Can someone give me advice on carpal tunnel

[Richtea2]

Does anyone have experience of this? Can you please tell me can you get signed off?

I work in retail and very concerned about my health and worked a lot lately. I need to tell my manager to reduce hours a bit but worried as we are short staffed. I also have Fibromyalgia too.

Can't be much help, sorry! GP said 'it will go' - but it hasn't, it comes and goes, sometimes keeps me awake with pins and needles. Luckily only one hand affected, but it is difficult to pick up small things eg pins as I can't 'feel' them, so have to aim and take a few goes at it.

Hi, mine was pregnancy related but I wore fingerless gloves as heat helped and I had to do certain exercises over and over again.
I think with that and firbromyagia you can be signed off.

I had cubital and carpal tunnel in my left hand, had surgery a few years ago to correct it as it was beyond the point of physio being useful. I was only signed off after surgery though, Have you asked your GP to sign you off? The symptoms have come back but I was pain/symptom free for two years post surgery.

Get a wrist splint to keep your wrist hand in neutral position overnight. Look at what you might be doing that irritates the nerve in the carpal tunnel: so anything repetitive where you push down with your hand or keep your wrist bent. Ask your gp to refer you to a rheumatology OT? May be a very long wait though.

@bloodywhitecat

I had cubital and carpal tunnel in my left hand, had surgery a few years ago to correct it as it was beyond the point of physio being useful. I was only signed off after surgery though, Have you asked your GP to sign you off? The symptoms have come back but I was pain/symptom free for two years post surgery.

No and I don't want to be signed off. I probably will get to the point well I need to be signed off. I am trying to wait as May I got laparoscopy so then maybe off anyway and my hours have gone down a bit from next week. It's difficult because my hands are really bad especially right hand. Because my right arm is swollen a bit.

@Bodgerbarbara

Get a wrist splint to keep your wrist hand in neutral position overnight. Look at what you might be doing that irritates the nerve in the carpal tunnel: so anything repetitive where you push down with your hand or keep your wrist bent. Ask your gp to refer you to a rheumatology OT? May be a very long wait though.

I think a wrist splint may help my left hand but my right is very bad. Thanks for advice

Wrist splints worn at night helped me.

I had carpal tunnel release surgery last year and the relief is amazing. I actually couldn't feel anything with the tips of my fingers by the time I had it done and it was keeping me awake at night.
Things that helped, a wrist splint that had metal plates in. Initially used overnight but worn all the time latterly. It Velcro s on so adjusts when you hands swell. Cold compress, shaking you hands about, ibuprofen.

It is not something I would have taken time of work for. The only thing that helped was the operation and I took a week off my office job afterwards. I did also have a manual job and that one I took 6 weeks off.

my consultant did say that I had really left it too long to get something done as the loss of feeling in my fingers could be permanent due to nerve damage. A year after the operation and I am just starting to get some feeling back.

Get yourself on a waiting list!

@Harpydragon

I had carpal tunnel release surgery last year and the relief is amazing. I actually couldn't feel anything with the tips of my fingers by the time I had it done and it was keeping me awake at night. Things that helped, a wrist splint that had metal plates in. Initially used overnight but worn all the time latterly. It Velcro s on so adjusts when you hands swell. Cold compress, shaking you hands about, ibuprofen.

It is not something I would have taken time of work for. The only thing that helped was the operation and I took a week off my office job afterwards. I did also have a manual job and that one I took 6 weeks off.

my consultant did say that I had really left it too long to get something done as the loss of feeling in my fingers could be permanent due to nerve damage. A year after the operation and I am just starting to get some feeling back.

Get yourself on a waiting list!

I am really struggling at work but not sure yet what they will do. Got to go spinal clinic Friday so find out then. As I work in retail I will need to be off then?

You will need to take advice from your consultant, but yes you will need time off afterwards if your job is manual.

@Harpydragon

You will need to take advice from your consultant, but yes you will need time off afterwards if your job is manual.

I already got to go in for laparoscopy the if I need this done then be off awhile. Thanks for advice.