Anyone have Carpal Tunnel?

[Colleen]

I'm curious.  At any point, did you feel a numbing sensation in your hand?  Almost like it had fallen asleep?  

[joe]

My wife has it...

 

Dr. Said she needs surgery...and not to wait too long, because it can get to the point that surgery won't correct it completely.(2 years ago)

 

She complains daily about her hand falling asleep..it's the worst in the morning...she actually has a brace she wears to keep her wrist straight while sleeping...she claims it feels a lot better when she does...

[Chrysalis]

I had carpal tunnel a few years ago from using a computer mouse all day. My wrist hurt more and more throughout the day to the point where I had could not use the mouse at all. If it kept getting worse, the doctor said that I might need surgery and/or I could end up with permanent nerve damage. I think that the tingling or "asleep" sensation you describe is the beginning of nerve damage. 

 

Please consult a doctor about this, preferably an orthopedic doctor. Carpal tunnel is nothing to fool with. In my case, my employer had an ergonomic specialist on staff. She adjusted my desk chair, gave me a track ball mouse, and told me to wear a wrist brace (like this) and my problem went away within a week.

[Nicole Diver]

I have it, but I haven't had the numb sensation though.  Every day at work I wear Tommy Copper compression gloves and they really help.

[Tink]

Every Friday night :)

[BAT]

Every Friday night :)

You're a trip :P

[Still winning]

I got it while pregnant and it stayed. The steroid injections really help, it takes down the swelling and can stop it from re-occuring in some instances. I was put forward for the operation but my reiki seems to keep it under control now.  That said the recovery from the op is listed as a week, so a small op, my Uncle had it and said it was fine.

 

Symptoms are it feels tight in my wrist and causes pain in my fingers, like a shooting pain that flares from the wrist tunnel and through the palm. I have heard good things about a proper night splint relieving the pressure too.  Occassionally when I'm holding something I lose feeling and therefore my grip and drop it so be aware of that if it progresses. I am 

[robf]

I get it all the time, I've got exercises that I do if it flares up, the exercises work (combined with ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation).

 

But mostly it's about pulling your hands upwards (at the wrist) and stretching the inside of your forearms. Giving your fingers a bit of a shove with your other hand really puts the stretch in, don't over do it, just make sure that they keep moving.

 

But I would guess you'd need to have someone who knows what they're doing look at you before self medicating (even if it's just exercise)

[Colleen]

My wife has it...

 

Dr. Said she needs surgery...and not to wait too long, because it can get to the point that surgery won't correct it completely.(2 years ago)

 

She complains daily about her hand falling asleep..it's the worst in the morning...she actually has a brace she wears to keep her wrist straight while sleeping...she claims it feels a lot better when she does...

 

Thanks Joe and it's worse in the morning for sure.  That's my biggest trouble.  I can lift heavy objects with my hands no problem, but anything involving fine motor skills forget it.  Going to try wearing a splint while I sleep or when just sitting around the house.

Every Friday night :)

Thanks for the laugh Trace...it's nice to see you :)

 

I got it while pregnant and it stayed. The steroid injections really help, it takes down the swelling and can stop it from re-occuring in some instances. I was put forward for the operation but my reiki seems to keep it under control now.  That said the recovery from the op is listed as a week, so a small op, my Uncle had it and said it was fine.

 

Symptoms are it feels tight in my wrist and causes pain in my fingers, like a shooting pain that flares from the wrist tunnel and through the palm. I have heard good things about a proper night splint relieving the pressure too.  Occassionally when I'm holding something I lose feeling and therefore my grip and drop it so be aware of that if it progresses. I am 

 

I just got a splint today.  And I have that same problem, dropping things.  It use to happen all the time when I was smoking, the damn cigarette would just drop from my hand like nothing.  At first I thought it was cataplexy, which goes along with narcolepsy, which I had symptoms of when I was younger and it's no fun.  One of my grandparent's had it and it was not a picnic for sure.  

[Colleen]

I've had some mild symptoms over the years.  A little over a month ago, all of a sudden my hand was numb felt like it was asleep, sometimes pins and needles.  My biggest issue is doing anything that requires fine motor skills, writing and turning motions.  Mostly, I've been ignoring it and trying to will it away.  Computer work aggravates it.  Sometime I get funny twinges up my arm to my elbow when working with weights..  Being at the computer too long can be uncomfortable.  I have a soft wrist support I sometimes use during TRX an exercise that requires bearing weight on the wrists, but I don't think that's enough.  Probably was aggravating it while doing TRX, so I'm taking a break from that.  I went and got myself a firm wrist support today and will see if I can turn this thing around.  

