My Wrists Are Killing Me, and My Nose Plugged up on ONE Side (For 2 Weeks!)

Hi L.,

I know how annoying it is to have the plugged nose on one side. It could be a sinus infection, but I have a great homeopathic remedy that you can do at home yourself and is even effective against strep. And even if it isn't a sinus infection, this treatment will be of great benefit.

Have you ever heard of a netti pot? Try googling "how to use a netti pot" and you can see what it is and how it is done. A friend of mine also swears by using a bulb syringe and just squirting the solution up your nose. But here is what I do. If you don't have a netti pot, do you have a small tea pot? I have made do with one of those, just cut the tip off of a baby bottle nipple and fit it over the spout. I have also used a plastic water bottle and put a snipped nipple on the top of that, you just have to cut a small air vent near the top of the spout so water will flow freely.

Anyway, take 2 cups of filtered water and heat it to body temperature and add a rounded teaspoon of sea salt. Regular table salt is chemically made and not nearly as therapeutic, but will do if that is all you have. Same with the water, filtered is best, but if you don't have any or a water filter, tap water will do. stir to dissolve the salt completely, then take a piece of garlic the size of a pencil eraser and crush it into a cheese cloth or thin cotton cloth and swirl it around in the water and squeeze out the garlic oil. Do this until no more oil comes out. If you get any garlic pieces in the water you will want to filter those out. Then tip your head to one side fit the nipple into your top nostril and pour the water into the upper nostril. Now I know one of your nostrils is plugged, so you may want to take a shower or go for a walk in the cold long enough to clear the nostril so the water can flow in. The salt/garlic water will flow through your sinuses and out the lower nostril, so obviously do it over a sink and have a tissue or handkerchief ready. It will feel a little weird, just breath through your mouth and relax. When half the water is used, blow out the residual water gently and without closing a nostril, just blow them both together but not hard or it could plug up your ears. Then switch sides and let the water flow the other way until you have used all the water. The saline will shrink up your mucous membranes and the garlic oil will fight the infection, very effectively I might add.

Last summer I had a full blown sinus infection, strep throat, and a viral infection all at the same time and using this method, my throat was better within a few days, and my sinuses were better within a week. Do the rinse 2-3 times a day, or however often you want to, it wont hurt you to do it more often. And stay hydrated, that is very important. Drink lots and lots of water, and avoid caffeine and alcohol like the plague. They dehydrate you and will add to your congestion. Take lots of vitamin C and D, and try to get as much rest as you can.

As for your wrists, if you go to a doctor, this is what he will do. He or she will put you on anti-inflammatories, probably Ibuprofen, which is just Advil, 800 mg, 3-4 times a day. Now you can do this yourself, but as an earlier post stated, it is hard on your liver. So I don't recommend it if you can avoid it. If there isn't anything you are doing to cause a repetitive motion injury, it may be a food allergy. I had the same thing happen when I developed a sensitivity to eggs. So try eliminating eggs from your diet for a week or so and see if it helps. The biggest culprits in food allergies are dairy (which egg is considered a dairy) and wheat. You have to eliminate the food for at least a week to see results. Then try putting it back in and see if it comes back. Then take it out again to see if it helps again. I was getting arthritis type symptoms in my hands and I knew I didn't have arthritis! Otherwise if it is a strained tendon, try the warm and cool compresses and wrapping them in ace bandages or a wrist brace. If you can bump up on antioxidants, they are natural anti-inflammatories so snack on berries, citrus fruits, leafy greens and try to avoid processed sugar and again, caffeine and alcohol.

Well I hope something I have told you helps and you feel better soon. :) Good health to you. :)

1 mom found this helpful

OK, no Dr, I understand about insurance...so...
You have the lovely sinus "virus" that has been going around EVERYWHERE.
If you have been using afrin(nasal decongestant) for more than 3 days, stop using it.Your body can become dependant on it and you really don't want that. The drainage is actually something you want, even though it is annoying, it will go away. You said it's been going on for 3 weeks, sister you should be to the summit and on the downhill side of this darn virus. Do saline nose washes a couple times a day. If you can take sudafed, try that for at least a week. If not, try bendryl. You said claritin wasn't helping, have you tried zyrtec?

Now the wrists: I have Rheumatoid arthritis. I am not saying you do, but you seem do be having an inflammation issue with your wrists. Do you take supplements? My DR has me taking a multivitamin in the morning that has minerals, calcium, vit D(I use walmarts brand of centrum complete) AND he has me taking Calcium pills 2-3 times a day, they are calcium plus VIT D, Minerals, & Vit K( I get it at costco.) I also take fish oil pills, since I am not a sea food eater. This is an inflammation helper & it helps absorb more Vit D and you can get eccentric coated that don't leave a fishy taste.I also take ginger root pills 3 times a day(with meals)as it helps with inflammation too!(walmart) Another thing I do is drink aloe vera juice(I get it at walmart in the pharmacy section for the same price as getting it at the health food store in a gallon jug). I mix mine into juice, crystal light... It's really quite flavorless, but is an inflammation helper too.

