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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
I'm pretty sure I have this in my left hand. For the past week I wake up at 3am with my hand feeling numb and in extreme pain, to the point where I can't sleep. I had carpal tunnel in pregnancy but I only had numbness (no pain) and it went away if I changed the position of my hands. This won't go away unless I get out of bed for a while. I bought a special wrist brace for carpal tunnel and it did nothing at all. I'm going to make an appointment with an orthopedist and possibly neurologist but I'm just looking to hear other's experiences in the meantime.
Since the brace didn't help me at all and the pain is extreme, I'm wondering if I will need surgery. Is this something that can go away with time? My hand function is also impaired during the day, I have pain with certain motions, weakness and some numbness. It's actually impacting my ability to do some day to day activities.
Any experience would be appreciated!
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Posted 2/9/15 9:11 AM  |
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Ayne11
Yep
Member since 1/09 18021 total posts
Name:
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Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
I had this when I was PG, and long after I gave birth. The hospital offered me a steroid shot in my wrist, but I declined. The brace also didn't help, for me the only thing that helped was drinking a ton of water and losing weight. It was just odd.
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| Posted 2/9/15 9:21 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
Posted by Ayne11
I had this when I was PG, and long after I gave birth. The hospital offered me a steroid shot in my wrist, but I declined. The brace also didn't help, for me the only thing that helped was drinking a ton of water and losing weight. It was just odd.
See, it went away right after I gave birth both times. My youngest is 2 so I don't think it's pregnancy related. It just came out of nowhere one night and now every night I get woken up by the pain.
I really don't want a shot in my wrist or surgery either. Hoping there is some other option. I'm going to try taking ibuprofen in the middle of the night and see if that helps. I need to sleep and I can't with the pain.
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| Posted 2/9/15 9:38 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
How do you know you have carpal tunnel for sure? I know a lot of people throw that term around when they think their wrist hurts or hand is numb. Carpal Tunnel is a specific condition where your first three fingers (thumb, index, middle) and half the ring finger go numb. If your entire hand including pinky is numb it could be something else or maybe you slept on it wrong.
I actually have cubital tunnel which is the opposite of carpal tunnel, numbness in pinky and half the ring finger. My ulnar nerve is pinched somewhere in the cubital tunnel (elbow) causing numbness. Carpal tunnel is the same thing except the pinch is in the wrist affecting the other fingers.
I have an EXCELLENT hand surgeon and IMO don't even bother going to a regular doctor or orthopedist or nerve guy. Go see a hand surgeon if you really want to get an accurate diagnosis. My doctor is telling me that if the numbness doesn't go away then surgery is the only option, he would actually take the ulnar nerve remove it from the cubital tunnel inside the elbow and place it on the outside of the elbow which relieves the tension of the nerve. Supposedly easy surgery and recovery, only PITA is you are in an elbow cast for almost four weeks, which is why I haven't gotten the surgery yet... need to schedule it around a non busy time for me. No therapy needed after the cast comes off.
If you need carpal tunnel surgery probably the same thing but the surgery is in the wrist vs. the elbow, and any good hand surgeon will likely put you in a full elbow cast for the carpal tunnel surgery which will prevent you from twisting your forearm.
The wrist surgeon I went to doesnt take in network insurance benefits, only out of network. But I heard these guys are just as good and supposedly take most insurance.
http://www.handsurgeryny.com/
Message edited 2/9/2015 10:29:40 AM.
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| Posted 2/9/15 10:28 AM |
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jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
Name:
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Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
def get checked out by the doctor. if you do need surgery, i can tell you its worth it. i had it in both hands and the surgery worked wonders.
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| Posted 2/9/15 10:45 AM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
Posted by jams92
def get checked out by the doctor. if you do need surgery, i can tell you its worth it. i had it in both hands and the surgery worked wonders.
Ditto, had mild carpal tunnel before kids, 1pg it got bad, 2nd pg it was INTOLERABLE. I got it done 9 months PP and it was so simple.. a quickie surgery and a quickie healing time and it's like I have a new hand. From what I understand, if you leave it unchecked you start to develop permanent nerve damage
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| Posted 2/9/15 10:47 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
Posted by ave1024
How do you know you have carpal tunnel for sure? I know a lot of people throw that term around when they think their wrist hurts or hand is numb. Carpal Tunnel is a specific condition where your first three fingers (thumb, index, middle) and half the ring finger go numb. If your entire hand including pinky is numb it could be something else or maybe you slept on it wrong.
I actually have cubital tunnel which is the opposite of carpal tunnel, numbness in pinky and half the ring finger. My ulnar nerve is pinched somewhere in the cubital tunnel (elbow) causing numbness. Carpal tunnel is the same thing except the pinch is in the wrist affecting the other fingers.