[Still winning]

How's the wrist splint going colleen?

[MarylandQuitter]

I'm curious.  At any point, did you feel a numbing sensation in your hand?  Almost like it had fallen asleep?  

 

Yes, completely numb nearly every night since around 1998.  Even wakes me up from my slumber.  The more I use my hands laboriously, the worse it gets not to mention the pain.  Sometimes in the middle of the night it will wake me up.  When I'm driving and my hand is in the 12 o'clock position, numb.  Have to switch back and forth.

 

Then there's my elbow with inflamed tendons.  A shot of cortisone helped that, thank God because it was shooting to my wrist and up to my shoulder.  Could barely sleep longer than 20 minutes at a time before it woke me up.  Went to the doctor, got a shot, months of resting it and voila!  Every now and then I can feel the pain in my elbow and I know to quit.  If I hit my elbow on the something look out!!!!!  The pain almost knocks me down.  If I want, I can get one more shot of the juice and if that doesn't work, they have to cut out all of the inflamed tendons and then reattach to my elbow.  I think around 2 months of recovery from that one.  I'll stick to resting it as I need to because most of the time it's fine and I can live with that.

 

But back to the carpal tunnel, my right hand is going numb now just from typing this and I type close to 100 WPM.  Now, I put my arm straight down, let the numbness subside, snap my elbow for good measure and I'll be ready for another thread.  :)

[Colleen]

How's the wrist splint going colleen?

It's really helping Marti!  I am still having problems, but a big improvement for sure.  I can actually write again, doesn't look so neat but still.  Still am having issues with turning things, like using a can open and turning knobs and such.  

[Colleen]

Yes, completely numb nearly every night since around 1998.  Even wakes me up from my slumber.  The more I use my hands laboriously, the worse it gets not to mention the pain.  Sometimes in the middle of the night it will wake me up.  When I'm driving and my hand is in the 12 o'clock position, numb.  Have to switch back and forth.

 

Then there's my elbow with inflamed tendons.  A shot of cortisone helped that, thank God because it was shooting to my wrist and up to my shoulder.  Could barely sleep longer than 20 minutes at a time before it woke me up.  Went to the doctor, got a shot, months of resting it and voila!  Every now and then I can feel the pain in my elbow and I know to quit.  If I hit my elbow on the something look out!!!!!  The pain almost knocks me down.  If I want, I can get one more shot of the juice and if that doesn't work, they have to cut out all of the inflamed tendons and then reattach to my elbow.  I think around 2 months of recovery from that one.  I'll stick to resting it as I need to because most of the time it's fine and I can live with that.

 

But back to the carpal tunnel, my right hand is going numb now just from typing this and I type close to 100 WPM.  Now, I put my arm straight down, let the numbness subside, snap my elbow for good measure and I'll be ready for another thread.  :)

The elbow tendon issue sounds painful!  I can highly recommend the splint while sleeping, it's made a big difference.  Typing isn't difficult for me, but using the mouse is a killer.  

[Chrysalis]

Colleen, I'm delighted that the wrist splint is helping. Hopefully, your symptoms will soon disappear entirely. But please be aware that to prevent this from happening again you need to make some changes to your work environment. If possible, consult with an ergonomic specialist. I was fortunate to be able to do that. She got my employer to buy me a new, higher chair so that my wrist was not flexed when I used my computer mouse. Of course, then my feet wouldn't reach the floor so my employer had to buy me a foot rest, too (I chose a massaging foot rest-- that was great!  :) ) And she told me to switch to a trackball mouse. All those things combined resulted in me never again having carpal tunnel problems. I think that there is a federal disability law that requires employers to provide such ergonomic aids when medically necessary. You should look into that. 

 

But whether you talk to a specialist or decide on your own what to do, please do change how your work station is set up. 

[Chrysalis]

How is your carpal tunnel problem, Colleen? Are you regaining the strength in your hand?

[eriklamb]

I used to work as a prep cook, I had carpal tunnel for a while. It got to the point where I had to learn to mince and peel stuff with my left hand because my right hand would cramp up and I would have to pry my fingers off my knife handle haha. This was in 2012, I don't know if its psychosomatic but now when I cut a lot of veggies I always feel like I can sense the smallest bit of carpal tunnel coming back.

