Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[dgrgpjew]

I have just been diagnosed with CTS, which came on quite suddenly last week. I am really struggling with the numbness and electric shock like feelings in my hand and fingers at the moment.

My doctor has given me the options - I have said no to the injection and the surgery at the moment and am going to give the wrist splint a try. I have an appointment with the Chiro on friday, and as we have an ultrasound machine at work, can also use this, which may be of some help apparently.

I am just wondering if any other Therapists have this problem? I have not massaged yet this week, not sure how I am going to manage on friday with my first client since it came on. Also am concerned at how it will affect my future!

The Doctor has advised me not to put off the operation for too long, as it really will help alleviate the problem, but I am undecided as yet, it seems a bit drastic!

Any advise will be appreciated!!

Karen

 

[eiicvrfg]

Hi Karen[/align][/align]Have you considered getting some deep massage done on it, this will be quite uncomfortable to receive but it should ease the tension and the restriction which is often associated with this condition, you do need someone with some very strong fingers for this one though.[/align]

 

[Alexandria]

Tough break! A close friend had it and decided to go down the chiropractic route. this cured it and she is glad she didnt go down the surgery route liek she was told to.

Come back and tell us how you get on after your chiro apt on friday.

 

[SteexyFes]

Hi
poor you , i know just how you feel .
I had cts in both hands , came on suddenly !!!!!!!! left hand first and kept me awake all night .I saw the physio who gave me a splint which releived the symptoms at night and then got an urgent appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon .Im a nurse too and my job which is specialised requires me to use my hands a lot .........repetitive strain from that the massages and also the hereditary factor made me a prime candidate for cts.
The thenar muscle wasted away within a couple of months and i strongly recomend you get the op ............honestly its a day case , stitches out in 7-10 days and i was back to work in 2 weeks . That was 6 months ago .
Then lo and behold the right played up , same again but this time due to family probs i could not have the surgery when planned so i had shiatsu , it helped to relieve the symptoms till i got the surgery again .
Now ive 2 new hands he hee no sleepless nights and back to weight training in the gym and doing regular massages again , my right hand was just done a month ago .
If you dont want the surgery , try shiatsu but dont leave it till the muscle wasting is very evident as it takes longer to recover full use.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[pariurispx]

Thanks for the replies. Paul, I don't know anyone to give me a good massage, but will keep my eyes open and ask around. LuckyG - will let you know after friday! Good to know someone went down the chiro route and it worked, my doctor was unsure whether it would help or not, but said it was worth a go.

Goldilocks, you are saying pretty much what my doctor is telling me. He is happy to let me wait a couple of months if I feel I can, to see how the spints and chiro help, but has said to make sure the muscles do not start to waste and to look out for grip weakness. I have private healthcare, so I know I can get the op done quickly, just not sure I am ready for it yet! It is nice to know that you are back massaging so quickly afterwards though. I suppose there is always the risk that it may reoccur??

Karen

 

[rujxqzmv]

I put up with worsening pain of CTS over two years until it became sounbearable I had to cut my therapies down to 2 a day. I wore the splints at night, which helped me sleep. Took pain killers during the day, but finally cracked when I dropped the iron one afternoon, followed by a cup of coffee in the evening!!
I opted for surgery on one hand (right) as I didn't want to have a tourniquet used on my left arm (breast cancer). The procedure (in 2003)took about 17 minutes and I was wide awake (local anaesthetic). The most painful part of the procedure was when he released the tourniquet - my range of expletives was impressive! Within 24 hours I could waggle my fingers and there was absolutely no pain any longer.
Strangely, about a month after the op I noticed that the CTS in my left hand had completely gone......

 

[Emanuel E]

Hi all

I agree with all that has been said here about Carpel Tunnel. I've had both of mine released and found the operation fascinating as everything was being explained to a trainee and I could see it all reflected in the overhead light! The most painful bit for me was the anaesthetic going into the palm of my hand! The scars aren't noticeable now as they follow the natural line in my hand. Best thing ever as I was told had I left it much longer there would have been permanent nerve damage to my fingers!

Before I opted for the operation I had tried the splints at night which did help and the cortisone injection - ow! ow! ow! When in for a check up on my right hand, mentioned my increasing pain in the left and jokingly said "If I could have it done tomorrow I would!" It was duly booked in for the next morning - and on the NHS! I too have private healthcare but the service I got for my CT couldn't have been bettered!!! [8D]

The funniest bit of the whole operation was my Mum trying to "jump" me into my pants - just like she used to do when I was about three years old! That and trying to keep my tattoo's hidden from her!!!

I believe now though that there are specialist trained nurses who do the operation in a Dr surgery, one stitch and a big plaster and you're off home! Not like the six stitches I had in each hand and miles and miles of bandages!! I did have fun telling people that the other guy came off worse though!

Good luck - keep us informed.[sm=jump1.gif]

Jo x

 

[Kerry Moriarty]

It is so good to hear such positive stories, thanks guys!


I had my chiro treatment on friday; he believes I have alot of blockages from my neck stopping nerve impulses getting through properly - I was crunched about, and recommended to stretch out my lower arms regularly. I am having more treatment next week.

I don't get my splint for another 10 days, unless I can get an earlier physio appointment - but to be honest, I don't get alot of pain at night at all, just during the day!

I am going to go back to the Doctors in a couple of months, if there is no improvement then I will opt for the surgery.

How long did the recovery take post surgery?

Karen

 

[ffenbuedinbicnejr]

Like Jabba, I too found that within 24 hours I could wiggle my fingers. I had so much bandaging on I had to leave it 10 days to take them all off! Still with the stitches in it was fabulous to be able to shower properly and my hand feel clean again!

