If you've had tendonitis--what worked? what didn't?

momto4girls · 09-06-2016, 10:38 AM

I haven't been able to use my computer much at all the past few weeks because I've had severe tendonitis in my wrists from way too much driving the past several months. Its in both wrists, and the pain has made me pretty useless a lot of days. I would love to hear from others' experiences--if any. So far what has not worked: nsaids, wrist brace
What has helped: rest, ice, massaging tight muscles in forearm
unknown but also trying: collagen dietary supplement

Since starting my own massage efforts, I'm seeing some improvement--which is why I'm able to type this.

I'm trying really hard to avoid a steroid/cortisone injection, but I may see a doctor soon in hopes of being referred to an occupational therapist.

**Kidkraz** · 09-06-2016, 01:14 PM

I am NOT a medical person, so I would check with your doctor first. I emailed my doc before adding to my meds, so that I wasn't over medicating with OTC stuff.

I have the same issue and have had a few flairups in the past. I've used Asper creme, and recently Salon Pas pads, which seem to work very well. My doc gave me wrist splints and said to use them at night. I applied a Salon Pas pad cut down small enough to sit on the top of the wrist and then put the splint on and crashed. Again, not a medical person, but this has worked for me; but these actions maybe totally wrong for you.

eddugo · 09-06-2016, 01:56 PM

I get severe tendonitis. I use Walgreens muscle rub in the red package - gets hot and helps relieve the pain. If it's in my elbow, I use a band on my forearm - the ones you see on football players. My Dr said there is only one cure, ... rest.

**fairweatherfisherman** · 09-06-2016, 02:02 PM

I had severe wrist, forearm, and finger pain. It was most acute years ago and was I think 90% computer keyboard, 10% picking the guitar. To recover it was 4 Advil, 3 times a day, ice, rest, and exercise. Then preventative exercise to keep it from recurring. Ten years later, it was Tennis Elbow. Same thing pretty much. Then shoulder problems. Same cure. So now I've got a set of exercises I do 3 or 4 times a week and those problems don't recur. New ones do though, developed Golfer elbow carrying too heavy a load repeatedly. On the mend there too. I would very strongly encourage you to see the Dr. and ask for 2 or 3 therapy sessions a week.

BrucePerens · 09-06-2016, 03:44 PM

Ibuprofen works for me but my physician prescribed a "theraputic" dose which is greater than you would use without a physician's advice. Usually taking 4 at once will substantially reduce inflammation, and when things have been bad that's been several times a day, but again get your doctor to say so first because these things might be bad for your liver, etc.

Use a wrist rest and an ergonomic keyboard on your computer, and have both a mouse and a trackball so that you can switch between them. The good keyboards have switches made by Cherry, and they will refer to the color of the switch to indicate whether the keys click or not.

In general I don't buy acetominiphen any longer. Don't mix acetominiphen (Paracetamol or APAP in some countries) with alcohol. Even without alcohol dose tolerance is poor, and acetominiphen is the biggest cause of liver failure and accounts for most OTC drug overdoses!

trailbiker · 09-06-2016, 03:56 PM

Arnica seems to work for me.

GolfingDebby · 09-06-2016, 05:23 PM

Joint Flex cream. Little more expensive, but works wonders for the pain.

momto4girls · 09-08-2016, 10:53 AM

thanks for all the suggestions! still tying to avoid the computer as much as possible. right hand bothering me the most today, so im pecking with my left. pardon the typos. got a recommendation for a dr last night at church, so i will get an appt and go from there. I really want those therapy sessions. interested in some of these creams that were mentioned...trip to drug store later.

**Kidkraz** · 09-08-2016, 12:18 PM

mom, I forgot to mention one other treatment I do. Acupuncture, it works and has helped me keep a very bad back under control.

clan_salmons · 09-08-2016, 08:53 PM

Do a search for a gyroscopic wrist exerciser. My son is a programmer who was having a lot of wrist issues and he purchased one of these (Powerball if I remember correctly). It takes a bit of practice to get it reved up, but once it gets going it's amazing how much force it generates. It will wear your arm out in no time, but it took care of his problems.