Hello there.
My name is Shaz and I am an artist suffering from severe hand and wrist pain. I'm looking for a bit of encouragement and maybe some advice as to whether my symtoms sound like TMS.
2 years ago now, I gave myself severe RSI (probably tendonitis) from drawing too much because of a tight deadline. I've had that problem before, and cured it with ibuprofens in the past. This time, it refused to go away. After a few months, the pain started to change, but generally i've not been able to draw painlessly ever since.
My symptoms usually start as an itching sensation in my wrist, more often at the ulnar side. Its a deep infuriating internal itch that I cant scratch and it drives me crazy. After I try and ignore the itch for a while, it progresses into an awful burning sensation. More recently, I've experienced tender finger joints, as though ive been gripping the pen too hard, and I've also had periods of severe elbow pain. The wrist pain can move around, and be either side or in the middle, however there are some regular spots that it hits. The pain can come on suddenly, slowly, or i can wake up with it. The only pattern is that it nearly always hits me after about 3 hours of drawing, and thats a good day.
I have tried heat and ice, anti-inflammatories, nerve pills, anti-depressants, about 5 different types of hand brace, resting for weeks on end, vitamin pills for several possible defficiencies, special gels, and more. I have seen several doctors, a hand specialist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a rheumatologist, a chiro, and a hand surgeon. I've had MRIs on both hands, ultrasound, blood tests. I've done all the stretches, the weights, the posture modifications, I even bought a better chair for my workdesk. According to the doctors, nothing is wrong (that they can find). The surgeon said nothing needs to be operated on. I have no weakness, no loss of movement or function. People have told me 'Its a good wrist'. I even tried drawing with my other hand for a while, but developed pain there as well, albeit a different pain (more of a nerve ache rather than itching/burning).
I read Dr Sarno's book January of this year. I was excited at the thought of recovery. I have reason to believe that my problem might be a mind-body issue, because I have some days where I am totally fine, but they are very rare. I am passionate about drawing, I am trained in animation, and to be honest, art is my life. Not being able to draw without pain has a huge effect on me emotionally. I fell into a depression with it all last year, and at that point, nearly all my joints were hurting. I want to truely believe its a mind problem, but lately I've had such consistent pain in the same area of my wrist, and its always after drawing for a couple of hours, that its so so hard sometimes to believe theres really nothing going on inside.
I'm trying to tackle my fear of drawing, but even though im drawing regularly again, i'm still plagued with this awful hand pain. I'm on the waiting list to see a therapist about inner stress/rage, so I hope that will help. In the meantime, can anyone relate to this situation, and would you say I could safely conclude its TMS? I'm finding it hard to come across people with my specific type of pain problem (itching/burning pain in the wrist). Any input would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks so very much!
-shaz
My name is Shaz and I am an artist suffering from severe hand and wrist pain. I'm looking for a bit of encouragement and maybe some advice as to whether my symtoms sound like TMS.
2 years ago now, I gave myself severe RSI (probably tendonitis) from drawing too much because of a tight deadline. I've had that problem before, and cured it with ibuprofens in the past. This time, it refused to go away. After a few months, the pain started to change, but generally i've not been able to draw painlessly ever since.
My symptoms usually start as an itching sensation in my wrist, more often at the ulnar side. Its a deep infuriating internal itch that I cant scratch and it drives me crazy. After I try and ignore the itch for a while, it progresses into an awful burning sensation. More recently, I've experienced tender finger joints, as though ive been gripping the pen too hard, and I've also had periods of severe elbow pain. The wrist pain can move around, and be either side or in the middle, however there are some regular spots that it hits. The pain can come on suddenly, slowly, or i can wake up with it. The only pattern is that it nearly always hits me after about 3 hours of drawing, and thats a good day.
I have tried heat and ice, anti-inflammatories, nerve pills, anti-depressants, about 5 different types of hand brace, resting for weeks on end, vitamin pills for several possible defficiencies, special gels, and more. I have seen several doctors, a hand specialist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a rheumatologist, a chiro, and a hand surgeon. I've had MRIs on both hands, ultrasound, blood tests. I've done all the stretches, the weights, the posture modifications, I even bought a better chair for my workdesk. According to the doctors, nothing is wrong (that they can find). The surgeon said nothing needs to be operated on. I have no weakness, no loss of movement or function. People have told me 'Its a good wrist'. I even tried drawing with my other hand for a while, but developed pain there as well, albeit a different pain (more of a nerve ache rather than itching/burning).
I read Dr Sarno's book January of this year. I was excited at the thought of recovery. I have reason to believe that my problem might be a mind-body issue, because I have some days where I am totally fine, but they are very rare. I am passionate about drawing, I am trained in animation, and to be honest, art is my life. Not being able to draw without pain has a huge effect on me emotionally. I fell into a depression with it all last year, and at that point, nearly all my joints were hurting. I want to truely believe its a mind problem, but lately I've had such consistent pain in the same area of my wrist, and its always after drawing for a couple of hours, that its so so hard sometimes to believe theres really nothing going on inside.
I'm trying to tackle my fear of drawing, but even though im drawing regularly again, i'm still plagued with this awful hand pain. I'm on the waiting list to see a therapist about inner stress/rage, so I hope that will help. In the meantime, can anyone relate to this situation, and would you say I could safely conclude its TMS? I'm finding it hard to come across people with my specific type of pain problem (itching/burning pain in the wrist). Any input would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks so very much!
-shaz
