a second opinion/referral - but just using common sense, the body is designed to work pain free - if something hurts there is a reason for it - even if its old age, muscular, joint related, rsi or whatever - there surely has got to be an approximate cause ?

dustinjames

sox8369 wrote: »

Hmm that all seems a bit odd - if it still hurts i would ask for a second opinion/referral - but just using common sense, the body is designed to work pain free - if something hurts there is a reason for it - even if its old age, muscular, joint related, rsi or whatever - there surely has got to be an approximate cause ?

thankyou
exactly, my whole using the arms and wrists in daily life has changed, slowed down, feel weak and down because of it. Its worrying as I am still young. Yet the only help I have had is to learn from internet on techniques and gear to use. Doctors have dismissed me and said its ok.

I told my GP i wasnt happy with orthopaedic, GP said no x-rays or anything can be done, no tests. I dont think i need injections or surgery i agree, but some kind of help should have been given, even if information or in depth tests.

Yes the cause is obviously the computer I feel.
So i dont use it like i used to. I am slow on it now.
The doctors have not told me a single useful thing.

All or alot of symptons ive read for RSI and computer discomfort symtpons are what I have and do feel.

physio i saw a year ago told me to NOT do weight training and that she felt it was more a spinal thing as root cause. The "orthopaedic" said my neck and spine refelxes were fine and that weight training is fine to do and i could do it.

cyberbob

If they don't think its anything major have they referred you for physio? If not you can ask your GP to. The physio can then always refer on if they think it's something they are unable to deal with.

I had a major problem with pain in my elbow which was agony. It ended up being a muscle in my neck. After Orthopaedics it ended up that physio found and solved the problem

Errata

Is this a PC at work ? If so, ask for the position of your chair, desk and PC to be checked out and set up correctly for you. If it's a home PC, read this and act on it http://ergonomics.about.com/od/office/ss/computer_setup.htm

dustinjames

cyberbob wrote: »

If they don't think its anything major have they referred you for physio? If not you can ask your GP to. The physio can then always refer on if they think it's something they are unable to deal with.

I had a major problem with pain in my elbow which was agony. It ended up being a muscle in my neck. After Orthopaedics it ended up that physio found and solved the problem

they have sent me packing. Orthopaedic was a complete waste of time, i learnt nothing from him.

I can see a physio directly if i want to. I might.
Im changing my GP as Ive moved so ill speak to the new GP in time.

how did physio solve your problem? excercises?

ive been asking doctors/physios/orthopaedic, how can i get stronger? make it better? they are dumbfounded. Surely there must be helpful things to do to strengthen my computer use and decrease the weakness in arms/wrists.

sox8369

I certainly would follow it up - maybe ask for blood tests or something because it could even be a virus (my dad could hardly move his arms for several months and then xrayed etc and it turned out to be a virus !!!

Not meant to be medical advice - just an observation that maybe it could be something else - but it has to be something !!!

BLT_2

dustinjames wrote: »

sorry dont know if this is right thread to post this:

hi
Have been seeing GP for weeks about computer pain in arm and wrist, he dismissed it and just said rest. Finally he sent me to orthopaedic.

Orthopaedic meeting felt like a waste of time. Firstly, he didnt even seem qualified and said his background was in Physiotherapy.

And it seemed he had another agenda which was to deny anything was wrong and my health was perfect. He gave me no advice, no medical terms were given to him from me, i had to question and question him:
is it RSI? no, is it carpel tunnel sydrome? No, is it tennis elbow? No.
So what is it? "its nothing"

He answered NO to everthing. It was like he didnt know what to say or do. There is something clearly wrong as i get pain and discomfort in arms and wrists and it has slowed me down and i hardly use computers anymore because of it. There must be a term for this, or i could be in early stages for something? Ive adjusted my computer technique and use specialist equipement even, yet the pain

I said do you suggest a wrist support? He said NO, he said i would become reliant on it.

It was like he wanted to save money with his "budget" and wasnt willing to investigate or do anything helpful.

He said my joints are fine. I said so is it a muscular thing? he said possibly.

I said can you not give me or tell me ANYTHING so i can go away and read up on it on internet? he said NO. He said nothing was wrong with me.

Can i get a second opinion? Thing is GP was reluctant to send me to orthopaedic too as he is worried about his budget.

My friend had similar symptons and went private, they did test after test and found the problem and surgery was done and now they are using computers daily comfortably.

Should they have done x-rays on me?

thankyou for any advice.

is orthopaedic the correct doctor to treat me?

PSML at asking him if you should read it up on the internet. If you had spent so much time on the net you might not have the problem in the first place.

Then again those !!!!!! sites are quite addictive :rotfl:

dustinjames

sox8369 wrote: »

I certainly would follow it up - maybe ask for blood tests or something because it could even be a virus (my dad could hardly move his arms for several months and then xrayed etc and it turned out to be a virus !!!

Not meant to be medical advice - just an observation that maybe it could be something else - but it has to be something !!!

i had a blood test after i insisted, yet the blood test when i asked the nurse was very specific, and so they dont just test the blood for everything, it is just checked for a small number of things. Which is not very thorough i thought as something can easily be missed.
Blood test was fine doctor said.

I have other health problems i feel, so ive wonderd if i am lacking a certain vitamin or something.

I wish i was rich, i would go private and have a full check up.

sox8369

If i was rich i would be in the caribbean being waited on hand and foot and wouldnt have to deal with the planks that call themselves DWP/ATOS/NHS doctors !

But anyway - hope you get it sorted out !

juno

Get yourself down to Asda and buy a wrist support for your keyboard and possibly your mouse. Other places probably do them, but I don't know where, apart from Amazon and then you'll have to wait for delivery.

And consider changing your mouse. I swapped mine for one like this and don't know how I coped without it. My mouse mat has a built in wrist rest and it means I don't have to move my arm or wrist at all.

Also, talk to your doctor about possibly taking anti-inflammatory tablets or any painkillers. You need to talk to your doctor though as some can have bad side effects.

In the short term you need to stop using your computer, but then if you go back to it and do the same thing eventually the pain will reoccur.