de Quervain's Disease

Ever since my last two weeks of pregnancy, my right wrist has hurt. It didn't phase me at the time, considering I had a zillion other discomforts as well! I figured the pain was caused from sleeping on it (since I could only lay on my side while pregnant, I put my hand under my head and stayed in that position pretty much all night)--and it would go away once my baby was born.

Instead, my wrist pain got worse, especially during breastfeeding. I figured it was because I had to hold my son's head in one position for a long period of time. However, even when his neck became stronger and I could support his head with my arm, my wrist still didn't improve. I've tried every position out there but my baby turns three months old this Friday and my right wrist is worse than ever.

The nights are the most painful since I'm not using my wrist. A dozen times I've gone to pick my baby out of his crib and my wrist doesn't even work--so I nearly drop him!!! This is very scary. There is no swelling, redness, or any problems with my fingers or other wrist or joints--but an intense pain grates through my right wrist, and lately my lower thumb as well.

This has been going on for so long now (24/7) that I've decided I must go to the doctor. I plan to make an appt. tomorrow, but thought I'd try first to figure out what I have. So I went to Web MD and was fascinated that there is actually a PREGNANCY-related wrist problem!!!! Who would have thought?!?! (I was thinking my wrist just fell out of the socket or something but it sounds like hormones are to blame.)

At first I thought it might be carpal tunnel syndrome (since I'm also on the computer a lot and that can be caused by pregnancy due to swelling) but the more I read, the more it didn't fit.

Instead, my gut instinct tells me I have de Quervain's disease. There are A TON of website forums out there with women who are complaining of my exact symptoms/wrist pain following the birth of their baby and are searching for answers. Most all are breastfeeding, and most all end up being diagnosed with this wrist disease.

Even if it turns out I have something different, I decided I better let others know to watch out for this common pregnancy-caused condition because I've been suffering for three months thinking I just had minor joint pain that would go away any day--but de Quervain's won't without treatment. Don't suffer longer than you have to! According to Web MD:

de Quervain's Disease is inflammation of the tendons and the tendon sheath on the thumb side of the wrist. It may occur from injury to the wrist or tendon or as a result of activities that require repeated wrist and thumb movements, such as knitting, wringing clothes, or lifting heavy objects. It can also be the result of swelling and hormones during pregnancy.

Symptoms may include a grating feeling in the wrist and pain and weakness along the thumb, wrist, and forearm. Pain increases with activities such as lifting or pouring.

Initial treatment consists of rest, splinting, stretching, and medications to decrease inflammation. Physical therapy, a steroid injection, or surgery may sometimes be needed.

This pretty much describes me to a T, with the exception of doing anything to cause my wrist to hurt. Like I said, it started within my last two weeks of pregnancy so I was hardly active! (And I don't knit.) But, I do notice it hurts the most when I lift things with my right hand. And, I am breastfeeding, which is when the de quervain-causing hormones are the strongest. An article from the Journal of Family Practice says:

. . .a number of women in their last trimester of pregnancy or who were nursing mothers developed de Quervain's disease. Schumacher reviewed six cases of de Quervain's tendinitis occurring after the fifth month of pregnancy. Five of the six continued to have symptoms postpartum. All five were breast-feeding their babies.
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As if us breastfeeding mothers don't have enough problems to deal with!!! I am at least glad to read that it is not a permanent condition. It's serious at the time for those who are dealing with it, but not serious long-term or in connection to any other problems. If my doctor doesn't provide relief for me, then (after reading the case studies in the above article--which, btw, it almost always occurs in the right, not the left, hand even for me who is left handed) it sounds like once I cease breastfeeding my wrist will return to normal. . .so sometime within the next year. :/

For my follow up post, click here.