It looks like I may have Carpal Tunnel

Some of you have probably read my threads on my problems at work regarding my being out on disability a few weeks ago and then being out again this week. Well I went to a specialist yesterday and he says it's a good possibility that I have Carpal Tunnel. Joy I'm scheduled to go for an EMG on Tuesday, and I'll probably be out of work until after my follow up appointment the day after Christmas. The bad news is now I have to go through all the garbage with work and getting approved to be on disability again, but the good news is I'll have Christmas off (I was supposed to work a split shift).

All I can say though is I can't wait until the new year

Well, bad news followed by good isn't quite as bad, is it? Carpal Tunnel is not as big a deal as it used to be, even the surgery is pretty commonplace nowdays. Hope it goes well with it though!

Originally Posted by neetanddave

Well, bad news followed by good isn't quite as bad, is it? Carpal Tunnel is not as big a deal as it used to be, even the surgery is pretty commonplace nowdays. Hope it goes well with it though!

Click to expand...

Thanks. I'd say it's pretty minor compared to what I know others have gone through. I'm ok at home on the computer because I'm not typing constantly, most of it is just mouse stuff and reading. I'm a bass player and a drummer, that bothers me a bit, but the big things is my job because I type constantly anywhere from an hour and a half to 2 and a half hours before I have a break. Our positions aren't the most comfortable/ergonomic either so that doesn't help

I'm hoping all I need is just some meds and some wrist braces and I can go on with my life *lol*

Well, I don't get medication for my CTS, but I do have a nifty wrist brace that I wear to bed. (J thinks the brace should come complete with lasers and possibly a rocket launcher, but our medical insurance won't pay for that. ) I also wear the brace when my wrist is bothering me, which is typically after a long day of work (I'm on the computer for 8+ hours doing data entry), and I tend to wear it when I'm involved in an activity that involves heavy lifting or repetitive motions. It's hard to wear the brace while typing, however.

I think the hardest thing for me is remembering that I have CTS. I'll pick up something heavy without even thinking about it, and then suddenly have shooting pain radiating from my fingertips to my shoulder. Or I'll try some complex maneuvre with my left hand (I'm a southpaw and that's the arm with CTS) and there will be a crunching noise and my fingers will go numb. My doctor has said surgery is an option for me, but I'd prefer to avoid that for now -- I'm still new at my job and can't afford to take any time off (plus I don't get paid sick leave, so that would cost me big time).

CTS sucks but it is manageable. The hard part is making sure you do manage it.

My hairdresser had that last year because it's very common in their line of work. She had surgery on her left hand and it made a huge difference. She'll have to have the right one done as well eventually.

I was diagnosed with CTS on my right wrist a few yrs ago and most likely have it in my other wrist/hand too. Getting the brace and wearing in at night (even before you go to bed) will help quite a bit. I re-adjusted by keyboard and some other things (stretching exercises) for my wrists/fingers etc. Those all help alot too (Wed MD had some good exercises). I can type with the brace on but its a bit slower. Hope your disability pay gets worked out.

Originally Posted by neetanddave

Well, bad news followed by good isn't quite as bad, is it? Carpal Tunnel is not as big a deal as it used to be, even the surgery is pretty commonplace nowdays. Hope it goes well with it though!

Click to expand...

I had it on both of mine, and I had surgery done on one the 30 days later the other, I suffered so bad with mine I would wake up every night and sit in the floor and cry half the night, I had that test and it showed they were very bad, Once I had the surgery I have never had a minutes trouble that was probably some almost 20 years ago, what a relief it was for me the pain I had from it was terrible. And the Surgery even that long ago was not bad it didn't even hurt after it was done..Hope yours goes well what ever is decided

Well what are you doing typing to us then?

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Well what are you doing typing to us then?

Click to expand...

I was waiting for someone to ask that question I can type for short periods of time. Typically on here you type for what? a minute or two? then stop. At work, my going non-stop for up to 2 hours. I start having problems after about a half hour and that's because like I said, it's non stop. My calls come in with about 2 seconds of time between one another so I don't have much time to rest my hands unfortunately. Plus too, the chairs we have are not very comfy or ergonomical and I have more wrist support at home than I do at work. The joys of not having your own position