15 answers

Wrist and Thumb Pain

Hi everyone,

I would like to see if anyone has had wrist and thumb pain while they were pregnant. I am currently 6 months pregnant and it started about a month ago. I have been told that I have tendonitis and since I cannot take steroids or ibuprofen (due to the pregnancy), I have to wait it out. I have had an x-ray done and nothing is broken; however, it feels as if my bones move around sometimes when I put my thumb in a certain position. I especially notice it if I go to put my purse on my shoulder, adjust my bra or basically anything where I move it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Yep, I had the same thing! I agree with everyone else that it is carpel tunnel which can be common in pregnancy. I found that a masssage of the arm and shoulder really helped as well as a soft wrist brace. Luckily mine was in the last month so I didn't have to wait too long before I could take ibuprofin which helped. Hope you find some relief soon!

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S.:
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P. D.

It's carpal tunnel (sp?). I had it in both hands, by the end of my pregnancy both hands pretty much either throbbed all the time or were numb. Mine went away completely about 3 or 4 weeks postpartum.

Yep, I had the same thing! I agree with everyone else that it is carpel tunnel which can be common in pregnancy. I found that a masssage of the arm and shoulder really helped as well as a soft wrist brace. Luckily mine was in the last month so I didn't have to wait too long before I could take ibuprofin which helped. Hope you find some relief soon!

Hi S.-

I am a chiropractor in Overland Park, and I specialize in pregnancy and pediatric care. Carpal tunnel-like symptoms are common in pregnancy, and it is something I treat on a fairly regular basis (FYI with great success... often symptoms subside after three treatments or less). I find that it's related to postural changes as your belly and breasts grow, and you may also find that you are having increased tension in your shoulders, at the base of your neck, and/or between your shoulder blades.

I would be happy to talk to you in more detail if you like. You can call my office at ###-###-#### to set up a no charge phone or in-person consultation.

Yours in health-
Dr. Alyssa

From what I understand, this is very normal. It also happened to me. In fact, it still happens on occasion and sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and my wrist/thumb are is on fire! Tylenol and a thumb brace (any Walgreen's will have it) worked wonders for me while I was pregnant! Now, when it hurts, I just take Ibuprofen and it goes away for a long while. Good luck to ya!

Actually I think I know exactly what you are talking about. It is right on the top of your wrist in alignment with your thumb right?! I have the same problem only it came after my daughter was born. I went to the orthopedic and he told me he say it in a lot of new mothers. Its a tendon problem. The tendon has become inflamed and now is swollen and is rubbing on your wrist bone. I was prescribed a topical cream because I am nursing and given a wrist brace and told it should get better in about 6 weeks. Well being a new mother it is just not that easy to wear that wrist brace and apply that cream 3 times a day while running after my 8 month old. But it does feel better when I can wear the brace and apply the cream. I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

OMG! Someone with the same exact problem as me! I thought it was just me! LOL! Well, I started having this issue when I was about 7 months pregnant. I told my doc as well. I also had an x-ray done, and nothing there to fix from what he said. But, it still feels like there is something moving around in there and sometimes it feels like I have to almost "pop" my thumb back into place. My wrist didn't really hurt at first, but now it is starting to. My doc took another look at it and said it was probably a ganglion cyst. Don't worry, they aren't normally concerous or anything. It's just a small pocket of fluid in a sack under your skin. They like to show up pretty much anywhere you can bend a joint, especially in the hands and arms. Go to your doc and make sure he feels what you are feeling. He should refer you to a specialist. I have had a cyst removed before. It's really no big deal. They probably won't do anything right now since you are pregnant, but talk to your OB/GYN about seeing a specialist. If it is indeed a cyst, you might be able to have them remove it while you are in the hospital having your baby. Hey, one less trip right? If you opt to not have anything done, I hope you don't have any pain from it. I still have trouble taking off my bra or even holding a bottle. The pain for me has only gotten worse. Well, I hope that helped.

BTW I went to thr hospital last night cuz I jammed it again, and they told me I have tendonitis... you might look into that.

I had pregnancy induced carpal tunnel with my first pregnancy. I was a secretary so I did a lot of typing. When I went home at night it felt like my wrists were on fire. I had to sleep with ice packs on my wrists. That seemed to help.

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