Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Go Easy with those hands on the breast!

Now now. Before you start thinking naughty naughty thoughts on what this post is all about, let me just assure you that there is nothing of this sort.

After delivery, my wife over the last 1.5 months have suddenly developed an acute pain in her left wrist. It got worse to a point that she could not even hold a cup of water properly without feeling any pain. We bought a wrist guard thinking that she could have sprained her wrist but it doesn’t seem to help.

Finally, not being able to bear the pain much longer, we made an appointment to see an orthopaedic in Damansara Specialist Centre yesterday.

The moment we walked in and told him about the pain, he asked “Have you just given birth?” Both of us were astonished and asked him how he knew. (Looking back, it’s kind of foolish, asking a specialist whom is paid and is expected to know such things). He said “You have De Quervain’s Tendinitis.”

“Huh? What De Q…what?”

Apparently, De Quervain’s Tendinitis occurs when the tendons around the base of the thumb are irritated and constricted. Tendinitis meant that the tendons are swollen and hence the thickening of the tendons results in pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist. Tendinitis is caused by overuse and can also be seen in association to pregnancy and is usually more common in middle-aged woman. (More information here) (My wife is going to kill me for calling her `middle-aged'. Sensitive word!)

baby,babynme,tendinitis,pregnancy

He asked whether my wife has been overusing his left wrist or thumb lately. I gave her a quick glance and smiled. She has been faithfully expressing her breast milk for baby Ryan and have been vigorously massaging her breast using her left hand, putting a lot of pressure on her wrist and thumb. (She is adamant that she must have a certain volume each session!)

There you have it. Go easy with your hands when you are expressing breast milk. It might be hand that needs medication and not the breast.

The doctor gave her a cocticosteriods injection into the tendon sheath to reduce the swelling and pain, as well as a dose of anti-inflammatory medication. All in all, the 20 minutes visit cost us RM350. RM350 to learn a new medical jargon and spell it right too. DE QUERVAIN’S TENDINITIS. (Sounds like a spell from Harry Potter, doesn’t it?)

14 comments:

Unknown said...

great rodney,i have found another blogger friend who shares same thoughts like i do,btw how old is ryan now, i hve got two one 11 jovial the other 7 marvell.

take care bro, if you dont mind can i link you up in blog roll, seek thy permission first

Daddy said...

Hi eugene. Thanks bro. I'm 45. I have a 17 old son and 9 year daughter with my ex. They are in NZ now. Ryan is my latest. 4.5 months old. No problem bro...link away...and thanks

Sasha Tan said...

thats a very expensive lesson. haha

Umma said...

Great post Daddy Ryan.. I never thought that, hmmm need to be careful when using our hands.. I encountered that kind of numb feeling too I guess bec I use to type too much in the computer when I was still working.

Ju Ann said...

Hey I seldom come across such a dedicated father and husband... :) Nice to meet you! Thanks for dropping by my blog.

Daddy said...

Hi Sasha. Thanks for dropping by. Yupe. Definitely an expensive lesson.

Daddy said...

Hi Umma. Yupe. The doctor said that too because my wife is in the IT line and the laptop is her life. Also common apparently with golfers.

Daddy said...

Hi Ju Ann. Thanks for dropping by and thanks for the compliment. Do come back more often.

Irene said...

ohhh, now i know. ter-sprain the wrist is called 'wat the Q ah"... hehe! ask wifey to careful :) we need to slow down on the PC mouse also ler :(

Daddy said...

Hi Irene. Yupe. After paying Rm350, now I know. Very common with those who uses their thumbs and wrist a lot. I have it too some time back when I played lots of golf. Now, Ryan plays me!!!!

Anonymous said...

oic.. learned new things here ;) btw, I found young daddy is more 'careless' as compare to middle-aged daddy eh??

ops.. sorry sorry.. ;P

Daddy said...

Hi Agnes. I was definitely careless when I was younger. But I find many caring younger fathers as well. I guess times have changed and man's mindset about parenting and fatherhood has also evolved for the better, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

Hey, I had the same thing too! Took me a few visits to several doctors to find out what is was. But you know what really cured it? When I adjusted my seat so that my wrist position on my mouse was more ergonomically friendly!

Daddy said...

Hi Giddy. Yupe. The doctor said that it is a common problem with certain professionals as well. IT being one of them. He also mentioned people like tailors. So go easy with those thumbs and hands...Can be rather painful...

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