Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I have pregnancy induced carpal tunnel, which has progressively gotten worse over the past several weeks. I wear braces now, which has helped with the wrist pain. For the past week, my fingers are constantly numb and tingly. My pinky and ring fingers aren't too bad, but I can't feel anything other than a tingly sensation in the rest of my fingers. This makes it very difficult to do anything.

If you had numb/tingly fingers towards the end of your pregnancy, did it go away after you delivered? How long did it take until you started to feel better? I'm just concerned that I'm going to have a harder time taking care of .

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I had it bad at the end. My hands were in so much pain. It went away after I gave birth. After I gave birth, I swelled up even more for a few days and then went away, as well as the pain

Message edited 12/2/2008 12:30:26 PM.

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I developed carpal tunnel during my pregnancy, and it got progressively worse towards the end...it was terrible in the hospital after I had my c-section...

Honestly, it was about 6 weeks before I regained full feeling (no tingling) in my hands...and i still have issues today, though it is no where as severe.

It didn't affect my ability to care for DD too much...only when trying to open her formula bottles...

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I got it It was excruciating. I wore the braces ALL the time. Sometimes I had to sleep with my hands propped up while I was sleeping in a sitting position on the couch. My hands were CONSTANTLY numb, tingling and in pain.

The MINUTE my water broke and by the time I got to the hospital, it was ALL gone. I never felt anything after that!

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I had it pretty bad...I had to rely on DH to help with anything and everything that required the use of my hands...including losing my bra

I never felt the pain in my wrists during delivery (love those drugs...plus I was sort of distracted )

My first recollection of even thinking of my wrists was the next morning...the pain and numbness were barely noticable.

For the next three months after delivery I would occassionally feel a little numbness but never enough to interfere with caring for my son. After 3 months I lost track so I have to assume that it got better...I noticed that around the time both my wedding and e-ring were fitting again so it must have been the rest of the swelling going down.

DS is 18 months now and I can't remember the last time I felt any pain or discomfort...totally fine!

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

Mine wasn't as bad as yours, but the pain went away after delivery. The tingling came and went for a long time afterwards, though. DS just turned a year old and I think it just stopped maybe about a month ago.

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I had it bad throughout my third trimester. I slept with braces on my hands. It did get better after my son was born. I still have problems now and then but it is definitely improved.

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I got it also and it was horrible at the end. It was actually worse in the hospital after my c-section until they took me off all the fluids. It took about 6 weeks for it to go away after having DS. It did not interfere with me taking care of him at all.

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

As you know I had it and still do. I just had DD about 1+ week ago, but it's still there, finger tips constantly numb. But I can still care for dd, but I do hope it will go away soon.

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I had it bad and acupuncture REALLY helped. It went away about 2-3 weeks after delivery, but it was much better right after I delivered.

Re: Questions for those who had carpal tunnel during pregnancy

I had it bad near the end of my pregnancy. I could barely write or type at work. I woke up multiple times a night with pain or numbness in my fingers.

I actually got some bad stomach virus a week before DD was born and mine went away then. I think it had to do with the fact that I lost five pounds in a few days and the water retention went away.

I was told it was caused by extreme water retention, so I would think it would go away as you lose water weight after birth.