Carpal tunnel syndrome (long one)

[Martha200]

This was how roughly my conversation with the Dr went this morning:

Me: Good morning. With my first pregnancy I had carpal tunnel syndrome later on in pregnancy where I saw a physio to try and help me. Seems again I have the same issue. I saw the midwife on Tues who offered to make me an appt to see someone but I said it was ok, at the moment it was bearable, well after last night I can confirm after little sleep due to it, I would now like that appt to see someone.

Dr: where does it cause problems?

Me: In both hands

Dr: just at night?

Me: No, most of the time, can be day or night, but last 24hrs it has been a constant to the point I wont drive as it hurts so much

Dr: well, I don't advise an operation for it in pregnancy

Me: I don't think I need an operation! (surprise) the symptoms generally last until the woman has given birth and all returns to normal. Last time I saw the physio who gave me splints for night, which didn't help at all, so I understand about keeping the fingers extended as much as possible.

Dr: well, sounds like you need an appt for splints at the physio then, would you like me to book that?

Me: (silent sigh in head) why not, give it a go.

So... anyone else finding something that might alleviate the symptoms, I wanted to cry this morning, fed up of it, and wondered if a chiropractor or somebody else could help or maybe splints might help this time around?

I doubt very much that a chiropractor or any mobilation techniques of your carpal bones will help tbh. As you know it is pregnancy related so there is light at the end of the tunnel (not much consolation that is to you now though).

I would try splints again. There are several different resting wrist extension splints you could try (the orthotics/surgical supplies dept at your hospital should have some different ones). If you live near a large hospital the Physio or OT depts sometimes make splits (for a better fit).

HTH

sorry orthopaedic dept durrrrrrrrrrrr

frigin children make your professional brain fall out I tell you

I had CTS for a while during this pregnancy - I feel for you as I know how HORRIBLE it is! Luckily for me it didn't last too long. I didn't find the wrist strap thing any help at all and the only thing that cut any ice with it at all was paracetamol which I was assured would do me and the baby no harm. /HAve you tried taking some?

I have been reading this post with interest as i am still getting quite uncomfortable pins and needles in both hands at night and my DCs are 6, 5 and 1 - I had carpal tunnel with all my pregnancies (but didn't wear splints or anything) and I still seem to be suffering at night, - I haven't been to the drs yet - as I keep hoping it will eventually go away. Has anyone else experienced this ? (Really sorry to hi-jack!)

josben, if your CTS is not pregnancy related then I would go and see your GP. There was a good review of the treatments available for CTG in the BMJ a few months back extract here.

Hi Martha,
Sorry to hear your GP is an idiot! . I had CTS last pregnancy to the extent that i had to chuck work early as i couldn't even hold a pen... so sending you sympathy!
I tried drinking dandilion tea (Old wives tale) which didn't really work at reducing fluid so ended up with the splints. I wore them all the time, night and day (apart from having bath etc) and i'm not sure that they made it better, but it was just about bearable!
Only thing i can say is that i'm currently 28 weeks preg with no 2 and so far no sign of it... i would ask you to keep your fingers crossed but i appreciate that might hurt!
good luck with it!
Josben, a girl in my office had CTS that didn't go away and ended up having an op that sorted it, so might be worth going to see your GP? Hope it gets sorted!

I had CTS with last pregnany which was really painful by the end and limited what I could do. I wore the splints but not sure how effective they were. I'm now 36 wks + 5 with 2nd pg and it has returned in the last couple of weeks, although not so bad (and later)this time which I think is due to it being winter and therefore less water retention than first time.

Worth mentioning though is that I was referred by my midwife for acupunctre at the physio dept of my local hospital last time. I went once a week for about the last 4-6 wks. Hard to say how useful it was because I was still in pain but possibly it could have been even worse without the acupuncture.

