Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Carpal tunnel remedies

17 replies

BiffBaffBuduff · 17/04/2014 08:33

I still have carpal tunnel in my right hand seven months after having DD, it developed during pregnancy.

I use a wrist splint at night which helps, but I'm about to start a course that will involve a lot of writing / drawing, something that causes numbness and tingling pretty quickly. I have a hospital appointment to have it looked at / treated, but it's not til June.

Are there any other ways of preventing / easing that numbness in the short term? Massage, anti-inflammatories, anything unusual?!

OP posts:

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/04/2014 16:22

I have severe tennis elbow atm, so same sort of problems, I am wearing my splint in the day as well. Also having acupuncture which is helping. Miserable isn't it?

Original poster

BiffBaffBuduff · 17/04/2014 21:33

Hi Dame, yes it's a total nuisance! I'll look into acupuncture, and maybe wearing the splint in the day will help too - can't do any harm

OP posts:

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 18/04/2014 08:15

Are you doing exercises? I've been told the pain has to be intermittent before I can start, atm it's full on all the time

Today was the first day I woke up without crying though and last night I slept through for the first time in weeks, thanks to the brace, so I'm hopeful.

polkadotdelight · 18/04/2014 08:22

You can ask the GP for a steroid injection into the carpal tunnel. It doesn't work for everyone but it could provide you with relief while you wait for the hospital appointment.

Lonecatwithkitten · 18/04/2014 09:13

The only thing that worked for me was surgery and that was marvellous. I had big strength issues as well as pain which was massively affecting the ability to do my job which involves surgery.
I did a lot of research about the surgeons in my area and was very picky about who I went to.

I did have a steroid injection it was terribly painful and the effect only lasted 28 days.

ThatBloodyWoman · 18/04/2014 09:18

I'm afraid nothing helped mine, but it did go when I was unpregnant.

The only other two people I have known with it in unpregnant states both had surgery.
It worked miracles for one, and improved the condition for the other.

Good luck.

Original poster

BiffBaffBuduff · 18/04/2014 19:20

Thanks so much for your responses... The hospital appt is where I'll get the steroid injection, maybe I'll push the GP in case they can do something in the meantime. Interesting to know the surgery can be effective, as a last resort!

OP posts:

Lonecatwithkitten · 18/04/2014 19:48

Surgery is not necessarily a last resort I only had the steroid injection as a hold mechanism to organise my work to have time off for surgery. Surgery was always my first choice best option, a permanent solution.

Original poster

BiffBaffBuduff · 18/04/2014 21:08

What was the procedure like? And the recovery? If you don't mind me asking...

OP posts:

polkadotdelight · 19/04/2014 00:15

The procedure is usually very quick and done under local anaesthetic. You can watch it on youtube if you search for it. Recovery depends on your occupation as I understand it so anything between 2 and 6 weeks I've heard (but don't quote me on that).

Lonecatwithkitten · 19/04/2014 07:09

Under Local Anaesthetic, I had my surgery in the evening took around 15 minutes. I had wear a sling for 48 hours, no driving for 5 days, stitches in for 10 days, then massage with hand cream three times a day. I was off work for three weeks due to my occupation, but two is normal.
I had physio that I needed to daily for 8 weeks and then I do the exercises weekly now to prevent recurrence.

McFlurry · 19/04/2014 07:17

I had the surgery 4 years ago on my right hand. Will need to have the left done at some stage too. I was never even offered the steroid injection...just referred for surgery as soon as the diagnosis was confirmed.

My left flared up badly a few weeks after the birth of DC1. Dr gave me anti inflammatories as I didn't want to be referred for surgery with a young baby to look after. They were fairly effective as a short term aid.

Original poster

BiffBaffBuduff · 19/04/2014 08:50

Thanks so much - this is all really helpful info. I'll ask my GP about the surgery option then, in case there's a quicker route to it... Have a trigger finger on the other hand which didn't respond to the steroid injection so need to get that sorted too! Feel like an old crock these days...

OP posts:

McFlurry · 19/04/2014 19:12

Somebody at work had an operation on a trigger finger recently. They were back at work next day and said the op took about 10 mins.

kazzawazzawoo · 19/04/2014 21:38

Can someone point me towards a link to the exercises? I have carpal tunnel problems, but intermittent and bearable. I don't want them to get worse, would the exercises help?

Lonecatwithkitten · 19/04/2014 21:50

The Physio was post op to prevent recurrence rather than to treat carpal tunnel.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 26/04/2014 13:00

I saw my gp yesterday who initially refused the steroid injection then when I went through all that I had tried and how badly it was affecting me she has made me an appt at the joint injection clinic-after initially telling me the nhs don't offer this service any more due to the risk of vein eruption

Flip