Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Last week on Tuesday I noticed that my left hand felt a little odd. I was having tingling and numbness in my thumb, middle finger, and index finger, and just an overall feeling of weakness. I also noticed that my fingers got very shaky when I tried to close my hand, and I was continuously mistyping with that hand. By Friday the numbness was worse and I noticed my wrist felt very sore and also the muscles on the top of my arm up to my elbow were sore. Then this weekend it extended up to my shoulder. Someone mentioned that the signs sounded identical to carpal tunnel. I did some research and remembered a test to do with your hands we learned in anatomy that they use to test for it. I seriously think that is my problem. I am going to order one of the rounded keyboards and get a wrist support to use as well for work. I guess I am hoping to avoid the doctor. Does anyone have any experience with carpal tunnel? Someone told me it can cause problems for the rest of my life, I sure hope not. My wrist is still really sore today and especially when I type.

I had it about 15 yrs ago, and it was very bad, I couldn't even explain to the Dr how numb my hands were and how horrible the pain was, I would be up every night sitting in the floor crying, I got it basically from heavy work we used to raise horses and the grooming, feeding, water buckets and rakeing is what did mine in. I finally had surgary on both of them 30 days apart and I have never had a minutes trouble sence then. I will tell you maybe you should see a Dr so you can find out what all you can do to keep it from getting to the point of the pain, my hurt from the tips of my fingers all the way up to the shoulder, mine we very damaged. If you change the way you do thngs that may help, but don't wait untill they are painful, not trying to scare you, just keep ahead of it...

Yeah I sometimes suffer from carpel tunnel and that's what it sounds like to me. I went to the drug store and bought one of those hand/wrist braces and wore it every night to bed for a couple of months. It helped a lot and I haven't had trouble with it much since. When I do get a flare up I wear the braces to bed for a week or so and it's gone again. Mine gave me pain all the way up to my elbow too. It was bad

I hear you, I have the same problem but not so intense. Whenever I type, I feel this tingling sensation in my thumb and some fingers. I feel like twitching them and pulling them stretching them to assuage that feeling. But it keeps on recurring. Whenever I play my videogame, use my cellphone, or use the computer...I experience such "twitchiness." My brother once told me that it can be signs of Carpal syncrome, but I have been ignoring it till this day! Never had numb fingers though..... I think we both should consult a doctor.

When I had it I let it go for several years that's why the damage was so bad, I even sewed my fingers together and didn't even feel it, couldn't hold a pen or or do anything that required grasping with the Thumb, index, and the middle finger, I had a wonderful Dr never a problem, didn't even hurt when I had the surgary, it was just such great releif that they didn't hurt anymore.

Does the regular doctor treat it, by regular I mean family practitioner, or do you have to see a specialist?

I was sent to an Orthopedic Dr, that's who did my surgary, My regular Dr sent me to him. I also had a nerve conduction test before I had it done, it let's them know how much damage there actually is.

Thanks. I guess I should go get it looked at. I was just trying to avoid it right now because I really just don't have the time to go to the doctor right now. Work is busy, and finals are coming up. It is really bothering me though and I actually woke up from it hurting at around 3am Sunday morning. I don't want it to get worse.

No I wouldn't wait, I think it takes a good while for it to start hurting, so you have probably had it for a bit, just to be safe I would go hopefully you can keep it from getting worse, Good Luck

Originally Posted by squirtle

Thanks. I guess I should go get it looked at. I was just trying to avoid it right now because I really just don't have the time to go to the doctor right now. Work is busy, and finals are coming up.

It is really bothering me though and I actually woke up from it hurting at around 3am Sunday morning. I don't want it to get worse.

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The braces help alot!! Surgery wasn't an option for me due to other nerve problems. You really should see someone about it thou. Your regular doc will send you to a Orthopedic or a Neurologist. I had to see the Neurologist due to my CMT. They will conduct a series of test to check how much damage has been done. The recovery is several weeks if you have surgery. I wish I was able to have the surgery. I have heard very good reports about it.

Originally Posted by snosrap5

The braces help alot!! Surgery wasn't an option for me due to other nerve problems. You really should see someone about it thou. Your regular doc will send you to a Orthopedic or a Neurologist. I had to see the Neurologist due to my CMT. They will conduct a series of test to check how much damage has been done. The recovery is several weeks if you have surgery. I wish I was able to have the surgery. I have heard very good reports about it.

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Oh I am so glad I had it done, I had both done 30 days apart, and recovery for me was short, what I went through as far as the pain was when I had it, I was just thankful for such great results, because then medication wasn't an option, I don't think they can give much or couldn't then for nerve damage

Mine has been acting up quite a bit lately. My hands fall asleep in the early morning hours. I haven't been wearing my braces either. Make sure they have the metal splint inside to keep the pressure off that nerve. (bad bad) My Family doc refered me to a specialists in our area that are hand docs. Buying the brace at a drugstore and wearing it at night will really help. Plus I have used a gell wrist rest and mouse pad for quite a while. Take the time to shake your hands, flex your fingers, rotate your wrists to keep them more flexible. I have been doing some sewing with alot of hand sewing, then I had planted those flower bulbs so I have been over doing it.
Good luck.

I had carpal tunnel and I also had the surgery.
While mine was an unusual recovery (didn't go very well), I'm not sorry now that I did it. I wish I didn't have to go through what I did though. but I'm glad because though I still have occassional pain in my arm, It is alot better then it was and I don't wake up crying like I did. I hope you go and get it checked out. and for goodness sake, don't put off surgery, the quicker you do it, the better off you might be, recovering wise.

I just went and bought a brace specifically for carpal tunnel. It's pretty neat, it has a pillow that attched to the top of the brace for comfprt when sleeping. I am thinking it will be nice for resting my head on at work My wrist all ready feels better just from being immobile. I was sitting here and it was throbbing so I decided to try a brace for a few days.

I have had it for years. I have been doing accounting and data entry for about 10 years now and there are days I can hardly move my wrists. I really should wear a brace but it gets in the way when I am typing. I type about 80 wpm and 10k ksph so it is a real obstical when I am working. I take Advil or Aleve for it and it seems to work.... for now

I would go to the doctor soon. he or she can tell you what's up and how to fix the problem.

I've never had carpel tunnel syndrome, but I had tendonitis once. I think they both require serious rest, so I hope you go to a doctor and find out how to treat it best Tanya.

I'm going to have serious hand problems when I'm older. I'm always using my hands - texting, internet, writing, scanning food items.

Tanya my hairdresser had surgery just a few months back on one of her hands, and she said she was so pleased she had it.

She has it slightly in her other hand but not half as bad, but their just keeping an eye on it and if it gets worse then they'll just operate again.

your not pregnant are you? I had carpel Tunnel while pregnant!!

sorry I couldnt resist