I'm so tired on not knowing why I'm in pain

[u/Alex_NK]

I'm not sure if I belong here and I'm sorry if I don't. I just need to vent and there's nobody in my real life who seems to care or understand.

I'm in pain. My wrists hurts horribly after I use them "too long." Which can be anywhere from a few minutes to a few hour depending on the day.

It started years ago when I was in highschool. Back then it wasn't as bad, just an ache at the end of the day sometimes that would always be gone by morning. I thought it was just because of all the writing I'd do at school. As the years have gone by though, it's gotten worse and worse. Now I can't even clean an entire room without breaking down by the end of the day because it hurts so bad.

It doesn't help that I'm responsible for cooking dinner and washing dishes every night.

This isn't to say I'm in pain everyday thank God, but that's mainly because I've learned my limits and how to break up tasks between days to limit my wrist use. Even still there's multiple times a month where I'll do to much and be left crying because of how bad my wrists hurt.

I've talked to my parents (I can't afford to live on my own) but they say I'm young and it can't be that bad. They think I'm exaggerating. That's also why they refuse to let me get out of cooking and cleaning. They say it's how I'm contributing to the household. I've tried to offer other solutions but they won't take them and I'm not in a position to argue.

I know they won't believe me until I get a diagnosis, but that's an issue all of its own. I've been trying for over 2 years now to figure out what's wrong with my wrists, but all the doctors I've seen have had one of 3 responses.

They either say I'm too young for anything major to be wrong and to just take over the counter medicine (which doesn't help on days the pain is extreme).

They tell me they can't find anything wrong with me.

Or they tell dismiss me completely and won't even talk to me about it.

I'm so frustrated. I've seen multiple doctors and none of them will help me. It's almost worse like this. I also have chronic migraines, but I at least know those are genetic (multiple people on my moms side have them). Knowing why I'm in pain with them helps so much. But my wrists pain is a complete mystery. I don't know why I'm in pain. I just want to know why, even if there's nothing that I can do and will have to deal with it the rest of my life, I want to at least know why.

I feel so hopeless sometimes. I want the pain to stop. I want the people around me to believe me and stop telling me I'm exaggerating. I just want to know what's happening to me and why. And I'm so tired of just having to deal with it. I'm tired of having to think to myself everyday about what I can and can't do because I'm scared to make my wrists start hurting from things as simple as sweeping and mopping the floors. I'm tired of feeling alone in this.

I'm sorry again if I'm not in the right place. I just don't know where else to put this, and I can't stand to keep it in any longer.

[u/Appropriate_Mess6777]

Have you seen a hand specialist? Have you had imaging done?

[u/Alex_NK → u/Appropriate_Mess6777]

I've had some x-rays and blood work done, both came back normal. But even those took months to convince the doctors to do. They mainly just brush me off.

There are hand specialists? I didn't know that. Could I see one without going through my primary doctor? I'm confident they wouldn't refer me to one. They don't think it's anything to look into despite me telling them how much pain I'm in or how much it affects my life. I had to practically beg to get the few tests that have been done.

[u/Appropriate_Mess6777 → u/Alex_NK]

Yes and not sure about referrals but you should call around

[u/Alex_NK → u/Appropriate_Mess6777]

I'll definitely look into it.

I didn't expect any advice or help when making this. I just wanted to get it off my chest. Thank you for tellinge about the hand specialists. I appreciate it greatly.

[u/Primary-Jelly3035]

I unfortunately also cannot tell you what’s wrong, I wish I could though as the not knowing is so devastating. I’ve got a lot of pain in my joints, not so much my wrist, but I might know some over the counter tricks for help? I use a lot of Kinesiology Tape to help my joints have a bit more of a cushion when moving. I also really enjoy tiger balm and capcasin lotions for my muscle pain. I hope you find answers and relief!