Carpal Tunnel

IcedTeaRulz

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I'm curious...anyone here do have carpal tunnel?

I do have it both in my hands/wrists.

Will have a surgery on my right hand/wrist first soon someday then my left hand/wrist later.
 
Was your carpal tunnel problem related to repetitive motion injury from your job?
 
Was your carpal tunnel problem related to repetitive motion injury from your job?

No, I was on the computer lots. Plus I was interpreting with deaf/blind man at the church, his arms and hands are too heavy for me to interpret with him.
 
I'm curious...anyone here do have carpal tunnel?

I do have it both in my hands/wrists.

Will have a surgery on my right hand/wrist first soon someday then my left hand/wrist later.

I had carpal tunnel while I was prengant so it a while to heal and went away. I can also get that from tpying and writting at work too.
 
My cousin has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome bec she's a culinary art student. She has it on her left wrist and will need to have surgery to remove it, she's only 21.
 
My cousin has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome bec she's a culinary art student. She has it on her left wrist and will need to have surgery to remove it, she's only 21.

mine is gone but sometimes it comes back, so I just wear brace that helps.
 
mine is gone but sometimes it comes back, so I just wear brace that helps.

My cousin has the lump on her wrist that needs to be removed. I don't know when she will have surgery, her arms gets numb also.
 
Wow, it is interesting to learn here about carpal tunnel. Thanks for sharing! :ty:

By the way, I do wear both wrist splits (brace) on my both wrists for activity. It helps some.
 
I had tendonitis last summer in my hands. I thought it was Carpal Tunnel, but a doctor told me otherwise, had me on some medication and gave me wrist/thumb braces to sleep inm and it helps a lot. My best peice of advice to avoid Carpal Tunel, is if it hurts, stop doing it, take a break. We are not robots.
 
Quick Facts

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median (pronounced mee-dee-an) nerve becomes compressed.

The median nerve is the nerve that travels down the arm into the hand. With carpal tunnel syndrome the nerve is squeezed as it passes through the narrow path (or tunnel) at the wrist.

The pressure on the wrist can cause the fingers and thumb to feel tingly and numb. They may feel paralysed, or unable to move.

How common is carpal tunnel syndrome?

The exact number of Canadians who have carpal tunnel syndrome is not known.

Women develop carpal tunnel syndrome more often than men.

Most people with carpal tunnel syndrome get it after age 50. However, it can occur at any age.

People who do activities that can put stress on the heel of the hand and the wrist may be more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

What are the warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect one or both hands.

The first warning signs are pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers. Usually only one side of the third finger, also known as the ring finger, is affected, and the little finger is not affected at all.

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome you could also get the feeling that the fingers are ‘full’ or swollen. There may be pain from your hand up your arm, perhaps all the way to the elbow.

The pain, tingling and numbness are usually worse at night and when the affected hand is warm.

Your hand can become weak, and it may be harder to do certain things such as picking up and holding objects.

The muscles at the base of the thumb may become smaller than on the other hand or than they used to be.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

With many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome the exact cause is not known.
Injury to the wrist can lead to it.

Different kinds of arthritis that cause the wrists to swell can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Repeated movements and heavy use of the hand and wrist may play a role. Some people who have jobs or hobbies that make them use their hands and wrists in this way may be at greater risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

People with diabetes may get carpal tunnel syndrome.

There may be a link between carpal tunnel syndrome and hormones. Hormones are substances produced by the body that help different organs run normally. Estrogen is an example of a hormone. It allows women to get pregnant. Some women get carpal tunnel syndrome after a change in certain hormones. For example, a change in hormones can occur during or after pregnancy.

What can you do about carpal tunnel syndrome?

If your doctor thinks you have carpal tunnel, he or she may perform a physical examination and certain tests.

Treatment is done to get rid of the pain, restore feeling in the hand and keep the problem from getting worse.

Learn as much as you can about this disease. Speaking with people who are specialists in arthritis care can provide you with the information you need Medicine.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs – pronounced en-seds) are a type of medication that helps reduce the pain and swelling of the joints and decrease stiffness. However, they do not prevent further joint damage.

Those people who have carpal tunnel syndrome that doesn’t respond to an NSAID may be given cortisone. Often the cortisone is injected into the joint. Cortisone is a steroid that reduces pain and swelling.

