what is the difference between a sprained muscle and a muscle that is tired from repetitive movement?

Question

i work as a manicurist and my wrist on my dominant hard started hurting 2 days ago, 2day it is so bad i can barely move it, and it only feels better when i apply pressure to it.

the pain is sharp with movement, and located only on my wrist, directly above my vein, ( below my palm.) i have only been in school for 6 weeks and i'm only 23.. so i don't think it is carpal tunnel. I've used an ace bandage and that has helped but i am worried about hurting it a gain.

Answer 1

The ER can handle seeing patients that need an Xray and can't get into see their regular doctor, so don't pay much attention to people that think an ER shouldn't be used for an Xray and an exam. You can go to your ER at midnight if you want, so go whenever you can. I worked in a hospital for a long, long time and getting a wrist exam and Xray in the ER is perfectly acceptable, hon.

If you don't have insurance the hospital will work out some sort of payment plan with you, but it depends on your income.

There is a teeny tiny bone in your wrist and you may have broken it, so an xray might tell the full story here. I broke my navicular bone and it's referred to as a scaphoid fracture - it occurs in one of the small carpal bones of the wrist. And it hurts like hell.

I'd go to a walk in clinic before an ER, if there is one close to you. It'll take about 30 minutes to get you in and out and you can rule out a fracture. I don't know if their fees are on a sliding scale if you have no insurance, but they do accept credit cards.

Please eat a snack/meal and take some Advil, it's an anti-inflammatory and it will help reduce the pain. You could have a fracture or you could have sprained something. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor.

Hope you feel better soon. Take care.

Answer 2

you can have carpal tunnel syndrome- which is a term for an injury to your wrist caused by repetitive movements... you should see a doctor but until you do, take advil or aleve for the ache - and if you can go to the ER to get checked out- they'll do the xrays there to get the right diagnosis-- to answer your question a sprained muscle will swell and the pain will go away with immobilization- wrapping it so it doesn't move or taping it, and a tired muscle will recuperate when used slowly. good luck to you

Answer 3

First of all, you DO NOT need to go the ER, as was suggested previously. . . .The ER is for emergencies, OK?
(Whew, glad I got that off my chest!)

OK, I cannot give you a really good diagnosis here, since I don't know:
- the quality of the pain
-the location of the pain (back or front of wrist?)
- the amount or direction of pressure you need to feel better.

What you should do is see a physcial therapist who can help you to sort out all of this. Go to APTA.org, click on "find a PT", and search your home area. You may want someone who is board-certified in orthopedics (OCS), or a certified hand therapist (CHT).

Good luck!

Answer 4

not the muscles sorry to say, more than likely tendons, from gripping the small tools of yer trade for hours on end..may be carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer 5

It sounds like Carpal syndrome, check this link out. I hope it helps.

http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/carpal-tunnel-syndrome

Answer 6

Dont you think it would be a good idea and see a Doctor? Before things get worse and you have to stop working? It could be something simple but then again what if its something bad? See a doctor before its too late.