Suggestions for carpel tunnel relief

[rapmarks]

I have been wearing the splint
over the counter pain relievers don’t help
seeing hand doctor tomorrow again.
is there an injection for temporary relief?
is there any therapy that helps?
should I ask for steroid prescription?
I don’t want to get surgery right now. maybe later in year.
this flared up suddenly.
yes, the diagnostic test shows I need surgery.

 

[Rolltydr]

It’s been years ago that I had problems so not sure if there are any advances that may help. However, at that time, probably 15-20 years ago, I got cortisone injections a couple of different times that provided relief.

 

[mjm1]

I wear a bracelet with magnets in it that helps with my tennis elbow. You may want to try that and see if it helps. There are many different bracelets available on Amazon, which is where I bought mine.

 

[klpca]

How long have you been wearing the splint? When mine flares up (because of my RA) it can take a few weeks to settle down with the splints. I take celebrex for breakthrough pain, but it's just a prescription nsaid (I think that it's a slow release version since I've had ulcers from nsaids in the past). Also, ice is my first line of pain relief. So maybe some frozen gel packs?

 

[rapmarks]

How long have you been wearing the splint? When mine flares up (because of my RA) it can take a few weeks to settle down with the splints. I take celebrex for breakthrough pain, but it's just a prescription nsaid (I think that it's a slow release version since I've had ulcers from nsaids in the past). Also, ice is my first line of pain relief. So maybe some frozen gel packs?

I was wondering if ice or heat works

 

[moonstone]

I wore the splint (custom made) for months with minimal relief. My carpal tunnel was caused by repetitive stress so I also had to get a special wrist support for using the computer keyboard. I used ice when it was really bad with slight relief. My Dr. also recommended really cutting down on my salt intake, which I felt was low to start with (I dont salt any of my food or eat a lot of restaurant/takeout food or salty snacks), saying less fluid in my body means less pressure on the tunnel. I finally gave in and had the surgery by a specialist. After the post surgery swelling subsided I had total relief and still do almost 20 years later. I dont know why I postponed the surgery for so long, it was no big deal and it was less than a day surgery.


~Diane

 

[pedro47]

IMHO, your medical doctor is going to suggest to you to have surgery on your arm to reduce the pain.

 

[klpca]

I was wondering if ice or heat works

For inflammation, ice is usually recommended because it reduces swelling. I haven't needed it for my carpal tunnel because a week or two in the splints is ultimately effective, but for any other pain, I always start with ice packs.

One other thing, in addition to repetitive stress, I get carpal tunnel because I am a side sleeper and sometimes I put my hand under my head and/or pillow. I found that this was aggravating the situation, so consider your sleep position too.

 

[rapmarks]

How long after surgery are you really restricted
I am trying to wait until after bocce season
I also want to play a little bit of golf in the league. I have missed every session for two years.
so I would like to wait until April for the surgery

 

[moonstone]

How long after surgery are you really restricted
I am trying to wait until after bocce season
I also want to play a little bit of golf in the league. I have missed every session for two years.
so I would like to wait until April for the surgery

My hand/wrist was heavily bandaged with a pressure bandage over the incision for a week. Just my finger tips were showing and I knew to watch them for redness or swelling, which I had none. It bandages were not allowed to get wet so I used a waterproof medical tape to securely tape a bag over my hand & lower arm to shower. I was also instructed to not use that arm to push anything heavy including doors and of course not to lift anything with that hand/arm. I had an appointment with the surgeon a week after surgery. He took the bandages off, examined the incision and decided I needed steri-strips over the area in between the stitches as it wasnt healing as well as he hoped. He put a lighter bandage on and advised me to still keep it dry and no lifting/pushing in case the incision opened up. He said I could remove the 2nd bandage after another week. I think it was about 3-4 weeks before I could comfortably pick up a full kettle or anything of similar weight. The previous pain and numbness were gone right after the surgery, I just had typical post surgery pain which subsided within a few days or a week.

I would think you could comfortably hold a golf club within a month or 2 if you had no complications. My BiL was fishing within a month of his carpal tunnel surgeries. He had both his wrists done at the same time. When he got home from the hospital he realized that my not have been a good idea when he needed to pee! His DW told him he would need to sit down as she wasnt going to 'hold it' for him. I have no idea what he did when he needed to go #2.!


~Diane

 

[susieq]

For inflammation, ice is usually recommended because it reduces swelling. I haven't needed it for my carpal tunnel because a week or two in the splints is ultimately effective, but for any other pain, I always start with ice packs.

One other thing, in addition to repetitive stress, I get carpal tunnel because I am a side sleeper and sometimes I put my hand under my head and/or pillow. I found that this was aggravating the situation, so consider your sleep position too.

I never thought of that ~ I have a little arthritis in my hands, lately I've noticed it a little more ~ usually in the mornings. I am a side sleeper, so I'll have to be more aware of that. Thanks...................