I agree about the tourniquet being painful. When they took it off, you can feel the blood running back up the veins to your fingers! Almost as strange as feeling the cortisone and anaesthetic running up my arm and into my fingers! I had to "carry" my arm after that as it didn't feel like it belonged to me!! To touch it felt a bit like a defrosting chicken!!

As I said I think things have changed more recently with a smaller and quicker procedure being available! See how you get on though as there are some choices you can make....

Jo x [edited to say I agree!!!]

 

[Sahil S]

As I am new to this only today forgive me if this topic is else where although I have had a look. I haven't been diagnosed with CTS but RSI. I have had physio and acupuncture and found acupuncture to be more effective.
In addition to that I have been for posture assessment and found that the RSI is linked to the way I sit and walk etc. This brings me to my point that it is not just the equipment (whatever you are using that has caused the problem) but the way we hold ourselves when sitting and walking etc.
Has anyone used the Alexander technique to aid CTS or RSI? If so has it been beneficial?
I am looking at trying to find a course that I can attend but have had no luck so far finding one that is accredited.

 

[ahingitrummori73]

I have been treated for this, with the use of splints for both hands, the splints weren't working, so I had to have a cortisol injection in the wrist, [sm=confused-smiley-012.gif]very sore indeed, plus had to have other hand done today, worst pain ever, but the good point is no problems with the right hand, so fingers crossed all is well with the left. Signed off my work for a week, no massage, told to rest hand.

good luck the injection is sore, but is worth it, to have a decent nights sleep.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi all
the diagnosis of CTS can be a tricky oneas entrapment of thenerves at the neck and shoulder will produce all the clasic symtoms of CTSand RSI.
Any treatment should be as least invasive as posible and a proper check of your posture at neck/shoulder carried out.
I agree with Paul as he sugguests deep massage.

Hi KPUKI have been doing intricate deep massage work with thumb and fingers for 9 years now and i think thebest wayall massage therapists should protect themselves is toreceive 1 deep massage for every 10 you give, making sure your forarm extensors and flexors are stripped out.
As massage therapists wewillonly be able to continue protecting/educating/treating those suffering occupational muscle pain by looking after ourselves effectively.
regards steve

 

[Billy W]

Hi Stephen,

My chiro agrees with you re the neck/posture check - he feels I have a lot of constiction in my neck area which may be causing the nerve blockages, and is working to release this. He has advised me to throw away the splint and keep my arm/wrist as mobile as possible, and use a tennis ball for grip exercises.

I have had some deep massage and ultasound - the massage hurt like h***, can still feel it days later - but seems to have helped. I am going to continue with the Chiro treatment, it really seems to help!

(BTW I was born and bought up in Ealing - near Northfields Avenue!)

Karen

 

[scarecrow_savage]

Hi Karen
v glad to hear chiro and deep massage is working well, even though yourdeep massage session sounds like it was a bit of an ordeal!

Deep massage should allways be given in a caring way :-
Themuscles/joints being treated should beproperly warmed up (6-10 mins) this will allow enough time for your natural painkiller (endorphine) toactivate and the whole area to become more elastic ready for deeper massage.
Your therapist shouldtell youto use your own1 to 10 scale for pressure/pain, 8 being themost presssure you want applied sothe therapist can adapt the technique around your own personal limits!.

If the abovebasic giude is not followed youmay well feel you were just subject to a harsh technique in an endevour to get quick results ?(was the likelyhood of soreness after the treatment explained as being a positive thing? ie theraputic inflamation bringing fresh blood/nutriants toflush out toxins.)

I am not sure you should be strengthening your forarm flexors(squeezing the tennis ball).
If anything most therapists/computor users have strongshortened flexors that over power weakend/legthened extensors.
Its the extensors that need strengthening (elastic band over finger tips), and stretch the flexors.(gentle stretches to avoid cts flare up).

Regards steve
BTW Northfeilds ave!! meBlondin ave. PM me if you ever back this way.

 

[Datukgong Bean Laden]

Hiya,
regarding post surgery rehab, i had my left hand done in october 2005, the most painfull part was the local which the surgeon blasted in quickly , ok the pain last just over a minute but OMG i thought my hand would explode.
Recovery was quick , 3 sutures out 7 days later and back to work in 2 weeks .
My right hand ( dominant ) was done in may , Different surgeon , local injected very slowly , wow what a difference ..........no pain at all and didnt need painkillers after and same with sutures and back to work in 2 weeks . Im a nurse and the job i do is specialised and requires great dexterity , im back to lifting weights at the gym every night and regular massage treatments with no ill effects.
I had a lot of pain before and a lot of sleepless nights so all in all im delighted with the outcome ,

 

[bhegdufkiurizkezv]

karen
i had the op 6 months ago and my other hand one year ago....best thing i ever did!!!its a very small op and was back to beauty therapy in 4 weeks pain free!!
go for it!!the op gave mw very little pain
caz-agnetha

 

[laey]

kpul, I would strongly recommend you look into No Hands massage or Injury Prevention massage if you want to keep your career going.

It will protect you from further damage and will also mean you can retain those clients you have worked so hard to build up.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[Rt Cald]

There is an excellent acupressure point, P6, I frequently use which is very effective for CTS. This is also the point for nausea.

It 2.5 finger widths up from the crease of the wrist, (toward elbow) right in the middle of the tendons. Appy deep finger pressure for a couple of minutes. Frequently. Its kept mine at bay for years now.
You can also massage other side too in the same position. If you wiggle your finger whilst massaging the pointyou can feel all the tendons moving.

I'm a reflexologist and massage therapist, so my hands really get used a lot. Please try it.

Jan