Please excuse me for hyjacking this thread but can I ask what CTS feels like? I am 19 weeks and this is my second pregnancy. I have had shooting pains down my arms from the wrists. I can only describe this as a sharp electric shock like feeling which runs down the length of the inner bone on my forearm. It's enough to make me wince and kept me awake the other night. I have only had this a few times rather than continously. I was going to see the doc about it if it hapened again. Is this CTS? If so, what is it?

micegg, dunno. mine has that sometimes, but is continuous and added pins/needles/pain over the carpal area plus numbness and weakness in hands to just up to ring fingers. horrendous at night, disturbs sleep. better late in day.

OP: deffo try acupuncture along with the night/day splints. our antenatal yoga teacher has also given me some weight bearing and hand waving exercises that help.

this combo keeping it very, very nicely at bay for me in this 2nd PG.

and gps: you can lead them slowly to water and then finaly make them drink, heh?

ps also, echo re: water retention: much less severe than 1st PG (hot july baby). Have cut down the things that make me bloat up+++ this time along with all else, seems to help. So if I eat pizza one night, I struglle more the next day (?salt ?wheat? dairy). Sticking to tedious healthy diet of veg and no processed food helping, I think

micegg - not sure about your symptoms,mine are more like merryberry's but really wouldn't suprise me if it was CTS. Worth seeing midwife/GP I would suggest (let's hope yours is more use than Martha200's!)

merryberry - my last one was also hot july baby which definitely had something to do with my attempts to time this one for the winter! V impressed with your restrained diet by the way. As with last pregnancy, have got a taste for lots of fruit but I think that may be outweighed by current craving for microwave popcorn (?!).

This is my first pregnancy and I've had CTS since 17 weeks. I know its a pregnancy sympton and have been advised by my gp that it usually goes away after 3 to 6 weeks after delivery, however if it doesnt go away and is still interfering with sleep and everyday life, that I should be referred to orthopaedics for assessment for an op. I've had to sleep in a seperate bed from hubby as the only relief that I got was when I was sleeping on my side with both arms stretched out straight and a pillow between them!!

My due date was 31st Oct but nothing has happened so far, am going for Induction of Labour on Monday. It will be interesting to see how long the CTS takes to go away. Hope this helps

gem, if not tried already do try:

splints at night, from your physio
acupuncture
several times a day exercises rotating etc your wrists, physio will show you how

these give me major relief.

Thanks merryberry, I did try the splints and they definately helped for a while but i would go to bed all splinted up and wake up a few hours later and I had taken them off in my sleep!!! If you can stick with them they do work.

Also tried acupuncture and I think it helped a bit in that the CTS didn't get much worse.

A local pharmacist also suggested that I might want to try a 'Powerball' which is a rotating counterweight the size of a tennis ball that you use to strenghten muscle in the arm and wrist which can become weakened if you are really bad with CTS. I think it cost about 15 pounds at the most...I've seen them on websites for around the same price. If anyone has tried one I would love to hear how they got on.

it's hard wortk coping with it isn't it. so worth trying to manage without op if possible - it's such a drastic thing to such a small nerve. my final weapon against it is the attempt to stick to non-bloating foods +++, less salt, no wheat. tedious but undeniably healthy.

Update:

Yesterday had my appt with the physio who gave me splints and said there was nothing else they could do but to come back if still problematic

Today was in so much pain, and by chance a friend put me in touch with a chiro who checked me over and with some work on (about 20 mins) made a HUGE improvement.. I am amazed, to the point of telling anyone who will listen to me.

Picked my son up in the car earlier, drove home not in any discomfort then had a 20mins conversation on the phone, in NO pain. It wont last probably, but the chiro was fab.. could tell where there were 'blockages'/ which areas were more tender than others etc in the hands, I am blown away that what she did really made a difference (never having used a chiro before.)

I am sooo happy, can you tell?
Only problem is I can't go visit again and expect to pay nothing each time

Am now 5 weeks post natal, CTS improved within days of my son being born and has now almost disappeared....YIPPEE!!! I didn't believe it would happen so soon. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for all of you who are still suffering!