Calcium & Vitamin D play a HUGE role in joint and body inflammation. The multivitamin and the minerals help keep you from getting constipated from taking the extra calcium. You can not over dose on vitamins, AS LONG AS YOU TAKE IN ENOUGH WATER EACH DAY. You must keep hydrated. You must drink enough to flush through anything your body doesn't need.

If you are not already and start taking the multivitamin, calcium +D/minerals, fish oil,ginger root & maybe aloe vera juice...you may notice a difference (for the better) in your sinus health too.

Please let me know how you are doing and what you did that made a difference in how you feel.
:)

1 mom found this helpful

To ME (who is NOT a doctor), that sounds like 2 things...strained tendons (or inflamed tendon sheaths), and either a sinus or eye or tooth infection.

It COULD of course, be something completely different, and be related to each other...but I'm with you...I only tend to have insurance maybe one or two months out of the year...so I tend to prefer to not eat ramen for a week...unless I have to.

One thing to do is this: CALL your doctor and speak with the nurse, to make sure it's not indicative of anything you should be seen immediately for (like a heart attack, or the HeebiusJeebius -aka, whatever- ;). Calling the office is free. So is calling the nurse advice line at any hospital (Evergreen is my favorite for adult questions, Childrens' obviously, for the wee ones).

THEN:

A) Inflamed tendon sheaths/ Strained tendons: Ice, heat, rest (using wrist braces would actually be best), and take ibuprophen (Advil/Motrin) to help reduce the inflammation.

The typical dosage for screwed up tendons is 600-800mg (3-4 regular strength pills) every 4-6 hous. It's not something you would want to take at that level for very long...like a few years...but for example those are the only 2 doses you CAN get from the docs if you're in the military...and they frequently have you take 1200 mg. Ditto for athletes. 600-800 mg is pretty basic.

It typically takes about 4-6 weeks for screwed up tendons to get back to 100% IF you haven't torn them...which doesn't sound likely.

BTW...a way to tell if it's the sheath or the tendon...feel up the muscles on the inside and outside of your lower arm. If you find any spot or whole cord that goes "OW!!", you've got a strained tendon. If all the pain is concentrated on your wrist, but you don't find sore spots up your arms, it's typically an inflamed sheath. It's also possible to rip the tendon away from the bone (like shin splints). Wheeeee! You treat those the same way.

B) Some of my sinus infections (I'm prone to them), are clear fluid. And some are NOT bilateral (both sides). So I'm biased when I hear those symptoms, based on long personal experience. OTHER things that I could think of that they might be are: an eye infection with the ocular/trigeminal/or facial nerve is stimulating a response in your sinus,....a tooth infection (my husband gets a pseudo-sinus-infection whenever he needs a root canal)....an ear infection....oh goodness, the list just goes on, but those are the big 3 that leap to mind.

IF it's a sinus infection AND it's strep, saltwater is one of the BEST things to do. Salt kills streptococci like nobodies business. There are neti-pots and sprays/drops you can use. There are very few infections that I know of that are halophillic...so it's a good first round of "let's see if this works".

So, too, ORIGINAL Sudefed(pseudoephedrine)is possibly the worlds best sinus decongestant. Sudefed PE is just an antihistamine, and not really that efficacious anyway, and if you're already using Claritin to no good effect, Sudefed PE isn't going to touch you. You do have to have ID and get pseudoephedrine from the pharmacist...but you don't need an Rx.

For teeth, ears, and eyes...that's a trip to the doctor/dentist as far as I know. The only home remedy/treatment I know for teeth is biting on a whole clove for a toothache (mild analgesic), and having someone blow cigarette smoke in your eye about once an hour for an eye infection (gone in about a day on average, vs 3 days with drops and a week without anything...and that's a military trick...obviously not one they teach in school).

I hope some, or any of this, may help. REMEMBER Call your nurse advice line first to rule out anything that you should come in immediately (and deal with ramen) for.

Best,
Z

1 mom found this helpful

The nose: Go the pharmacy and find Ocean nose spray. It is saline spray really. Spray it up your nostril that is plugged. You can use it as much as possible.

Your wrists. While you are at that the pharmacy get wrist supports. They come for both right and left. Use them as needed.

I hope that helps.

1 mom found this helpful

Can't help you with the wrists, but I CAN help with your stuffy nose.

Just get a few ounces of warm water in a glass and add regular table salt until it tastes like tears. Then, and here's the sexy part, stand over a sink, pour small amounts of the salt water into your cupped hand, and snort it up your nose. It's ok if a little gets down into your throat but try to keep it up in your sinuses. Blow it out (and all the gooey stuff along with it). Repeat several times. I'm not kidding you...you will breathe easy and best of all, the remedy is almost FREE!

