Carpal Tunnell

[38andtrying]

Has anyone had pregnancy carpal tunnel? Mine started really early, around 16 weeks or so, I'm now 27 weeks and it really has ramped up since then, it started as an ache, moved to excruciating pain, which I only had in the mornings, it would wake me up at like 4am.

Now i have numb and sore hands all day which is making it hard to do anything and to really put the cherry on the cake the pain that wakes me up early morning has spread to my elbow and is moving up to my shoulder, I'm getting 4 hours sleep tops a night, paracetamol does literally nothing nor do the splints. It's really terrible and I have 13 weeks + of this left.

I don't know what I want with this thread, a vent more than anything lol if anyone had it before does it leave long after birth or how much longer can I look forward to this ?

You should speak to your doctor about it, mine has referred me to hospital to have nerve conduction tests. I think they can offer treatment if its really bad which yours sounds like it is? Although mine isnt pregnancy related and has been on and off for 2 years now so not sure if it does just go away after pregnancy? Im pregnant now though so want to get it looked at incase it does get worse in pregnancy.

Hi,
I had this with my wrists when pregnant with my second, it got better and went away within weeks of giving birth.

My GP did line up appointments for after the baby was born incase it didn’t. So talk to your midwife/gp. I really didn’t find much that helped.

Yes I had it really badly with my first pregnancy. It went away again after I had the baby. He's 20 now and it never came back so there's hope!

I've spoke to GP and midwife, both said just one of those things and should go away gradually after birth, that I can take paracetamol lol I bring it up at every appointment too!

@38andtrying I had the exact same as you, started at 16 weeks and just got progressively worse. I saw a GP last week who gave me a steroid injection in my right hand, and although I still have three numb fingers, the pain has completely gone and I very rarely have pins and needles during the night now. I've got another appointment next week to get my left hand done.

I'd recommend asking for the injection, I couldn't use my hand at all for a couple of days after it as it was so painful but absolutely worth it in the long run if you manage to get it. Fingers crossed you find some relief!

@PennyPenny1 where you waiting long for it? I absolutely will ask because it is getting unbearable and i don't know if i can 13+ weeks more of it, and they can do it during pregnancy?

I had it.
My gp wanted to give me some sort of wrist sling.
I didn't need it at the end, but you may ask?

I had it but not until towards the end of pregnancy. I’d speak to your midwife/gp if it’s that bad.
mine did disappear as soon as I had my baby.

I had injections and it went away. I didn’t have to wait too long but it was 10 years ago.

Sympathies as it’s horrible.

@38andtrying yeah I'm 23 weeks pregnant now and they gave it to me. The one I had comes with a small risk of the baby having a low birth weight, but they can give you a lower dose which reduces any risk. I talked it through with the GP as well before he gave it to me

Just made an appointment for Friday, fingers crossed! Thanks so much for advice, I had no idea and GP never mentioned it, hopefully they aren't resistant to giving it to me

I’m 34 weeks tomorrow and have had it for maybe 12 weeks now(?). Very similar to you, started on a night now I rarely sleep much past 3am and it’s uncomfortable all day long. It hurts the use cutlery, to write with a pen and to type! I have no advice, just felt like having a moan too!

Mine never went away after giving birth. I had very painful nerve conduction tests then an operation which has completely fixed the problem. It does take 2-3 weeks before you can use your hand properly for things like using a knife and fork.