carpal tunnel help?

hey girls,

the carpal tunnel's getting bad. do you girls do anythign to help it? my midwife said to eat food that encourage losing water like watermelon and cucumbers... and resting when i can on my left side.

anyone have any other ideas?

Re: carpal tunnel help?

What about those bracelts you can get that are for carpal tunnel? My BIL has one, and he says it helps.

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I used the braces for carpul tunnel. They helped a bit.

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I tired the braces at night when sleeping (that is when the pain is the worst for me), but I felt that they made my hands more "tingley."

My Dr. suggested sleeping with my palms face down and to make sure that I do not sleep with my hands underneath my pillow or in any way that I may be leaning on them. She also suggested elevating them as well. Sleeping with them face down has helped ease the pain, but not diminish it!

Hot/warm water helps too!

Re: carpal tunnel help?

Don't even get me started! I wear braces on both hands - I got them when I sprained my wrist a few years ago (one is a cheapo drugstore version and one is from when I eventually went to the orthepeadist for the sprain)

Anyway I mentioned to my Dr yesterday that it was getting worse and he suggested I go to a chiropractor he knows who specializes in PG women - that he would give me exercises to do at home. I was told it could take 3-4 weeks for the carpal tunnel to go away AFTER delivery.

Well I went last night and he basically told me that "he doesn't believe in the exercises" and he had a machine that I could use in his office that would help. I am 38 weeks! - What- am I supposed to go for the next 2 weeks and then after I deliver? Newborn in tow...?

He eventually gave me 3 exercises to do at home - 2 of which are too complicated to expain online, but one was just to take some moisturizing lotion and gently massage the tendons on the underside of your wrist with your thumb - just a single stroke with medium presure up and down your wrist a few times. then he said after I do the exercises I should ice the underside of my wrists for 15 minutes - no more than 15 minutes.

I was just so ****** at my Dr for sending me there ($40 co-pay!) and felt it was just a way to throw some business to his friend. Maybe if it was when I was 30 weeks it would have been better - but come on - I'm 38 weeks - tell me to suck it up and there is nothing to be done - dont make me waste my money and time.

Sorry for the vent - but thought you could use the exercise info and warn you against going to a chiropractor. I've been doing the exercises and so far hasn't helped. I think a better investment would have been a better quality brace for my right hand (I'm using the cheapo one on that hand) - they cost about $25 for a basic one online. HTH...

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I wish I could help. I have been suffering from the same for the past 6 weeks. The doctor just said it is one of those pregnancy things.

Re: carpal tunnel help?

both me and DH have had minor bouts (not requiring surgery) with carpal tunnel in the past.

go to a drugstore, and buy the wrist braces that are completely rigid... the ones with the velcro, and come in different sizes.

try them on in the store, and wear them all day and night. after several days, you likely will feel better.

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I had it with my son and have it with this PG (not as bad though). The only thing that helped was wearing braces at night (when the pain was the worst). The GOOD news...it went away about 2 weeks after birth and never came back until I got PG again.

Feel better girls

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I had it before becoming PG and it is coming back again this time It has really hurt the past week or so.

I wear a brace and was also given small stretch exercises which help

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I had that while carrying DD. I wrapped my wrists at night while sleeping. It helped ALOT.

Re: carpal tunnel help?

I use a brace when it bothers me. I know this sounds weird but I switched pillows from regular to feather and it helped with my wrist a lot. I believe in reflexology and how certain areas can be affected by pains in others. A friend had suggested that I maybe didn't have carpel tunnel but a problem in my neck. Switched pillows and the carpel tunnel the Dr. diagnosed me with seems to have disappeared.

Re: carpal tunnel help?

thank you so much for all your advice. i talked to my dr. about it and she said it was just one of those pregnancy t hing.... along with really swollen ankles. She suggested I eat foods that might help me not retain so much water.

but i'm also going to try that massage/ice that was mentioned.

thanks!!!!!!!

i can't wait to feel my hands again. how am i going to hold Baby with numb hands?