I have an EXCELLENT hand surgeon and IMO don't even bother going to a regular doctor or orthopedist or nerve guy. Go see a hand surgeon if you really want to get an accurate diagnosis. My doctor is telling me that if the numbness doesn't go away then surgery is the only option, he would actually take the ulnar nerve remove it from the cubital tunnel inside the elbow and place it on the outside of the elbow which relieves the tension of the nerve. Supposedly easy surgery and recovery, only PITA is you are in an elbow cast for almost four weeks, which is why I haven't gotten the surgery yet... need to schedule it around a non busy time for me. No therapy needed after the cast comes off.
If you need carpal tunnel surgery probably the same thing but the surgery is in the wrist vs. the elbow, and any good hand surgeon will likely put you in a full elbow cast for the carpal tunnel surgery which will prevent you from twisting your forearm.
The wrist surgeon I went to doesnt take in network insurance benefits, only out of network. But I heard these guys are just as good and supposedly take most insurance.
http://www.handsurgeryny.com/
I am pretty positive that it's carpal tunnel based on my symptoms, I've done my research they match up with the diagnosis. My pinky is fine, it's mainly the ring, middle and pointer, pain radiates up my forearm.
Would you mind sharing the hand surgeon's name? You can FM if you'd prefer.
Thanks!
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| Posted 2/9/15 10:57 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
The odd thing to me is it's my nondominant hand. Did anyone else have this? I'm reading that it's usually in the dominant hand.
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| Posted 2/9/15 11:00 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
Posted by melbalalala
Posted by jams92
def get checked out by the doctor. if you do need surgery, i can tell you its worth it. i had it in both hands and the surgery worked wonders.
Ditto, had mild carpal tunnel before kids, 1pg it got bad, 2nd pg it was INTOLERABLE. I got it done 9 months PP and it was so simple.. a quickie surgery and a quickie healing time and it's like I have a new hand. From what I understand, if you leave it unchecked you start to develop permanent nerve damage
Very much this, which is why I am likely going to just get my surgery done even though my symptoms are somewhat mild/tolerable. I don't need irreversible damage. I actually just had TFCC wrist surgery done on my other hand/wrist back in August of last year with my same hand surgeon, so I need another surgery like I need a hole in the head. 
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| Posted 2/9/15 11:01 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
Posted by Sparrow
The odd thing to me is it's my nondominant hand. Did anyone else have this? I'm reading that it's usually in the dominant hand.
I don't think that makes a difference, you can pinch the nerve in either wrist. Maybe more people do it to their dominant hand because they use it more, but again it can probably happen in either wrist.
Message edited 2/9/2015 11:19:44 AM.
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| Posted 2/9/15 11:19 AM |
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tran92
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/08 732 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
i have carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve impingement in both arms. left handed, but my right hand is worse than my left. so far doc wanted me on NSAIDs. PT, and steroid injections. at the moment, NSAIDs are out due to stomach issues, and i'm allergic to steroids. so trying PT, some more testing, and then likely off to the hand surgeon for consult. I wake up in the middle of the night with one or both hands numb as well. no pain though. and i know i have both issues since depending on how i am sleeping depends on which fingers are numb, or if its the entire hand. PT can do ultrasound on the area to also help reduce inflammation, so that might be a good starting point for you.
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| Posted 2/9/15 7:54 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
Posted by tran92
i have carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve impingement in both arms. left handed, but my right hand is worse than my left. so far doc wanted me on NSAIDs. PT, and steroid injections. at the moment, NSAIDs are out due to stomach issues, and i'm allergic to steroids. so trying PT, some more testing, and then likely off to the hand surgeon for consult. I wake up in the middle of the night with one or both hands numb as well. no pain though. and i know i have both issues since depending on how i am sleeping depends on which fingers are numb, or if its the entire hand. PT can do ultrasound on the area to also help reduce inflammation, so that might be a good starting point for you.
For my ulnar nerve impingement my hand surgeon pretty much said therapy and steroid shots will not correct the issue, so he didn't bother putting me on either. Anti inflammatory medication also has a very low chance of working. Pretty much the surgery is the only way of getting relief. I'd do the surgery tomorrow if it didn't mean having a full elbow cast for four weeks. That sucks, taking showers is a royal PITA. although after my last wrist surgery I should be an expert.
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| Posted 2/10/15 7:04 AM |
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Dragonfly07
LIF Infant
Member since 1/08 244 total posts
Name:
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Re: Talk to me about Carpal Tunnel...
I have many of the same symptoms . How is it diagnosed for sure? What type of test can be done?
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| Posted 2/13/15 11:13 PM |
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