Tendonitis--anyone else?

I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had a problem with tendonitis in their wrists after their babies were born--the pain started about 2 months ago every once in a while and got to a point where i was losing strength and afraid i would drop a baby, so i went to the dr and it turns out it's tendonitis, i have been wearing a wrist brace for the past 10 days (4 more to go)---but now it's starting on my left wrist too....the babies arent exactly all that heavy, and i just feel like a wuss who couldnt take it!! this despite the dr's story that it's fairly common in first time moms, and a funny story about treating a new MOT and then having HER mom come in 2 weeks later with the same thing! has anyone else had this problem? i never even heard of the possibility before...

 

It is called "mommy thumb" and yes I have had it and NO you are not a wimp. It hurts like HECK! It is from using your hands to do too much lifting and from putting your thumb and fingers under a baby's armpit to lift it up. I had it will DD #1 but not with the twins yet. I got it when she was about 13 months and had it on and off for about a year. I used a sports creme called BioFreeze like Ben Gay or Icy Hot and had DH wrap it very tightly in an ace bandage for a week straight... that usually cured it. HTH. Hang in there.

 

OMG -- me!! My left wrist is a mess. I haven't been to the doctor yet, but I'm assuming it's the same thing. I think it comes from repeatedly picking up babies, all day, every day....

I have a brace, but I find it hard to wear a brace and do anything, not to mention change diapers and wash my hands as often as I do. Right now, I'm actually wearing a thick magnetic bracelet on my left wrist -- the sort that golfers wear to help their game -- and it seems to be helping. People say wearing magnetic jewelry helps with all sorts of ailments -- I'm not sure about that, sounds like a lot of hocus pocus to me -- but still, my wrist has improved a lot after I started wearing it.

I had something similar after my older DD was born, in the other wrist actually -- and it finally went away after about a year.

 

I have it in my elbow. It is so painful! I am so glad i am not the only one suffering! Let's all hang in there and this to shall pass

 

I had it in my elbow too. I thought it was from the constant patting after/during feedings. Went away with ibuprophen, now it's fine.

KS

 

I am hand therapist and see stuff like this all the time, like many of the pp posters said it comes from the way we are lifting up our babies. Even using all the joint/muscle protection techniques I know, I still am sore by the end of the day, our bodies just weren't made to lug around 2 babies all the time. The braces will help to rest, but it may not be a bad idea to get the doctor to sent you to therapy, even one visit to learn different ways of lifting can help and some simple stretches that take 30 seconds to do.

 

Me Me Me! I just can't find the time to go see a doctor! But OUCH!!!!!

 

Yes I had it too and still do, although sometimes are worse than others. I found that wearing a wrist brace, even at night, really helped. You are just using it in an entirely different motion than you probably ever have before and more vigorously too.