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 Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:06 am
i don't know how long it will be before i can use my left hand, so please forgive my lack of appropriate syntax and capitalization. to my point, now: does anyone here suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, or know someone who has? i now have it and considering how often my left hand became weak and unusable, this isn't my first 'attack,' but it is most definitely the worst. i thought, yesterday, that i could sleep off the pain that had begun in my wrist, hand and fingers. i usually did, after all. instead i couldn't sleep whatsoever and the pain is worse than any i have before felt. my fingers are swollen, my wrist and hand completely unmovable and even the slightest change in position leaves me cringing or sobbing. there are plenty of details, but this has taken me long enough to type as it is. carpal tunnel infoagain
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:43 am
ugh..i know your pain. I'd say you need to talk to the doctor, yours sounds bad enough you may need surgery. *hug*
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:32 pm
i have no insurance, so no doctors yet. but i am on the last of my respitory medication refills, which is rather serious - so i'll need to go sometime soon.
surgery is for extreme cases, and being only 21, i doubt they will rush toward that measure. the -grand- part of carpal tunnel syndrome is that it comes and goes as it feels and some moments are worse than others. this may heal tonight and not happen again for a month, for all i know.
;____;
thank you for replying. <3
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:47 pm
True enough, it does come & go. Mine hasn't gotten as bad as that yet *crosses fingers* but my wrists do get painful at times....
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:59 pm
My mother in-law has it really bad in both wrists. She had to have surgery (which didn't fix it) and had to leave her job it was so bad. Have you tried one of those wrist braces you buy at the drug store, she said they helped alot. I know she also took Aleeve. That sucks that you don't have insurance. It makes me sick to see so many people in this country suffering because they don't have insurance. I hope you can figure out a way to get some treatment.
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Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:17 am
I have one of the wraps now, actually. I never would have imagined a bunch of fabric to be able to prevent pain like that. xD
Mm.. I'm worried about my job. Like your mother-in-law, in a sense, I'm scared it will affect my pay. I cannot afford to be docked pay, but withholding the info could be risky in the mental health field.
For now I just plan to go without the brace whenever I'm around an employer. Mmph.
I had medicaid up until five months or so ago. Michigan revamped the welfare policy here and I was booted from insurance, my employer doesn't offer any. Lovely, no?
I just realized that I can sort of use the caps-lock key with the band on. Yay. Thank you for responding. I know it isn't life threatening, but it is most surely altering my life right now.
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Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:40 am
The best kind of brace to use for your wrist isn't the fabric ones that you wrap; its the one with a the metal strip down the center that molds to your wrist.
I have carpal tunnel (runs in the family), but so far I've been able to keep it at a mild level. But every time my wrist even starts to think about hurting, I put on the brace for a few days, take some tylenol and *poof* I'm good for a little while.
I'm sorry about the insurance. I do understand. Luckily, the hospital in my town offers financial assistance to people who don't have insurance (like me).
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Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:10 am
My wrap is fabric, like I said, but it has strings that are pulled to tight to mold to your frame. It's thick, more like denim. I think I'm in love with an inanimate object. =o.
My spurts come all at once, for some reason. I don't get little hints that I'm about to flare up - it just does. But hopefully over time I will adapt. I've been questioned so much over the last day alone as to why I am wearing a brace that I'm already sick of explaining it. Especially at 21 - I look like a bleeding hypochondriac. "Oh it is for my carpal tunnel. Nope, don't know why I have it."
Bah.
I think I will look into the metal ones, though. If something works even better, I want it.
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:00 pm
Kalandra
I think I will look into the metal ones, though. If something works even better, I want it.
I would definently look into them. I love it, much better than my old fabric ones. The metal ones works a lot better in my opinion, they offer a lot more support for your wrist.
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:53 pm
Hikari Aijuntani Kalandra
I think I will look into the metal ones, though. If something works even better, I want it.
I would definently look into them. I love it, much better than my old fabric ones. The metal ones works a lot better in my opinion, they offer a lot more support for your wrist. I had one, once...I miss it, I have no idea what's happened to it. neutral
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:53 pm
I have it really bad in my left wrist. I played Trombone for four years, for about two-four hours everyday, depending on the day. (Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Alone Practice and Tutoring others.) I was a freshman in highschool when it started to develope (my third year playing.) I was told by a very old doctor that I was "Too young to have caropol tunnel."
So, I went about normally and took Ibuprophen for the pain. Eventually it got so bad that I would CRY. Now, I am not the crying type unless a) I am in EXTREME pain or b) Have a major break down. So, I went back to the doctor my Junior Year in highschool. I was put threw a series of tests: MRIs, injections and MRI's to highlight cartilege, Xrays and all that wonderfull stuff.
Anyway, they gave me a brace to wear while typing, sleeping and so forth. It was to keep my wrist in a "Natural" position. Well. this "natural" position hurt like hell. So, I wouldn't wear the brace. twisted I was also put through physical therapy because I sprained the same wrist in a skateboarding accident. It only made the pain WORSE! ( I think they put it at the wrong angle- it was a plastic pre- angled strip inside of it.)
