While it might seem like regression to the mean or some other physiological shift could explain my recovery, what solidifies my confidence in the feedback loop model is the real-time changes I observed. Within a single day, I could sense the pain changing as I performed an exercise. As I made this a habit, it became increasingly clear that a process similar to what I’ve described above was taking place.
It’s worth noting that this is not the only model that fits your data. You were using your hands in a way that put a strain on your wrists, you did somatic awareness exercises and afterward, you were using them in a way that doesn’t put a strain on the wrists, is also fitting with your experience.
Fascia-based explanations can also account for same-day changes.
The only thing, that you can effectively rule out is inflammation as inflammation by its nature won’t disappear in a single day.
Fascia can be tense or looser. When it’s more tense it can press on nerves. When the fascia releases and does not press on the nerves anymore, pain can disappear.
I do have training in Danis Bois’s Fasciatherapy which informs my intuitions around fascia. Unfortunately, fascia is not that well-understood in medicine both when it comes to diagnostics and interventions.
For completion, it’s worth noting that wrist pain can also be caused by a tendon or nerve being moved to the wrong place. I personally had wrist issues from time to time. They were never strong enough to prevent me from typing. A huge part of solving them and making them largely nonsymptomatic was a manual process of pushing something that was either a nerve or a tendon into its right place again.
From what you wrote it doesn’t sound like that was an issue in your case, but it might be for other readers who have issues with their wrists.
Good point — somatic exercises can change the way I use my wrists. Though, I’ll note that the pain often notably changed in the course of the exercise. This could still be fascia-linked, but also strengthens my sense that the feedback loop as I described above captures some core dynamic.
It’s worth noting that this is not the only model that fits your data. You were using your hands in a way that put a strain on your wrists, you did somatic awareness exercises and afterward, you were using them in a way that doesn’t put a strain on the wrists, is also fitting with your experience.
Fascia-based explanations can also account for same-day changes.
The only thing, that you can effectively rule out is inflammation as inflammation by its nature won’t disappear in a single day.
Do you have some good pointers for fascia-based expllanations?
Fascia can be tense or looser. When it’s more tense it can press on nerves. When the fascia releases and does not press on the nerves anymore, pain can disappear.
I do have training in Danis Bois’s Fasciatherapy which informs my intuitions around fascia. Unfortunately, fascia is not that well-understood in medicine both when it comes to diagnostics and interventions.
For completion, it’s worth noting that wrist pain can also be caused by a tendon or nerve being moved to the wrong place. I personally had wrist issues from time to time. They were never strong enough to prevent me from typing. A huge part of solving them and making them largely nonsymptomatic was a manual process of pushing something that was either a nerve or a tendon into its right place again.
From what you wrote it doesn’t sound like that was an issue in your case, but it might be for other readers who have issues with their wrists.
Good point — somatic exercises can change the way I use my wrists. Though, I’ll note that the pain often notably changed in the course of the exercise. This could still be fascia-linked, but also strengthens my sense that the feedback loop as I described above captures some core dynamic.