Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[Anna]

Does anyone else deal with this issue and if so, do you have any tips.

For me, it started almost a year ago and has gradually gotten more annoying. It`s my right hand which is affected and I just recently started to get the tingling and numbness in my fingers. I think that was a result of picking up my crocheting again in the past couple of weeks. I haven`t done any work on it for a long time and my hand wasn`t cooperating at all.

I know rest is the best thing, but at work I use a computer all the time.

I have started using ice on and off, but have yet to buy one of those drugstore wrist thingys.

[Sugah]

I don't have carpel tunnel, though I do have RA and tendonitis that affects my hands/fingers/wrists. I use heat wraps when it's bad. They're expensive, but I walk with a cane, so I need to be able to hang onto it. As carpel tunnel is an inflammation (I think), heat might not be the best thing for you.

My brother had carpel tunnel surgery in both hands (he pulls wrenches for a living), and he came through both surgeries better than new. As a matter of fact, he took only a couple of the percocets he was given after, saying that ibuprofen took care of the pain just fine.

It sucks that it interferes with your crocheting! Good thoughts coming your way.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Anna]

Thanks, Sugah!

That's helpful information.

[Rella927]

Anna I actually have it in both wrists....and they actually had braces fitted for me
and I try to wear them at least 4 nights a week when it really flares up-this was instead of surgery-
This has worked for me for almost 4 years without surgery-Just a thought

I have heard positive things about surgery but, after my shoulder surgery that did not go so well and them
wanting to another one...I just do not want to take that chance I would rather wear the braces!

[frstnm]

It may come from using a mouse all the time.
Try adjusting your chair so that your wrist doesnt set on the corner of the desk/table.
Wrist wrests and mouse pads w wrist guards also help.

[Anna]

Thanks guys!

Yes, I do have a new mousepad support and it helps relax my wrist.

Rella, I have read very good things about the surgery too, but it does take quite a long healing time - about three months for the traditional surgery and about one month for the less invasive surgery. That's a long time, especially if it involves your right hand. So, I do hope to avoid surgery too. I think I will try one of the braces they sell at the drugstore and see how it works.

[zanydr]

i have carpal tunnel in both wrists and wearing braces full time helped a lot. then after that i wear them at night when symptoms appear and that keeps it away. wear braces when on the computer for prevention. hope this helps

[CatsPajamas]

I had the surgery done on my right wrist and it was really a pretty easy surgery. I hooked up a microphone to the computer and used the speech recognition software that's built into Windows and Windows products (office, word, excel etc). I was only out of work for a few days by using the microphone.

I had more tests done and ultimately we discovered that I had bad bone spurs on my carpametacarpal bone (base of the thumb) which were destroying the joint and nerves etc. I had surgery on each hand to remove that bone ~ quite a bit more complex than the carpal tunnel surgery ~ but I have full use of hands again and little/no pain now.

There are a variety of hand / wrist braces you can get that really do offer some relief. Ice worked for awhile, and so did a regular schedule of 800 mg of Ibuprofen (per drs orders). I was fairly pro active in getting the surgeries done as I didn't like having my movements and activities restricted.

Good luck.