Carpal tunnel –what helps ease the pain PLS !!

[lory]

The pain in my hand, fingers and arm was so unbearable last night I couldn?t bf DS2. I tried hot / cold water, walking with arm up/down, but didn?t change anything. Do you have any suggestions?

And what about surgery for carpal? Is it possible while bf? and after surgery, does the recovery take long? I don?t have anyone who could help at home with dc.

Oh please help me!!!!!!

some people find night splints (a rigid support) helpful, could make breast feeding awkward, but suppose you could take them off to BF. Can't see why you can't have surgery whilst bf but if you have only recently given birth it would be better to wait and see if things settle down, and of course you would have a wait for referral/operation, so wouldn't sort your immediate problem. Alternative would be a steroid injection into your wrist - may or may not help, and again would probably require specialist referral first, so another wait. Night splints would seem the best immediate option, speak to GP. Your local physio department might supply them.

As the previous poster said you may well find it settles after a few months anyway-mine did, but in the meantime I wore the night splints. (Mine is a longstanding problem-I have had carpel tunnel for many years, but it got much worse just after giving birth.)
You would not be able to manage without help with a very young baby,if you did have surgery, imo.

Thanks for your reply Sanae and Tiggiwinkle! Unfortunately I already wear a night splints and it doesn?t help at all . Today I decided to wear it during the day as well and see if it makes any difference. I have an appointment with a neurologist, but in 45 days, and I was wondering how I could survive till then. The pain is incredible, and I spend the second half of the night pacing in the living room and moaning.
Have you tried an osteopath or acupuncture ? Or any other therapy. Does something work?

Acupuncture helps - I have treated someone with carpal tunnel before with some success. It didn't cure it, but it certainly eased the pain. HTH

Lory

What I did (on the advice of a physio) was the very thing that made it painful.

I started with my fingers. Curled them in as far as they would go and stretched them out. When that got easier (took a couple of days) I progressed to my hand, curling it in and then stretching it out.

Then I progressed to my wrist, bending my wrist to bring my hand up, then stretching out.

Then I progressed to my arm from the elbow down and so on up to the top of my arm.

I would do the exercises whenever and wherever I could. It really helped. I hope that helps you, cos ct is a real bugger!

i found wearing the splint all the time makes the pain go away gradually over time. i can remember wearing it for at least a week at a time all the time. it is also safe to take ibuprofen while bf. it is an anti-inflammatory as well as a pain killer. take them at least take it for 3 - 4 days round the clock but try to do so with some food. it can be a few days before you see a measureable difference.

Hi Lory

Sorry to hear about the pain. Just wanted to say that I agree with Marslady about the exercises - I went to a physio who gave me a programme to follow. Agony at first but it did help. I never found the splints much help.

Hope you get some relief soon

someone i know had surgery for it. she didn't have it till she was loosing muscle control to to CP. they do not promise a success. afaik, surgery is hit and miss.

the only thing that helped mine (in both arms, crippling, thru both pregs) was to get to the physio and get the blasted splints on. they are absolutely horrible and sweaty but the only thingthat worked. they keep the carpal tunnel 'open'. i was all up for the surgery if i still had it afterwards but it was gone within a week post birth.
i used to drop things and all sorts, couldnt carry/lift babs for first 4-5 days either.
really feel for you. Xx

oooh sorry. didnt read that bit, had a few bevvies!
i wore them all day and night.