Carpal Tunnel - what can I do?!

[knitcorner]

Can anyone give any tips as to how to bring my hands back to life when the attacks happen?

I'm 36 weeks pregnant and GP advised paracetamol and gave me lolly sticks to stick in bandages .

Have just woken up in absolute agony with one hand that took at least 15 minutes to bring back to life (with lots of shaking, dunking in warm water and hand cream massage).

Is there anything else I can do?

I can sympathise with you as I have the same thing. I have tried various exercises that a MW told me about but not sure they actually work. will try to describe....

hold hands out in front of you with the backs of your hands touching, thumbs away from you. Rotate hands towards you and underneath then rotate back other way so that palms end up facing upwards. You keep the backs of your hands together. Not sure if this makes sense!?

You can get splints and sleeping with your hands at the angle the splints hold them is supposed to help. But unfortunately my midwife just said grin and bear it, it will be over once you have baby!

Thanks angfirsttimer, that sort of makes sense and anything is worth a go - its terrifying to see your hand die on the end of your wrist!

I have heard that vitamin B6 helps. You may need to do more research into this though.

Sudies have shown that vitamin B6 deficiency has been associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Although many pregnant ladies get it in the later stage of pregnancy.

Food Sources of vitamin B6 include sweet potatoes, avocados, brown rice, sunflower seeds, chick peas, salmon, pork, chicken, turkey, potatoes, bok choy, barley, bananas, and mangoes.

Also accupuncture is also very effective.

Wrist splints at night have helped me enormously.

My MW said that some people find the splints work and others have suggested tubigrip. Mine's a nightmare at the moment - I can't even write out a list without it going numb!

warm compresses work too -if you can get some of those heat pad things (can be cheap in some shops like poundland or wilkinsons) or one of those things you can pop in the microwave