 

[rapmarks]

My hand/wrist was heavily bandaged with a pressure bandage over the incision for a week. Just my finger tips were showing and I knew to watch them for redness or swelling, which I had none. It bandages were not allowed to get wet so I used a waterproof medical tape to securely tape a bag over my hand & lower arm to shower. I was also instructed to not use that arm to push anything heavy including doors and of course not to lift anything with that hand/arm. I had an appointment with the surgeon a week after surgery. He took the bandages off, examined the incision and decided I needed steri-strips over the area in between the stitches as it wasnt healing as well as he hoped. He put a lighter bandage on and advised me to still keep it dry and no lifting/pushing in case the incision opened up. He said I could remove the 2nd bandage after another week. I think it was about 3-4 weeks before I could comfortably pick up a full kettle or anything of similar weight. The previous pain and numbness were gone right after the surgery, I just had typical post surgery pain which subsided within a few days or a week.

I would think you could comfortably hold a golf club within a month or 2 if you had no complications. My BiL was fishing within a month of his carpal tunnel surgeries. He had both his wrists done at the same time. When he got home from the hospital he realized that my not have been a good idea when he needed to pee! His DW told him he would need to sit down as she wasnt going to 'hold it' for him. I have no idea what he did when he needed to go #2.!


~Diane

The pain management dr said two days and the surgeon said two weeks. After 15 surgeries I do not believe anything they say.

 

[artringwald]

My hand/wrist was heavily bandaged with a pressure bandage over the incision for a week. Just my finger tips were showing and I knew to watch them for redness or swelling, which I had none. It bandages were not allowed to get wet so I used a waterproof medical tape to securely tape a bag over my hand & lower arm to shower. I was also instructed to not use that arm to push anything heavy including doors and of course not to lift anything with that hand/arm. I had an appointment with the surgeon a week after surgery. He took the bandages off, examined the incision and decided I needed steri-strips over the area in between the stitches as it wasnt healing as well as he hoped. He put a lighter bandage on and advised me to still keep it dry and no lifting/pushing in case the incision opened up. He said I could remove the 2nd bandage after another week. I think it was about 3-4 weeks before I could comfortably pick up a full kettle or anything of similar weight. The previous pain and numbness were gone right after the surgery, I just had typical post surgery pain which subsided within a few days or a week.

I would think you could comfortably hold a golf club within a month or 2 if you had no complications. My BiL was fishing within a month of his carpal tunnel surgeries. He had both his wrists done at the same time. When he got home from the hospital he realized that my not have been a good idea when he needed to pee! His DW told him he would need to sit down as she wasnt going to 'hold it' for him. I have no idea what he did when he needed to go #2.!


~Diane

Similar experience for DW. In 2 weeks she resumed most activities, and about 4 weeks to get her strength back. She's had 9 trigger finger surgeries and the carpal tunnel wasn't much different.

 

[rapmarks]

Similar experience for DW. In 2 weeks she resumed most activities, and about 4 weeks to get her strength back. She's had 9 trigger finger surgeries and the carpal tunnel wasn't much different.

I had trigger thumb surgery. That was no problem. I also have dupuytrens contracture I. The same hand. That pinkie is in bad shape.
I have been treated for carpel tunnel since the late eighties
I also have a condition where inflammation flairs up in my body, they think I have pmr.

 

[easyrider]

I developed carpel tunel decades ago. Back then it was hit or miss if the operation would take so I didn't go though with it.

What I do is a series of stretches and exercises for my wrists. I'm in the habit of just doing these as they are very easy and most of the exercise and stretching can be done anywhere.

I've also used a castor oil wrap. It's a bit messy but it did help. I haven't needed to use the castor oil for a long time.

Bill

 

[rapmarks]

I developed carpel tunel decades ago. Back then it was hit or miss if the operation would take so I didn't go though with it.

What I do is a series of stretches and exercises for my wrists. I'm in the habit of just doing these as they are very easy and most of the exercise and stretching can be done anywhere.

I've also used a castor oil wrap. It's a bit messy but it did help. I haven't needed to use the castor oil for a long time.

Bill

Where did you find the exercises?
to be honest, this feels so different from the previous episodes with carpel tunnel I am sure something additional is going on.

 

[easyrider]

I received the exercises from an Orthopedic specialist about 40 years ago. These are stretches mostly. When I have access to my laptop I will look it up. The exercises were diagrams on paper with instructions. While these are easy exercises they might not be for you at this time. Because of your surgery it would be better to ask your doctor about passive wrist therapies, imo.

I think a chiropractor could show you these exercises and maybe adjust your wrist to take presure off the median nerve.

Bill

 

[b2bailey]

My job always involved heavy keyboard use.
Nearly 20 years ago I was developing carpal tunnel symptoms.
My MD was trained in acupuncture.
She did 3 sessions with needles and I was cured. Simply amazing.

 

[easyrider]

Where did you find the exercises?
to be honest, this feels so different from the previous episodes with carpel tunnel I am sure something additional is going on.

Some of these stretches are what I do. One stretch that helps me that isn't in the video is placing my hands together in front of my chest with my fingers pointing up and stretching my arms over my head while holding my hands together. The hands are like in a prayer. After doing some reps of this I continue the same pattern but as I lift my hands over my head I then stretch my hands behind my neck for a few reps. I've been doing wrist flexing and stretching for decades and haven't had the need for surgery.

Bill

 

[rapmarks]

Thanks Bill