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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

29 replies

squishy · 30/08/2006 18:15

Am 32 weeks and have recently developed this horrible thing! It's particularly painful at night and in the mornings - MW suggested the physio makes some splints to immobilise my wrists, but don't see how this will help. Has anyone tried anything that was soothing?

OP posts:

ocd · 30/08/2006 18:16

OOH OOH dh has htat he htinks
tis AGONY and is made worse by tying and mouse work
he has been reffered for suregery

Original poster

squishy · 30/08/2006 18:34

I've found that typing is one of the few things that doesn't hurt!!

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KBear · 30/08/2006 18:35

splints are a good idea - you can buy them in chemists. They do work. Rest rest and more rest is the answer. And no typing....

iota · 30/08/2006 18:37

agree with kbear - splints are good

KBear · 30/08/2006 18:40

My physio recommended leaving them off at night - just wear in the day. They do restrict movement but that is the point. You should limit anything that causes strain on your wrists - carrying shopping, driving without power steering, peeling potatoes, even cleaning (yay!), but seriously you need to look after yourself, you will be holding your baby soon!

Original poster

squishy · 30/08/2006 18:43

eek, really can't restrict movement too much - my job requires mostly typing or writing. And I was told it would go after the birth

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iota · 30/08/2006 18:46

i hate to tell you this sqishy, but I thought that would go after the birth and it didn't - took 3 months of splint wearing to fix it

KBear · 30/08/2006 18:47

and I hate to tell you this but my friend needed surgery to correct it.... yours might not be so bad but do take care of yourself. Don't mean to scaremonger

iota · 30/08/2006 18:48

kbear - wasn't even going to mention surgery

donna3 · 30/08/2006 19:05

If its bad at night I would wear the splints at night! Its made worse when you bend your wrist forward as this compresses the nerve and gives you the pain and tingling, so thats why splints work as they stop you bending your wrist.
It does normally get better a few weeks after birth as its often associated with fluid retention, but unfortunately doesn;t always get better. The odds are on your side though!

Elibean · 30/08/2006 19:15

I would definitely try the splints at night, at least. My friend had it really badly, and they helped a lot - hers went away postpartum, though it came back much more mildly after a few months of pushing a buggy around.

The other thing you can try is putting your arms on pillows to raise your wrists above shoulder level in bed - or if sitting on sofa, rest arms up on the back. And apparently ice packs can help too, according to my OB - reduces swelling that is pressing on the nerves.

Good luck!

binbon2 · 30/08/2006 20:02

I had carpel tunnel syndrome with my DS. I usedsupport bandages, which helped a bit. It did go after DS was born.

I'm hoping I won't get it this time. I am now 32 weeks, which is when it kicked in before....

Original poster

squishy · 30/08/2006 20:39

OK, thanks. It has been getting steadily worse over the last couple of days, but fingers have been swelling more, so hopefully it is connected with fluid retention. Will try splints at night perhaps and lift my arms now!!!

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sleepfinder · 30/08/2006 21:58

apparently it happens to a lot of us in pregnancy and goes within weeks - 3 months after giving birth.

Splints - especially at night when you are more likely to turn your hand or lay on your arm or stay in one position too long.

Hot and cold - soaking in the bath and later running under cold tap - helps a lot.

When its really bad and your wrist swell up and you want to chew your arms off? Combine the hot and cold with a paracetamol.

Only people suffering arthritis / diabetes need operations to make it go away. With pregnancy it just subsides.

I found phsyio really unhelpful - the most painful week after a 1 hr session. The reason being he was a specialist in sports injuries from which you can recouperate, not a "minor condition" from which you're seeking relief.

good luck!

Skribble · 30/08/2006 22:02

I had it very mild when pregnant and it does go away, FIL had both hands operated on but he is diabetic and overweight (not sure it that makes it worse). I didn't get splints but I think it just relevies the pressure a bit because movement is restrivcted.

