Persistent ECU Tendon Injury
A brief overview of my predicament: approximately 9 to 10 months ago, I suffered a tear in my ECU tendon and continued to train for several months before ultimately ceasing all activity. An MRI revealed a split tear measuring 1 cm. I commenced rehabilitation around six months after the injury occurred and have been actively engaged in it for the past three and a half months. Although the inflammation has improved, I still experience significant discomfort and a nagging low-grade irritation. I find myself relying on a brace most of the time, and my progress seems to have plateaued. At 20 years of age, I am keen to overcome this challenge. During the initial rehabilitation phase, I took a few weeks off to rest my wrist entirely. Eventually, I began gentle mobility exercises and isometric holds, later incorporating wrist curls using dumbbells. Currently, I perform mobility exercises three times daily, alongside isometric holds, and I do wrist curls every other day. For my palm-up wrist curls, I use 3 kg, while for palm-down curls, I lift 2 kg. Initially, my wrist feels quite stiff, but it becomes more flexible with mobility exercises. Occasionally, I experience a slight pinch or heightened sensitivity in the ECU tendon during these rehab sessions, yet overall discomfort is minimal. The sensations in my tendon fluctuate daily. Some days, it feels more subdued, while other days it seems considerably irritated. Typically, when I wake up, the only discomfort is localized to my wrist or the area between my wrist and little finger. As the day progresses, if I engage my hand, it may become gradually irritated, extending discomfort from the forearm downward, with the site of unease shifting. Interestingly, on days when I focus on relaxing, like watching TV without using my wrist extensively, the irritation can lessen, depending on my previous day's activities. Certain actions, such as stabilizing bread while cutting, can provoke sharp twinges in the tendon. I find myself at a crossroads regarding my next steps. While I have a forthcoming appointment with a specialist, I wonder whether I should gradually reintroduce more wrist activities into my routine, such as lifting a glass of water, and begin incorporating it into my daily tasks. It feels like the recovery is becoming rather stubborn.
Answers (1)
8/14/2025, 8:21:06 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you are experiencing some frustration in your recovery from your ECU tendon injury after a considerable amount of time and rehabilitation efforts. It's common for healing processes, especially for tendon injuries, to be slow and sometimes frustrating. Here’s an overview of your situation and some actionable steps to help you move forward.
Main Points:
- Current Symptoms: You have persistent discomfort and low-grade irritation after your ECU tendon injury, particularly when you increase your wrist activities.
- Rehabilitation Progress: You've been actively engaging in a rehabilitation routine, which includes mobility exercises and isometric holds; however, you're feeling a plateau in progress.
- Next Steps: You’re uncertain about gradually increasing your wrist activities and need guidance on how to proceed safely.
Explanation:
Tendon healing can take time, especially after a split tear. It's great that you've been consistent with your rehabilitation exercises; they are vital in strengthening the tendon and restoring flexibility. The fluctuations in discomfort you experience are not uncommon, as the tendon can react differently to various activities. Overall, a careful balance of rest and gradual reintroduction of activities is essential.
Next Steps:
-
Continue Rehabilitation Exercises: Maintain your current regimen of mobility exercises and isometric holds, but carefully monitor how your wrist reacts, especially to new movements.
-
Gradually Reintroduce Activities: Start with light and functional movements in your daily life, such as lifting a glass of water. Be mindful of any pain or irritation and avoid pushing through sharp twinges. Success in these small activities can help boost confidence and promote functional recovery.
-
Utilize a Brace Strategically: Continue using your wrist brace, especially during activities that provoke discomfort. The brace can provide stability to the area while it is still healing.
-
Listen to Your Body: If you notice increased pain after adding new activities, it is crucial to pull back and give your wrist additional rest. Activities like stabilizing bread while cutting should be approached with caution, or modified to minimize strain.
-
Prepare for Your Specialist Appointment: Consider discussing your symptoms, current routine, and any challenges you've experienced in your upcoming appointment. Bring notes about your daily activities and how they affect your symptoms; this information can help the specialist evaluate your progress and any necessary adjustments to your rehabilitation plan.
It’s commendable that you are seeking to stay proactive in your recovery. Adjusting your activities gradually and listening to your body will be key in overcoming this injury. Remember, recovery often requires patience, and adapting your approach based on your symptoms is a wise strategy. Let me know if you need further advice or reassurances.