So after much debate and my mother telling on me for not wearing my brace, they put a freaking cast on me for three months! I was ticked. I felt handi-capped and of course they set my wrist in the "natural" position which hurt like hell at certain times. (again, I believe they put it at the wrong angle.) So, when I finally got it taken off, I lied and said it felt much better.
My current doctor know all of this and she laughes her a** off when I talk about it. Because no one wanted to believe that someone that young could suffer from such a thing. Because I am a computer science major and often work with computer and type up just about everything: She has suggest I wear a brace- we fixed the angle of the metal strip to better suit my wrist. blaugh I don't like wearing that brace because I sweat easily through my palms, but it helps to prevent pain. heart
*ps, if you go to the sports section in Walmart or just about any department or sports store, you can find wonderful braces. They are not that expensive and the money is totally worth it.
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 6:55 pm
You seriously need to see a doctor. What do you do for a living? I ask because I have developed tendinitis in my elbows from keyboarding at work. My company has picked up the bill under Worker's Comp insurance. I absolutley understand the not being able to sleep issue. Again I encourage you to seek medical attention. There are programs available to assist those who have no medical insurance.
Peace.
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:22 pm
Star:
The best way to describe my job is by using the career title of social worker. I work with emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. But I do use the computer ridiculously often, which about 7/10 people I've spoken to about my carpal tunnel who collaboratively know me lay claim to the reason. I use it for work, hobbies and school. Ontop of typical homework mounds I also have an online course which requires a hellofalot of typing. I'm not sure of the exact reason, of course, but typing is the only righteous one I can think up. ;__;
The plan for people without insurance is usually to work out a payment plan. I have an appointment on Tuesday, but I mainly hope to target my lack of prescription refills for my other ailments. I'll bring up the carpel tunnel, but I don't expect him to focus much. Unfortunately, there's no way that my company will pick up the bill for my visit - especially considering their funding, if not the lack of responsibility for my problem. I'm very appreciative for your recommendations, though. <3
Yi Min:
I cannot even fathom having this problem in high school. I have a whole collection of other health issues which were difficult enough without the spontaneous and agonizing pain of a bad carpal attack. I commend you entirely.
The natural position does tend to seem uncomfortable, especially when we so rarely use it. Our wrists are always in motion, especially for musicians. I'm glad you found a way around the condition, though. Even if you did have to endure a bloody cast in the meanwhile. x__x
I've spotted a couple of braces I hope to nab in the future, but as I've said - my financial situation is rather bleak, so I'll be investing in one of the newer braces whenever the opportunity arises.
Also, as an overall summary to everyone who has posted - I am comforted by knowing other people suffer from it (as strange as it may sound). I know it is a pretty common problem, but nevertheless hearing it straight from others is more interesting than reading of it. My father's carpal tunnel stems from his severe rheumatoid arthritis, where the arthritis attacks crowd and dislodge the tunnel itself. However, as my ironically and normally not masculine father does not display pain, he doesn't talk openly about the issue. I'm ever grateful that he supplied me with my current brace.
Anyhow, a mucho thanks. My hand is back to being fully functional, though the wrist itself where my veins are visible is extremely sensitive and sends out an occasional prang of pain. I hope not to have another bad incident like the last for a long while.
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Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:49 am
I've had carpal tunnel for going on about 8 years now. The medication I was originally on made me basically useless as it made me sick and sleepy all at once. The braces are good ideas, but I wear mine at night when I sleep. Put it on looser than when you're awake because you swell when you sleep. Or I do anyway. I've been on various medications for it over the years and what I've found that works best for me is stuff I can get over the counter at WalMart or GNC. I take 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and 1200mg of Flaxseed Oil daily, with Motrin for pain when it flares. The whole mess costs me about 30.00 a month depending on the brand I get for the Glucosamine. So far it's working well for me and I've since stopped randomly dropping stuff. My hands would just freeze and whoops.
But honestly, it all comes down to what works best for you.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:10 pm
I have carpal tunnel in both hands. When the problem started, my doctor told me I couldn't have carpal tunnel because I didn't do anything repetitive. He however neglected to ask me what I did. Years later I began having more trouble and asked the advice of my new doctor. He immediately sent me for nerve conduction tests and low and behold not only do I have carpal tunnel, it was so bad in my right hand three of my fingers were permanently numb and the muscles had started to atrophy. I was sent to a surgeon and in less than 2 weeks had surgery on my right hand. Thank goodness the numbness is gone, but the loss of muscle may never return. I am sure my current job has contributed to the rapid advancement of the symptoms. I have braces for both hands now, with the metal splint, and they do really work. The symptoms are much worse without them. I live on the ibuprophen and the day when I can find a job that pays as well, but is less stressful on me. I wish you luck with yours and urge you to find a good brace. Around here, they run about $20.00 each and are well worth it.
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