Try "googleing" dequervains tendonitis and see if that describes your wrist pain. Basically, you fold your thumb under your fingers (a fist) and then rotate your wrist sideways away from your thumb to diagnose it. (It hurts a lot when you do that). The first thing to do is to immobilize your thumb and let the swelling go down. If that doesn't work then they will give you a steroid injection. If the steroid injections don't work then you can have surgery to correct it. I'm not sure if that is what you have. I had it right after I had my first baby but it is triggered by picking up and holding babies at funny angles. I'm sorry you are going through this. It definitely hurts!

Hey, this is my first time to write. I just joined this site. In any case, I had similar problems coupled with tingling in my fingers leading to numbness. The Dr. told me it was carpel tunnel-so a sritst brace 24-7 for 2 months and then use it when doing "stressful" things. I did it and it made a HUGE difference.

A little about me: 2 kids. Daughter 1.5 and a son 3.5. I'm a full time teacher and have been married forever.

I read everyone else's advice and wanted to point out that they are probably correct that you have strained the tendons in your wrist. A wrist brace, worn at night, will help. Also, if you are going some place where you know your child will need to be carried, wear the brace then. Follow everyone's advice about rest and ibuprofin until the feel better. Then the next thing you need to do is strengthen your wrists and forearms. There are two things that will help you. One thing you can do is something called "Tendon Gliding" exercies. Search for them online. These can be done while you are healing the tendons too. They help so that the tendons glide better and you don't build up adhesions (like scar tissue from injured tendons that make them feel tight all the time).

One of the best things out there to strenthen the wrists, hands, and forearms is a dynaflex gyroball. You can pick one up at a sporting good store. I was able to find mine for $19.99 and are strongly recommended by physical therapists.

Good luck! I've been seeing a physical therapist for my tendon problems for a while now and I know how frustrating it can be.

I wanted to add a good website that explains tendon glide exercises and has other good advice for stretching and strengthening wrists/forearms/hands.

http://www.handhealthresources.com/

When you get to the site, click on "solutions" and then "exercises"

As far as your wrists, you might be straining them by picking up children. I suggest wearing wrist braces at night when you are sleeping. When we sleep, it's a natural tendency to place our head against our hands in a fetal position. This puts strain on the wrist joints.

As far as your sinuses, try a saline spray twice a day. If the claritin is losing its effectiveness, you might try zyrtec. I have allergies, and the zyrtec and saline spray really help me. Also, there's a tea called gypsy cold care which really helps sinuses.

It sounds to me as if you are having the same problems I did. The inflammatory response in your body is up. That's why you also have the congestion. I had the problems in both shoulders, wrist, and have tennis elbow. Plus I felt flu-like.

I noticed that when I ate nitrites (which are in processed meats) my symptoms go through the roof. Now I have taken (regularly) bromolein (which is an enzyme which helps fight inflammation) (or you can eat pineapple). I have cut down my consumption of meats which helps HUGELY. I take a very good calcium supplement, B-vitamins, and Glucosamine MSM which helps build cartlidge. Eat a lot of uncooked fruits and veggies, because it also fights the free-radicals and inflammation response. Fish is great too. Fish oil, again helps fight these problems as well.

After I worked in an office for many years, then stayed home, I noticed the housework would stress my wrists. I don't even garden any more or give massages, because it was too painful.

Also there is a stretching exercise which has helped a LOT. You stand straight, and hold your arm straight out to the side, and bend your hand (only the hand) down (palm facing towards you) stretching as much as you can take it. Then you bend your arm in towards your head (the hand part) and stretch it towards your head. (it's hard to describe). I can send you a picture with stick men if you're interested - explaining this better. (i don't draw well)

Anyway, these stretching exercises have really helped. A woman at the gym showed them to me (I exercise at Mieko's Fitness in Mill creek). Plus I've been doing very light weights to strengthen my upper body and get the wrists stronger. B Vitamins help build keep down carpel tunnel symptoms as well.

God bless. It's horrible when the hands don't work. I found myself almost immobilized.

Sounds like it could be carpulltunell (spelling is probably worng).

I had problems with my wrists and found out I was bending them in my sleep. I used braces only for sleeping until I trained myself not to bend them while sleeping. As for stuffy nose there is a saline sinus rinse kit you can buy at kaiser pharmacy or fred meyer that has packets you mix in a bottle with a straw inside to the spout that you squeeze while draining out your mouth into the sink. I know it sounds gross, but it really works well for my husband. He had tried everything even surgery for his sinuses and the sinus rinse kit worked the best.

