Carpal Tunnel
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 64
I wonder if anyone else has had carpal tunnel pain? I had it one other time years ago and the Dr. just injected something with a long needle. Instantly the pain stopped and I was fine.
This time Dr. wants a nerve study and maybe "he will do a little surgery". Do I need another Dr. or should I just be patient. Hurts like crazy and has been bothering me 3 months. Would appreciate some advice or some encouragement!
Eileen
This time Dr. wants a nerve study and maybe "he will do a little surgery". Do I need another Dr. or should I just be patient. Hurts like crazy and has been bothering me 3 months. Would appreciate some advice or some encouragement!
Eileen
#3
A nerve study is the only way to find out if it truly is carpal tunnel, and also to find out the extent of it.
They start testing the nerve in the upper arm, down to the wrist area.
Your doc wants these tests done to see how extensively you have it and whether surgery is needed/warranted or not.
I had the surgery done on my right hand in 1987, and have not had any further problems with it since.
I did also learn more "ergonomic" ways of doing things to prevent it from coming back, too :D:D:D
They start testing the nerve in the upper arm, down to the wrist area.
Your doc wants these tests done to see how extensively you have it and whether surgery is needed/warranted or not.
I had the surgery done on my right hand in 1987, and have not had any further problems with it since.
I did also learn more "ergonomic" ways of doing things to prevent it from coming back, too :D:D:D
#4
I don't have any details, but I've been told that large factories that have employees with carpel tunnel tell them to take large doses of vitamin B. I'm not sure what they consider large doses to be, but you might want to look it up on the internet if its something you'd consider.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
#5
I have had pain come & go over the years. It seems that when others have had the surgery, they became more prone to future problems. My problem got better when I retired - except for when I overdue it with the gardening. Quilting was actually good for my hands.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
I have had it for years. I take a anti inflamitory like advil or just plain old asprin. I get some relief. I agrivate it when I am doing alot of sewing. I discovered that its the ironing that really makes it flare up . My iron is heavy and the motion of lifting it bends my wrist back , and the weight causes the tendons to be streched and inflamed. I lowered my ironing board and it helped a bit.
Now I use a light weight iron when doing marithon sewing sessions and it really has helped alot. I also take the asprin prior to doing the sewing( at the recommendation of my Doctor). this also helps. I use ice packs after a long session as well.
So far I have been able to avoid surgery, but there were times when I would have cut off my own hand and arm it hurt so bad.
Try the anti inflamitories and ice , it really really helps. If you have a paricularly accute case (as I have ) , I had to stop just about everything for about a month. Then did some rehab , now I can tell if I am "pushing it". and either stop and/or ice immediatley.
The spring gardening is also a culprit.
Now I use a light weight iron when doing marithon sewing sessions and it really has helped alot. I also take the asprin prior to doing the sewing( at the recommendation of my Doctor). this also helps. I use ice packs after a long session as well.
So far I have been able to avoid surgery, but there were times when I would have cut off my own hand and arm it hurt so bad.
Try the anti inflamitories and ice , it really really helps. If you have a paricularly accute case (as I have ) , I had to stop just about everything for about a month. Then did some rehab , now I can tell if I am "pushing it". and either stop and/or ice immediatley.
The spring gardening is also a culprit.
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,375
He probably put a shot of cortizone in it. They have a set schedule that they give the shot on, but it does cause other problems, so they don't do it all of the time. I would do the test to be sure that you are not getting permanent nerve damage. I waited too long and a year after surgery I am still waiting to see if all of the feeling comes back in my fingers. I still can't do any type of hand sewing. So, it really depends on how bad it is. I had to have the open surger and so it took a long to heal completely and I had a lot of pain with it. Surgery is easier if you don't live alone. I had to come up with different ways of doing things because I live alone.
There are a lot of choices, just don't wait too long to decide like I did.
There are a lot of choices, just don't wait too long to decide like I did.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dublb
Main
173
10-14-2011 12:20 PM
3flowers
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
12
09-30-2010 11:11 PM