[MarylandQuitter]

The elbow tendon issue sounds painful!  I can highly recommend the splint while sleeping, it's made a big difference.  Typing isn't difficult for me, but using the mouse is a killer.  

 

It's painful as fuuuu-dddddd--ge!  I'll have to check out the splint.  My brother has it really bad and the splint didn't help him.  He's gonna need the surgery.  My elbow though, man when it flares up or I whack it just right, geeze, almost puts me on my knees the pain is so bad.

 

Now my hip is tightened up again.  Can barely get out of bed in the morning.  Pretty much have to roll out of bed on my knees and pull myself back up. lol  Wear and tear is what the doc says.  Stretches, ice and stretches.  Sometimes I'll have my daughter push on my hip with her feet and the relief is instant and feels so damn good.  She usually can't push hard enough but sometimes I can add some resistance and it pushes on my hip just right and it's so relieving it's almost like a high.

[Colleen]

How is your carpal tunnel problem, Colleen? Are you regaining the strength in your hand?

A little better with writing, am trying to avoid turning things.  Luckily in my job, I don't use the mouse a lot, mostly typing and the f10 keys.  Am taking Motrin, pretty much round the clock.  Turning things are difficult.  I have not been able to put a damn bra on properly in months, I have to fasten it and then put it over my head  :rolleyes:   I find if I take the brace of in the middle of the night, my hand/wrist/forearm is super tense.  Try to make up for it those days by wearing it for short periods during the day.  

[Colleen]

It's painful as fuuuu-dddddd--ge!  I'll have to check out the splint.  My brother has it really bad and the splint didn't help him.  He's gonna need the surgery.  My elbow though, man when it flares up or I whack it just right, geeze, almost puts me on my knees the pain is so bad.

 

Now my hip is tightened up again.  Can barely get out of bed in the morning.  Pretty much have to roll out of bed on my knees and pull myself back up. lol  Wear and tear is what the doc says.  Stretches, ice and stretches.  Sometimes I'll have my daughter push on my hip with her feet and the relief is instant and feels so damn good.  She usually can't push hard enough but sometimes I can add some resistance and it pushes on my hip just right and it's so relieving it's almost like a high.

Ever try a chiropractor?

[Chrysalis]

Gee, MQ, it sounds like you really are having a hard time of it! I'm so sorry for your pain. As I told Colleen, I highly recommend an ergonomic specialist to show you how to adjust your workspace to get rid of the carpal tunnel. And I think seeing a chiropractor for your hip sounds like a great idea. I know that most men prefer to suffer for a long time rather than take steps to change things, but I think that you have suffered enough now. Get some help!

[MarylandQuitter]

Gee, MQ, it sounds like you really are having a hard time of it! I'm so sorry for your pain. As I told Colleen, I highly recommend an ergonomic specialist to show you how to adjust your workspace to get rid of the carpal tunnel. And I think seeing a chiropractor for your hip sounds like a great idea. I know that most men prefer to suffer for a long time rather than take steps to change things, but I think that you have suffered enough now. Get some help!

 

I've been seeing chiropractors for years for my back.  The most recent one was my hip and the only thing that helps it are stretches.  If I do them at least once per day, I'm good but unfortunately, I rarely do.  They require little effort and just time.  I need to get into a routine and do them in them 3x's per day like I'm supposed to.  There are some that he showed me which I can do at work without laying on the floor looking like a weirdo. :)

 

Doing heavy work with my hands is what starts the whole thing with my wrists.  I can type forever with no issues but if I've done any kind of heavy work with my hands (using big pipe wrenches and other things at work) that's when my hands go numb typing etc.  Like right now typing I'm fine.  But doing what I have to do today at work, they'll no doubt be numb and be waking me up all night.

[Colleen]

So, here's the deal.  With Motrin around the clock, my hand/wrist has gotten better.  Sometimes I get some pain that shoots up my arm, but it's for only a short time.  I can actually complete tasks that require fine motor skills, like writing.  The downside is it's reactivated my post concussive syndrome symptoms even though I'm on meds for that.  Taking pain relievers causes rebound headaches that take a week or two to resolve with steroids and no pain relievers.  So, I'm sort of stuck and need to find a happy medium here.  

[Still winning]

Goodness, you shouldn't need meds every day for carpal tunnel. Why not try a steroid shot in your wrist, it makes it hurt more weirdly for 2/3 days and then it calms too blissful for a few months. Or operation..only a week recovery apparently? x