Related Questions
Understanding Prolapsed Appendix in Young Adults
Hello all, I’m a 25-year-old woman who has been struggling with persistent abdominal discomfort, along with nausea and diarrhea, for more than a decade. A recent colonoscopy has diagnosed me with a prolapsed appendix, despite the fact that my colon appears unaffected. Biopsy samples were collected to investigate potential inflammation, and I am currently awaiting those results. Additionally, I have a balloon enteroscopy scheduled to examine my small intestine more closely. From my research, it seems that appendiceal prolapse or intussusception is quite uncommon in adults. I am particularly interested in understanding how rare this issue truly is, especially for someone at my age, along with the typical causes that could lead to this condition. I have a few queries: How uncommon is a prolapsed appendix in adult patients? What are the most frequent causes linked to young women like myself? Are there specific risk factors or trends that might increase the likelihood of developing this issue? I’m not seeking a personal assessment, but I would be grateful for any information from those who are familiar with the occurrence and causes of this condition.
Unusual Urges to Consume Non-Food Items
At 23 years old, I am contending with various health issues, including anemia (with an iron saturation of 6%), and I’ve read that this might be influencing my bizarre cravings. There’s more going on with my health, but delving into all of it would take quite a while. Recently, I stumbled upon a video showcasing cleaning techniques, and I experienced an intense and unexpected hunger when I witnessed the soap lathering. Despite having dinner afterward, my cravings persisted, and regular food has proven ineffective at satisfying my appetite. To provide some background, I also have bipolar II disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder. These peculiar cravings appeared following several stressful experiences in my life. In the past, I was compelled to induce vomiting due to an OCD ritual, which I believed was linked to avoiding “bad luck.” Logically, I understood that there was no connection, but at one point, I was so entangled in these thoughts that I restricted my food intake entirely, convinced that eating brought misfortune. I was also unmedicated during that challenging period. Fortunately, I managed to break those cycles a few years ago, but now I face an ongoing struggle with overwhelming hunger. I find myself in the obese category today, unlike previously, and I am actively pursuing options for gastric bypass surgery due to my incessant appetite. Although I feel confident I won’t actually consume soap, I am concerned that sharing these cravings might jeopardize my chances of qualifying for the procedure. Still, if there’s a viable solution, I’d like to discover it. These cravings don’t dominate my thoughts, yet whenever I come across soap—either in videos or in person—I get this overwhelming desire to consume it. It’s as if I believe that succumbing to this urge would somehow provide relief and satisfaction. I’ve made a conscious effort to limit my viewing of such cleaning videos but find myself tempted to order edible chalk to see if that might alleviate my unusual hunger.
Did I Experience a Seizure Upon Waking?
This morning, I had an awakening that was unlike anything I’ve felt before. As a 23-year-old man, I’m familiar with sleep paralysis, often waking up immobile; however, today was distinct. I found myself in a state that resembled paralysis but accompanied by rapid, shallow breaths, akin to hyperventilation—something I don’t typically experience, even during strenuous activities. My body was trembling, reminiscent of numbness from cold or perhaps involuntary contractions throughout. Additionally, I felt a strange pressure on my groin, coupled with discomfort in my right testicle, as if they were being retracted into my body. I don’t regularly take medication aside from using an albuterol inhaler during asthma flare-ups. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 210 pounds, I also had a particularly unsettling dream just prior to waking, which might explain my reaction (at least, I hope it does). However, I can’t shake the anxiety that this could have been a type of seizure and I’m eager for input from those who have more expertise on the subject.
Are My Symptoms Indicating an Impending Stroke?
I’m a young adult female, weighing 99 pounds and standing 5 feet 2 inches tall. I do not smoke, vape, or consume alcohol, and currently, I am undergoing tests for POTS and HEDS. For the past two weeks, I have been experiencing intermittent discomfort in the upper region of my head, particularly in the back and temples. These aren’t typical headaches, but rather sudden twinges of pain that occur sporadically throughout the day. Additionally, over this same period, I have been dealing with bouts of vertigo—probably about 4 to 5 days where it came and went. A few days back, I also encountered a tingling sensation in my arms, which I can’t tell if it was simply due to anxiety. Given that my aunt suffered a stroke in her thirties, the prospect of having a stroke terrifies me. I find that the emergency room here primarily prescribes pain medication if you mention head discomfort, which leaves me uncertain about what steps to take next. Could these symptoms signal an impending stroke? Furthermore, I've also been experiencing pain in my left leg, though I’m unsure if that’s connected to my other symptoms.
Identifying Skin Marks on My Child
My 5-year-old daughter, who has no history of allergies, has developed peculiar skin marks over the past four to five days. Each morning, I observe these blemishes, which mysteriously disappear by the next day, only to reappear in different locations. The majority of these spots are located on her lower back, buttocks, and the back of her thighs, although I've also seen some on her upper back and a single one on her cheek. As an additional note, she began exhibiting mild cold symptoms last night, including a cough, some mucus, and a slight increase in body temperature. To provide further context: she mentioned that the marks are somewhat itchy, but she hasn’t been scratching them excessively.