Carpal Tunnel Syndrome...anyone have this? (1 Viewer)

[eoMMan]

After bowling a long time and having a desk job for almost 20 years, I've developed a bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome. I think I've tried all of the at-home remedies (wear brace at night, new pads for keyboard/mouse, new vertical mouse, etc.). Nothing seems to work to stop it.

I'm going to find a hand specialist with the hope there's a remedy aside from the surgery where they cut your tendon. 

Anyone else battle this?

 

[D-Day]

I'm currently working through a mild case.  The doctor recommended putting hand and as much of my arm in an ice bucket.  Put it in for 10 seconds, take it out for 10 seconds, rinse and repeat for 10 - 12 minutes.  

Edit to add:  I hate my doctor.

 

[TLEF316]

Sure..... THAT'S why you have it.....

 

[bostonfred]

I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice.

I use laptops and mobile devices all day. 

I had wrist pain and hand numbness that woke me up in the middle of the night with my hand straight up in the air because it was numb or in pain.

I used a percussion massager - the hypervolt hyperice - on my forearm, wrist, shoulder and really everything from my shoulder joint to my palm.

I have also started some light yoga. 

Haven't had a problem since, but that's just me, and I was never formally diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Consult your doctor before beginning this or any exercise program. 

 

[Courtjester]

i have battled this for years.I  am 51 and started down the road of treatment in my late 20's. Did the PT, braces and Cortisone shots--it didn't work. Ultimately had the surgery one wrist at a time six weeks apart. More PT and a year of recovery--pretty good scars on both wrists to this day. Since then, I have pretty much suffered with finger swelling, wrist and arm pain with some days being worse than others. I am in front of computer for many hours most days and I love to pay video games, so my hands aren't going to get better with my behavior. Of course the solution they suggest  is to cut me higher around the elbows to release the pressure there and then they will suggest a release up around the shoulder area--there is no way I am going to do this. This is very common for most who go through the 1st surgery. 

Something that offered temporary help was a paraffin wax machine. They look just like Crock pots and are very easily found. Man, you dip your hands and wrists in one and it offers relief and you will have the smoothest skin in town. 

 

[eoMMan]

Bump for the weekday crowd....

Anyone else have to go through this?

 

[Rodrigo Duterte]

Was hoping there'd be a thread about this, great timing.  Wife is in the middle of it right now.  She's seen some docs and taken measures to stem the tide, including PT, but not much has changed in the last two months.  Her most recent doc (last week) said to give it another month and if things haven't turned around, surgery.  Not good.

She's a caregiver who wants badly to go to nursing school and this is preventing it.  Surgery on the right (worse) and then wait six weeks until more surgery on the left???

She met an older lady recently that had the surgery awhile back and said it worked out great for her.  All CT surgeries can't be the same and you hear the horror stories -- there's already one upthread -- but have they gotten better at this?  I'd like to know the right measures to take to avoid surgery, as there doesn't seem to be a clear path.  And the best way to go about surgery if that's her decision.

Is there a good CT site or message board?

 

[eoMMan]

Was hoping there'd be a thread about this, great timing.  Wife is in the middle of it right now.  She's seen some docs and taken measures to stem the tide, including PT, but not much has changed in the last two months.  Her most recent doc (last week) said to give it another month and if things haven't turned around, surgery.  I really do not want her to do that.

She's a caregiver who wants badly to go to nursing school and this is preventing it.  Surgery on the right (worse) and then wait six weeks until more surgery on the left???

She met an older lady recently that had the surgery awhile back and said it worked out great for her.  All CT surgeries can't be the same and you hear the horror stories -- there's already one upthread -- but have they gotten better at this?  I'd like to know the right measures to take to avoid surgery, as there doesn't seem to be a clear path.  And the best way to go about surgery if that's her decision.

Is there a good CT site or message board?

The PA at my doctor's office made the surgery sound very minor.  It's supposedly just a little cut on the wrist and then they cut the tendon to relieve the press and I guess give the "tunnel" a bigger space so there's then less pressure/pain.

I left some voicemails for a couple orthopedic doctor offices and waiting to hear back.

 

[3 hour lunch]

I had it pretty bad years ago but now wear a specific carpal tunnel brace (metal piece to keep wrist at correct angle) while working on the computer and it’s been way better. Before that I had some other brace that didn’t help at all. Sounds like you’ve tried this already, but make sure the brace is the “correct” one....

 

[eoMMan]

I had it pretty bad years ago but now wear a specific carpal tunnel brace (metal piece to keep wrist at correct angle) while working on the computer and it’s been way better. Before that I had some other brace that didn’t help at all. Sounds like you’ve tried this already, but make sure the brace is the “correct” one....

Any chance you can give me a link for your brace?

TIA

 

[Courtjester]

Was hoping there'd be a thread about this, great timing.  Wife is in the middle of it right now.  She's seen some docs and taken measures to stem the tide, including PT, but not much has changed in the last two months.  Her most recent doc (last week) said to give it another month and if things haven't turned around, surgery.  Not good.

She's a caregiver who wants badly to go to nursing school and this is preventing it.  Surgery on the right (worse) and then wait six weeks until more surgery on the left???

She met an older lady recently that had the surgery awhile back and said it worked out great for her.  All CT surgeries can't be the same and you hear the horror stories -- there's already one upthread -- but have they gotten better at this?  I'd like to know the right measures to take to avoid surgery, as there doesn't seem to be a clear path.  And the best way to go about surgery if that's her decision.

Is there a good CT site or message board?

I think the biggest problem with CT is if you continue to do what got you where you were pre-surgery, then you are not going to see much benefit from it. Like i said, I am on the computer 6-8 hours a day---I love to game, so it is continued repetitive stress on the tendons and they regress.  Also keep in mind I have been a diabetic since I was 7, so I am already at risk for circulatory issues, so I don't want to be one of those negative people about the surgery. It seems to have a pretty high success rate reading about it these days. 

 

[3 hour lunch]

Any chance you can give me a link for your brace?

TIA

http://www.birdcronin.com/product_categories/products.aspx?category=wristbraces
 

The tag is so old on mine I’m not actually sure which one I have but I think maybe the Supreme....