Heat/Cold

Applying heat helps relax aching muscles, and reduces pain and soreness. For example, put a heating pad or hot water bottle on the area.

Applying cold helps to lessen the pain and swelling. For example, put an ice pack on the area.

Protect Your Joints

Be kind to your body. After doing heavy work, or doing the same task over and over, stop. Slow down by doing an easy task, or by taking a rest.

If you are doing a task for work or a hobby that may have caused your carpal tunnel syndrome, change how you do that task. Find different tools that can make the task easier.

Use your back, arms and legs to help you keep from putting stress on your wrist and hand. For example, use a shoulder bag instead of carrying something in your hands.
Use helpful devices such as a cart to carry your grocery bags, or an enlarged handle that fits over a knife handle so you can hold it easily.

Consider getting a splint to hold your joints in a comfortable position at night. A splint can help decrease pain, swelling and stiffness.

Relaxation

Relaxing the muscles around an inflamed area reduces pain.

There are many ways to relax. Try deep breathing exercises. Listen to music or relaxation tapes. Meditate or pray. Another way to relax is to imagine or visualize a pleasant activity such as lying on a beach, or sitting in front of a fireplace.

Surgery

If other treatment has not helped your doctor may recommend surgery.

Additional Tips for Living Well

The Arthritis Society offers a variety of programs and services that can be helpful.
You can reach the Society at 1-800-321-1433 from anywhere in Canada.
You can also reach us through our Web site at custom home
 
I'm curious...anyone here do have carpal tunnel?

I do have it both in my hands/wrists.

Will have a surgery on my right hand/wrist first soon someday then my left hand/wrist later.

my mom is deaf and have carpal tunnel in both hands.. one of her hand had surgery and other hand was just exercise... guess which hand was healed? the exercise hand... I recommend DO NOT GET SURGERY... it might help you feel better but my mom couldn't carry anything little heavy with the hand that was surgery... exercise your hand. i know it will take couple months but in time you'll thank yourself not to get surgery.. unless in worst condition...
 
Oh okay ... np just as long it doesn't bother. I used to have a friend many years ago that he had cyst removal but it came back twice then after the third it didn't come back anymore. The reason what he had it removed was cuz it was painful and uncomfortable.

I have a cyst in my right wrist but no need to remove it since it not a serious threat. Smile
 
ahhh that's what I believe so too. Cuz a few of my friends had carpal tunnel surguries and it doesn't help for many years afterward so I was thinking then why surgery. Oh well.

my mom is deaf and have carpal tunnel in both hands.. one of her hand had surgery and other hand was just exercise... guess which hand was healed? the exercise hand... I recommend DO NOT GET SURGERY... it might help you feel better but my mom couldn't carry anything little heavy with the hand that was surgery... exercise your hand. i know it will take couple months but in time you'll thank yourself not to get surgery.. unless in worst condition...
 
my mom is deaf and have carpal tunnel in both hands.. one of her hand had surgery and other hand was just exercise... guess which hand was healed? the exercise hand... I recommend DO NOT GET SURGERY... it might help you feel better but my mom couldn't carry anything little heavy with the hand that was surgery... exercise your hand. i know it will take couple months but in time you'll thank yourself not to get surgery.. unless in worst condition...

Really? How long ago that ur mom had a carpal tunnel surgery? I plan not to rush to have surgery. I wear wrist splits for my both wrists that my specialist gave me for while. If I hear from hand surgeon with appointment to discuss...I will ask surgeon to see what percent that carpal tunnel be successful and also ask about pro and con.

Thanks for the suggestion. :ty:
 
Nope.

From what I hear, people usually get it when they use their wrists wrong.

For instance, some people type on their keyboards while resting their wrists on the bottom. This forces them to move their hands in all directions and that puts a lot of strain on their wrists.

When I use the keyboard, I don't rest my wrists on the bottom. I move my whole arm, putting less stress on my wrists. :)
 
i'm also curious, does it makes your hand or fingers cramp too ? I dont know if its similar or not. because more often, my fingers does cramp up for brief time as for example when i try to open the jar lid when it s tight, then it started to cramp up so i let it go for short time and tried again, sometimes it still come back, sometimes it didn't. so i'm wondering if it does make your hand or fingers cramp too ?
 
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