I guess I should've mentioned that I was a Nurse Massage Therapist for 20yrs until rheumatoid arthritis interfered. Lovely career path. I always had 2 parttime jobs so never "burned out" on either. Peaceful, happy massage work sure provided balance to my intense nursing jobs in ICU then forensics.
So, from my experience, I do recommend massage therapy, but be sure to get a well trained therapist. There are even orthopedic massage therapists to whom orthopedic docs send their patients. If you are having acute pain, a doctor should be seen first to be sure it is safe, although if you can tolerate doing it on your own self, it probably is.

Try all the suggestions given here then if they don't work and doc recommends surgery, maybe that's worth a try too. Though not everyone gets relief from it, many do.

Another effort you may ask your doctor to prescribe as a trial before taking the surgical route, is Physical Therapy. They will work on you but also guide you to the best stretches and exercises.

Good luck. We want to hear you are quilting in comfort again!

Sorry to hear that you have it.
I try to spread my palm out when not using my hands.
Also, when I sleep, I keep one hand stretched, palm up under my pillow and the other hand palm down under my head. My head holds both in place and it seems to relieve it. I do not want surgery.
I heard too, that the surgery has to be redone after a few years.
mej

After my first and crippling attack of CTS, I wore wrist braces for several years, plus took an NSaid to reduce inflammation and I made sure I got RD dose of B6 (which is supposed to aid healing???). At the same time, at my job, I traded my electric typewriter for a computer keyboard which causes much less stress on the wrists. Eventually, I got well enough to leave off the wrist braces, etc. Now, however, due to too much computer mouse clicking, I have recurring wrist pain, so I always keep a good pair of braces handy.

I'm a dental hygienist and I take B-12, B-6 and folic acid.

I have not had any pain in my wrist and I've been a hygienist for 19 years.

Good luck!!!

Last October 2008, I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand. I am an Administrative Assistant so being on the computer has to be why this happened. I'll tell you, the surgery went well and I am so relieved and pain free! I would recommend wearing your splints every night faithfully. Anything to relieve the problem while you are quilting, has to be helpful to you. I was told I would eventually need the left hand operated on for carpal tunnel. I faithfully wear my splints every night, even though they make you feel warm. Hang in there and see your hand doctor if you have to do so. The hand dr. will give you shots if needed and a nerve conduction test to determine how serious the carpal tunnel has affected you. It is all worth it to feel better again! I wish you the best. Anne and Hera, the pug in Florida.

Has it been confirmed that you have CP? I have arthritis of the thumb and recently had a steroid injection which worked wonders. Also wear a brace when I have any pain and do sleep with it at night. Good luck with this. Nothing worse than the pain when we want to do soooo much sewing!

I had the surgery years ago now best thing I did. I couldn't even hold a pen anymore it would fall out of my hand and I didn't even feel it go. CTS is a pinched nerve in the tunnel in the waist I did all the before treatments none worked. I know they make special cutters now and a friend of mine told me a great idea put one of those bath tub handles for getting out of the tub on your rulers it works great it eases the pain. I think they are around 14.99 the cutters are a little pricey, but if you want to keep quilting it's the way to go.

I had surgery for CTS five years ago. It worked for me! I found the brace worked a little but the surgery was a complete success.

The one think I did was learn to use the computer mouse left handed saving my right hand for quilting. Until I retired I was at the computer 8 to 10 hours a day and it took only a short time to learn to use my left hand to mouse. I also invested in a high quality track ball mouse, the kind used by CAD drafters and learned to use it left handed. Now that I'm retired I still mouse left handed to save my right for sewing. Didn't cure anything but has prolonged the need for CTS surgery.

Me too - I practically bend myself into a fetal pretzle.