Carpal Tunnel

[Goo]

After being diagnosed with having Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists about a year ago, it wasn't that bothersome at the time.
But a week ago, the pinky and the one finger next to it have lost all feeling in it. Been trying everything to try to regain sensation in that area.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and what did they do...just curious.

Wait it out for feeling to come back I'm afraid. That's what I do. Sorry you've been diagnosed with this, it's a royal pain in the.......well wrist and hand/fingers. I'm sure there will be folks who have great bits of advice for you that will come along.

[justkim]

Goo as a Cosmetologist I have the unfortunate fall out of carpal tunnel and it sucks! Try some hand and wrist exercises that should help and try using ice. I use unpopped popcorn for ice packs, I separate it into small sandwich bags and it is a heck a lot less messier than ice. It also conforms better to the hand and wrist area. Heck, you can use it for any part of the body. I have included a link for the exercises. Good luck and if you can try to stay away from the surgery.

Exercise link below.
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm

[UofMfan]

I am not a Doctor, so my post is solely based on personal experience. Please seek professional advice.

I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome on both wrists a little over 20 years ago. At that time I had lost the feeling on one of my arms completely.

I went to a specialist who, after some very uncomfortable tests, prescribed muscle relaxants and a brace for each wrist. I was also informed that surgery was an option, but besides leaving an ugly scar, it is also only a temporary and barbaric solution. I was totally shocked by this and being one who dislikes taking such drugs, I decided that there had to be an alternative, and there was.

This is when I consulted with someone who was a close friend of mine at the time and who also happened to be a Certified Massage Therapist. She also explained exactly why we get Carpel Tunnel and her treatment made better sense than drugs and restriction. I started treatment with her, 3x a week. She worked on my muscles and taught me some pretty nifty stretching exercises that I still use to this day.

After a month of intense therapy, no drugs and no braces (those things are awful) I was pain free, and numbness free, and have been ever since. I no longer get the massages (sadly), although I kept getting them less regularly simply because they felt good. I haven't gotten massages in many years, but I do stretch my arms and hands on a regular basis.

My advice? Seek alternative solutions. Do what feels good to you and your body.

[Goo]

Thank you all for the advice, gonna try to stay away from the surgery as much as possible.

And a big thank you for the link to the hand/wrist exercises.

[Apocalipstic]

When my hands are bothering me I wear the braces while I sleep and that seems to really help.

Good luck to you!

[Andrew, Jr.]

I had massive left hand and wrist surgery about 3 years ago. Just from my own personal experience - it was quite painful. However, I had to wait to have surgery for well over a year (it was a worker's comp. case).

I had broken my pinkie finger in the middle joint, and tore all of the tendons in my hand on the outside part of my hand, chipped my wrist bone, and tore the disks in my wrist, developed a cyst on the bone, and messed up a nerve that went from my hand to my elbow. I was in a cast from my finger tips to my shoulder for 3 months, then a splint from my finger tips to my elbow for another 4 months. I went thru p.t. for 5 months, and I had Moonie perform Reiki on me. The pain meds I threw out. They were just not helping at all. I used a muscle relaxer that helped me mostly. Then I was able to stop that after a few days after surgery.

I used a well-known hand surgeon to operate on me. He had a great success rate, and was able to give me honest answers to my many questions. If I had to have hand surgery again, I would not hesitate in going back to him. In fact, I have recommended him to all of my friends & family. That is just how much trust I have in him.

I wish you luck with this. It is a hard decision to make.