Hi L., I understand your frustration and pain with the wrists, I too suffered for many years with the pain in my wrists and the numbness in my arms. Doctors told me I had Carpal Tunnel from years of waitressing, bartending and working with horses. I wore braces, went to the Chiropractor, cut back on my horse duties, nothing helped. My doctor told me I would need surgery, that was over two years ago. I was frightened, frustrated and in pain, which caused me not to sleep well either. In April of 2007 I started taking a supplement called Isotonix OPC-3, which is full of antioxidants and Pycnogenol (pine bark extract) It is a powder you mix with water. Isotonic meaning "same pressure" like our blood, tears and plasma. This isotonic state allows the nutrients to pass directly into the small intestine and be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Therefore little nutritive value is lost which makes the absorption of nutrients highly efficient. I took it every day, not for my wrist problem originally, just mainly for the antioxidants and the fact that it was a liquid form and not pills. By July of 2007, I noticed one day that my wrists didn't hurt and I didn't have numbness and tingling in my arms and hands. I was also sleeping better. I have not worn my braces since, nor have I seen my Chiropractor, I work full time with the horses, my grip is back, and most importantly I do not have any pain or tenderness. By the way I am 47, I feel better and stronger than in my thirties and I haven't been sick. I work with the school district and am around kids all day. My body also benefits from a host of other healing properties that the OPC-3 provides.
I also wanted to mention that the OPC-3 has antihistamine properties that will help with allergies minus the possible side effects and some drowsiness associated with OTC and perscription allergy meds.
If you would like more information please feel free to call me ###-###-#### or email me at ____@____.com
Good luck and take care, M.

Sorry you've been going through pain! EEK! As for your wrists, typing isn't the only thing than can cause problems for your wrist...i.e. carpel tunnel. Other repetitive motions you may do with your wrists or hands can cause the same kind of pain. You might have to get them checked out just in case.
I live in Washington as well and something you could check out that might help you for affordable medical care is Basic Health Care of Washington. That is what I have. It's to help out low income families. I would check on them to see if you qualify. They go by what you make. Hopefully this helps! :D

I am a SAHM and have problems with my wrists also. It is very commom to get carpal tunnel and/or tendonistis from taking care of children. I have had 2 bouts of tendonitis from just taking care of my little one (she is 22mo). We put alot more strain on our wrists than we realize with everyday things. Ice packs, Ibprophin, and some type of support for the wrists will help take care of it. Since you dont have medical insurance I would suggest wrapping up in an ace bandage and minimize the use as much as you can (haha yea I know). Ice it as much as you can during the day, and actually rub it around where it hurts. I hope this helps!!!
Hmm, I amnot sure I can suggest anything you havent tried for your nose. I personally have found nasal spray works well and the ibprophin may help too.

L.,
I would try wrist braces, you can get them at Walmart pretty cheap. It may take weeks to heal but the braces will help take care of the pain.

Do you spend a lot of time picking up the kids? If so their weight could be doing something to your wrists and you may need to stop lifting them.

As far as the nose thing goes, it is what is going around. I am dealing with the same thing - tea, hot showers, nasal spray, sudafed and patience are what seem to be the cure. If you find a good remedy, please let me know.

Have you been carrying your kids around a lot? That trashes my wrists every time! Go see a good chiropractor. You may have some nerve/energy blockage to that area.

L.,
You poor gal! I feel your pain. I occasionally get really sever wrist pain. Starts off in one wrist and with in a week or so, it gets in the other one too. What has really helped me is wrapping my wrists before I go to bed at night. This gives your wrists some great down time to recouperate. I have used both ACE bandages and inexpensive wrist braces that can be found at a pharmacy. ( for me the braces work a bit better) I notice an immediate improvement with in 2 days.
In regards to your drippy, plugged nose. Try some regular saline nose spray. That should give you some relief. Hang in there! This will pass..

hi L., i have a suggestion for you. i am 70yrs.old and mother,g.ma and great g.ma. when i have these problems here is what i do .i am a naturalist so i use a lot of old home remedies.i found out that the best thing to help you breath is peppermint oil or oil of eucliptious. i sniff the peppermint oil through my nose.just hold one nostral closed with one finger and hold the bottle up to your nose with the other hand and breath in deeply. you will feel the results almost immediately. and the do the same to the other side.don,t get to close to your eyes as you get a burning sensation.i do this before i go to bed at night.but you can also do it anytime your noes feels stuffy. as for yor wrist ,pour a few drops on your wrist and rub it in it will feel vry warm at first but after a while your wrists will feel better. always be sure to wash your hands after you use it. if this is to hard for you then buy some peppermint cream.i use it anywhere i have pain. good luck.hope it help.

try saline rinsing for your nose.
mix a quarter teaspoon of salt with warm water and "drink" it up into your nose but then blow it out as it reaches the back of your throat. It isn't as hard as you think and will rinse out not only allergens but also help heal a sinus infection.