Morningnewspaper · 30/08/2006 22:32

If it is carpal tunnel syndrome 'proper', you will get pins and needles in the thumb and first two fingers and have the urge to shake your whole hand to relieve it. It's essentially compression of the (median) nerve in your wrist because of excess fluid in the tunnel there or it can be casued by tendonitis (swelling) of those tendons that are also in the tunnel in your wrist. Either way, minimising anything that makes that tunnel smaller / over uses the tendons will help (carrying bags where you 'jut' your wrist out' / typing etc. I'm an osteopath and find that osteo treatment is helpful because we can manually stretch the tunnel to help create more space, as well as work on the tendons to help reduce the inflammation (swelling). I would make sure that the diagnosis is right though before assuming that's what you have.....it may be something else which needs a different treatment! It being worse at night and in the morning does imply you have inflammation there - we don't drain so well when we are lying down!

Original poster

squishy · 01/09/2006 18:22

Thanks MNP, I had received a diagnosis from the MW before making the assumption. It gets worse and better during the day and depending on what I've had to do so will see if I can hold off before going to the next stage option.

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MarsLady · 01/09/2006 18:27

I had CPT. I went and saw a physio.

She gave me some really simple exercises to do... I say simple... they were only simple once the CPT stopped.

Bend your fingers forwards. Hold for a few seconds. Do as much as you can, but stop when it's painful. Do this each day until you are able to bend you wrists towards you. Same again. Then work up to elbow.

When we sleep we curl our hands shut. See it you can keep your hand as straight as you can. Shaking it out is sometimes good too.

When you are able try making and holding a fist. Then make the fist and bend wrist... then elbow etc towards you.

Does that make sense?

If the physio doesn't work then the next step is a simple op that leaves a tiny scar on your palm.

I'm sure that there is a site with the exercises on.

hth

littlerach · 01/09/2006 18:33

My friend had this in her second pregnancy, v badly.

Afetrwrads, it took abiyt 2 months to go .
The worst time was about month afetrwards; she was grilling sausages fir her daughter, took the grillpan out, and the sausages and hot fat went all over her legs. she's still scarred noe. So be careful.

Jaysecond · 01/09/2006 20:38

i agree with March lady, try and keep your hands straight at night time,to do this i used socks over my hands not very attactive bu its something that helped me!!!
i suffered with carpel tunnel from about week 33 with my first daughter. It was awful, thumbs and first two fingers completely numb and pins and needly. I got some splints but they didnt help at all. Shaking them alot every few minutes relieved it a bit (not always the ideal solouton though i know!)
I went to see a physio and an osteopath, and while neither stopped the symptons they were able to advise some stretching exercises. It did disapear after but it took its time, 10-12 wks,another one of the joys of prenancy!

Jaysecond · 01/09/2006 20:39

oooops, marslady i meant!

ediemay · 01/09/2006 20:41

I had this too, from 28 weeks. I went to the physio, did the exercises, wore the splints at night and when I could during the day. I was lucky and it disappeared straight after the birth

Clary · 01/09/2006 20:46

I had CTS when pg all 3 times IIRC.

Yes, splints should help, wear them at night, the immobilise yr wrist and so stop the swelling. I used to be up at 4am crying (or ironing when pg with DD, it was a nightmare.

It should go once the baby is born - if not you can consider some more invasive options such as steroid injections, hands on physio or surgery (which I understand is very effective).

I still get it a bit actually (been bad lately) but nothing like DD pregnancy. Marslady, a physio pal showed me a (rather complex) stretch which I should (but don't ) do to help. Too complicated to write down here but worth an inquiry of yr physio squishy.

jabberwocky · 01/09/2006 20:49

I had this when pg with ds. I had lots and lots of swelling with him and IIRC it is related. Went away very soon after birth.

Original poster

squishy · 02/09/2006 12:14

Wow, so it is very very common then - and horrible! Thanks for the words of support - had a really really difficult night tonight and had it not been Saturday, would have started down the referral to physio route (will see on Monday if I can bypass referral as MW had suggested I see her). Can't believe how quickly it came on and got worse.

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