I'm a beginner to Muay Thai who was previously doing boxing (no kicks). I love it except one thing. I am having a terrible time learning to hold Thai pads. I get a sharp jarring pain in my wrists with every kick (even light ones) and sometimes even with a strong hook.
Now, I can hold focus mitts no problem, including for pretty powerful hitters. But somehow the Thai pads feel laterally unstable on impact in a way that focus mitts don't. The first few times I held Thai pads, I toughed it out thinking I'd learn, but I haven't, and my wrists are starting to get chronically sore in a "Danger! Injury ahead!" kind of way.
I do wrap my hands, and I know to rebound the kicking impact downward. My instructor says my form looks OK. What else might I be doing wrong? Is this a common beginner problem?
Edit: More Info
I hold the pads parallel to each other, almost touching, with a thumbless grip. My elbows are against my obliques. My knees are slightly bent. The pads are a little above horizontal to the ground. The kicks are roundhouses, and the pads and positioning are much like in this video.
For hooks (also sometimes a problem), I hold the pad parallel to the ground with my elbow away from my body.