Wrist/ECU tendon injury (I have one)?

[warped]

Early Feb (over 10 weeks ago now) I was doing a PT session, and was doing medicine ball burpees. I suspect I wasn't doing them correctly (in the pushup position I had my hands paralled with the floor on the medicine ball, as opposed to having my fingers pointing downwards at the floor).

Noticed a sudden uncomfortable feeling, like something in my wrist had clicked out - felt like I just had to adjust position for it to click back in again but it didn't happen and 3 pushups after this pain down the pinky side of my wrist - so I stopped workout).

I rested it for 2 weeks, no improvement.

Saw a physio who gave me some exercises to do and showed me how to tape my wrist - this went on for 4 weeks no improvement.

Spoke to a Radiologist who recommended seeing GP for a MRI referral. Explained my injury/symptoms to first GP and he said "No you work in IT, it must be RSI fix your desk ergonomics" - eventually got a referral for an ultrasound (he wouldn't give me a referral for an MRI).

Ultrasound showed a little fluid - nothing major.

Saw a second GP who said I had good grip, good range of movement, it's fine - just rest it.. Eventually got him to give me a referral for MRI.

This is now 8 weeks post injury. I had the MRI - diagnosis:

"Injury to the palmar aspect of the ECU tendon subsheath resulting in ECU tendon subluxation and mild tendinopathy"

Took results back to GP who gave the MRI referral who didn't understand the MRI results and said it sounds like you have a sprained wrist (this is now 10 weeks post injury).

I had a steroid injection in to the ECU subsheath a week ago - not sure if it's made much difference.

I'm booked in to see a plastics consultant (they look after the hand/wrist side of things) in 2 weeks time.

There still doesn't seem to be much improvement. I haven't lifted weights for 12 weeks now since the injury. I've been wearing a proper wrist brace for 4 weeks now, I've limited use of my right hand (all jokes aside).

There is no pain when I'm not doing anything. However any weight baring activity with my wrist causes pain, and lateral movement of my had with resistance causes pain, and anything that resembles a pushup (like getting up off the floor, etc) causes great pain. (Always pain at the pinky side of my wrist).

Has anyone had an injury like this before? I have read a few horror stories online (requires surgery, cast, 6 months recovery time, rehab,etc).

I'm finding the time between seeing people (2 weeks wait for MRI, 2 weeks wait for plastics expert, etc) is really making it difficult to find answers.

Thanks,
-D

 

[Riddles]

Where are you warped? City?

 

[warped]

Hi Riddles, I live in Frankston 1 hour south east of Melbourne

 

[Riddles]

If you were nearby I could have suggested someone.

I haven't had a similar injury but I might suggest the following.

Most gps sick at sports injuries. They just do. You want to see someone who is familiar with nurses preferably specialising in the hand. A quick google shows me that there is a hand therapy clinic at Frankston. This is probably going to be your best port of call and at the very least they should be able to understand the comments on your mri and suggest any further treatment.

 

[warped]

Thanks Riddles,
I have the Plastics consultation next week - hopefully they can go through the MRI results and give me a good idea on what's required for best recovery. If not I'll see the hand specialist clinic you posted.

 

[RwR]

Hey warped, sorry about this delay, but I hope I can help. Currently, I am in a long arm cast, and I have had it since February. (Injured in October). These horror stories are somewhat true, but with surgery, it should take a total of twelve weeks to heal, this includes therapy.

Hope this helps,

RwR

 

[taurus]

possibly carpal tunnel (spelling?)

 

[zan777]

Sounds like a hand version of my foot injury. Heard a pop in my ankle. The retinaculun in my ankle which holds the tendon in place has torn and then the tendon could move freely over the knob on the outside of my ankle. I had physio to strengthen it but it will never fully recover (without surgery). Took about 4 months to be restore normal movement but the tendon still subluxes over the bone (anoying at times but doesn't impact performance)

Sounds like u have done similar damage although not to the retinaculun but the sheeth that plays a similar role holding the tendon in place. Because the sheeth can't hold the tendon in place it will slide about. Rest and physio might fix it but if like it sounds you aren't seeing improvement u might need surgery to reinforce the sheeth.

This is just my opinion, like others have mentioned your best bet is to see a sports surgeon or wrist specialist.

 

[zan777]

Also extensor carpi ulnaris (ecu) as the name suggests is used in extension so you should have normal (painless) grip strength and also explains why u get pain when the wrist is in the extended "push-up" position

 

[warped]

Thanks for all the info.

RwR - so you have had your arm in a cast for 3 months? Yikes! How did you injure your wrist? Are you considering surgery?

Taurus - so far no one has mentioned carpal tunnel as a possibility - I did ask about this and nobody I spoke to (Radiologists, Plastics consultant, Ortho consultant) said it sounded like this.

I just got back from a 3 week holiday (no 8hr days with a mouse in my hand) and it has improved a little (I had some other issues with my wrist/hand that seem to have cleared up - like pain at the pinky side of my hand, and deep in my wrist - the first MRI showed some 'tendonitis/inflammation where the 2 forearm bones met at the wrist'. I was taking a 100mg Voltarin tablet every day so maybe all my inflammation has cleared up and I'm left with just the ECU injury). Now the only pain I get is right in the ECU subsheath area.

I get the pain 'lifting' myself up off a chair, slinging a backpack over my shoulder, etc.. I tried some gym/weights and everything seems fine except bicep curls (which hurt quite a lot)

I tentatively tested out my golf swing for the first time since the injury and it seemed relatively pain free.

I have a follow up consultation with the Plastics consultant next week so I'll see what they think. The initial consultation came to the conclusion that I can wait for all inflammation to go down and see how it affects me (may get occasional painless clicking which I could probably live with, or it may cause me pain/affect my way of life - in which case she suggested surgery).

Perhaps a follow up MRI might show any changes/improvements since the last one? And perhaps I could get the MRI with different wrist positions (supinated/pronated)

I'll let you know how it goes - thanks for all your comments

 

[warped]

I saw the plastic consultant again - gee they really rush you in and out of consultation room.

Her opinion was that if there has been some improvement (which there has been, but it's still quite painfull if I pick something up the wrong way or move my hand suddenly) then keep resting it, try not to do anything that causes pain as this can disrupt the formation of scar tissue and healing and see her for follow up in 6 weeks.

She said with the risks associated with an operation (ie, loss of full movement, etc) it should be an absolute last resort.

Now I work in IT, have switched from a mouse to a trackball and can manage ok. If I was a tradesman I would have been unable to work since late January (that would mean 4-5 months off work) - at this rate I could be resting and waiting to see if it gets better for the next 5 years.. Should I see someone else?