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Post by Karen-in-Indiana on Jul 27, 2015 14:53:25 GMT
Several weeks ago I woke up during the night with the worst hand pain ever! At first I thought I'd just slept funny on it but it hurt for days and I couldn't make a fist or even hold a brush. I went to Urgent Care for x-ray because I was convinced I had somehow fractured it the day before. It hurt so bad how can it not be broke? Yeah, right. Dr said it's soft tissue damage and referred me to ortho dr if not better. He splinted it and prescribed anti-inflammatory. It got better after several days so I did not go to Ortho. Middle of last week it did it again at night and finally started feeling better yesterday.
This is my dominant hand so it's pretty much a huge inconvenience for me! Yes, I have done desk/computer work for the past 13 years. Yes, my hand goes numb on the mouse but I just shrugged it off as my hand falling asleep. I go to Ortho Dr this Wednesday. Now that my hand is feeling better he's going to think I'm a nutcase. How will he even be able to tell what I have with out symptoms? Any one have experience with CT? What can I expect? What lies ahead for me?
Feeling nervous! Karen
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Post by bianca42 on Jul 27, 2015 15:03:57 GMT
No idea, other than a similar pain in my mouse button finger off and on for the last few weeks. I can't even open a soda bottle cap. My Mom said it's probably carpal tunnel. Ugg. I'll be thinking about you.
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Post by Patter on Jul 27, 2015 15:13:05 GMT
I have carpal tunnel in both hands. Right now they are both extremely bad. I wear splints each night to help relieve the pain during the day. I actually saw a neurologist for mine. He performed an EMG test, and I will never ever have that done again. Let's just say it's not fun. He prescribed PT but that never helped. I have not been back in years to have it checked because I do not want the EMG again. I just wear my splints and live with numb hands and pain. I am going to my GP in September so I will ask about it. We have moved since I had all of the above done.
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Post by mommaho on Jul 27, 2015 15:20:16 GMT
I understand the pain you are going through. I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel when I had an EMG (really not that bad of a test!) due to nerve damage from several tears in my rotator cuff. The Neurologist told me that once I got the shoulder taken care of I should look at CT surgery. That was 3 1/2 years ago and I still haven't had the CT taken care of yet. Mine isn't consistent enough yet to make it a problem for me. It sounds like yours is really flaring up so it is a good thing you are going back to your dr.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 27, 2015 15:35:31 GMT
I had mild carpal tunnel for a while that I just lived with. But when I was pregnant and swelling up like a balloon, it got exponentially worse especially at night. The strange combination of pain, tingling and numbness that would wake me up in the middle of the night was unbearable! My regular internal medicine doctor gave me splints to wear at night and I was referred to the ortho for a nerve conduction test (not bad) which quickly confirmed that I had carpal tunnel in both hands.
The doctor recommended surgery for both hands, but I was leery of doing that right then because I was pregnant. So he gave me cortisone shots in both wrists instead (not fun, but better than dealing with carpal tunnel pain) and that held me off for a few months until right before I delivered. At that point I decided to wait and see if it would relieve itself after I shed all the extra water/swelling. When it didn't, I went in and scheduled to have the two surgeries two weeks apart and my issues were totally resolved after that. (He wouldn't do them both at once because then I wouldn't be able to do anything at all for a few days and I had a newborn at home. At least if you have one hand you aren't totally helpless.)
FWIW, the surgeries were no big deal, nothing to be afraid of. It was done at an outpatient day surgery place and left a 1/2" scar on each hand that is barely noticeable. It was 1000% worth doing! If I had to do it all over again I totally would. I still wear the splints at night because I learned that I tend to curl my hands and wrists inward when I'm sleeping which cuts off circulation to my hands and the splints help with that.
Hope this info helps some! If it's waking you up at night, you should have it looked at. Chances are the ortho will be able to tell right away if that's what it is, and if you need surgery to correct it.
ETA: I would NEVER deal with that kind of pain and numbness again knowing how quickly the surgery would resolve it, and how quickly I would be back to 100% afterward. I would highly recommend it.
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662
Jun 26, 2014 16:15:45 GMT
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Post by loco coco on Jul 27, 2015 15:46:11 GMT
Its the worst pain ever, Im in my late 20s and have it in both hands. I had an EMG test done and they will let you know how bad it is. Wearing splints at night has helped tremendously. Good luck
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Post by kelbel827 on Jul 27, 2015 16:33:05 GMT
I had horrible pain in November. As a hold over until surgery in January. , I started super b complex, 2 during the day and 1 at night, at the suggestion of my doctor. The pain was gone within a week. The numbness is basically gone. I never needed the surgery.
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Post by Karen-in-Indiana on Jul 27, 2015 16:33:45 GMT
I had mild carpal tunnel for a while that I just lived with. But when I was pregnant and swelling up like a balloon, it got exponentially worse especially at night. The strange combination of pain, tingling and numbness that would wake me up in the middle of the night was unbearable! My regular internal medicine doctor gave me splints to wear at night and I was referred to the ortho for a nerve conduction test (not bad) which quickly confirmed that I had carpal tunnel in both hands. The doctor recommended surgery for both hands, but I was leery of doing that right then because I was pregnant. So he gave me cortisone shots in both wrists instead (not fun, but better than dealing with carpal tunnel pain) and that held me off for a few months until right before I delivered. At that point I decided to wait and see if it would relieve itself after I shed all the extra water/swelling. When it didn't, I went in and scheduled to have the two surgeries two weeks apart and my issues were totally resolved after that. (He wouldn't do them both at once because then I wouldn't be able to do anything at all for a few days and I had a newborn at home. At least if you have one hand you aren't totally helpless.) FWIW, the surgeries were no big deal, nothing to be afraid of. It was done at an outpatient day surgery place and left a 1/2" scar on each hand that is barely noticeable. It was 1000% worth doing! If I had to do it all over again I totally would. I still wear the splints at night because I learned that I tend to curl my hands and wrists inward when I'm sleeping which cuts off circulation to my hands and the splints help with that. Hope this info helps some! If it's waking you up at night, you should have it looked at. Chances are the ortho will be able to tell right away if that's what it is, and if you need surgery to correct it. ETA: I would NEVER deal with that kind of pain and numbness again knowing how quickly the surgery would resolve it, and how quickly I would be back to 100% afterward. I would highly recommend it. Thank you for all the info. It's good to know the surgery works after hearing stories of people that can't work after carpal tunnel complications. I also sleep with my hands curled under my chin.
Karen
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jul 27, 2015 16:42:18 GMT
I had it when I was pregnant and it was the worst feeling ever. Braces at night didn't relieve the feeling. I could barely write the last few months of my pregnancy and I'm a teacher. I had immediate relief once my son was born. It took awhile to gain strength back, but it was a relief.
I can't imagine living with it. I'd consider surgery if I get it again. I know I aggravate my ulna nerves and it causes a similar feeling, but it's not the entire hand.
I hope you find some relief!
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jul 27, 2015 16:55:02 GMT
I have chronic CT, but it's only aggravated when I'm doing a lot of strenuous work with my hands, like deep cleaning or putting together furniture. Long drives (where I'm the driver) also makes my CT flare up. I too wear splints when my hands are really bad, which do much to alleviate the pain and numbness. I'm a side-sleeper with my left or right arm above my head, and I always have an extra pillow to prop my wrists on at night to help keep them straight, otherwise I'll wake up with them sore and numb as well.
When I worked in surgery we would do several CT surgeries a week. It usually works very well, but it also depends on the person, and often on what kind of work they do. We would have some patients coming in every-other year for CT surgery.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 28, 2015 2:48:28 GMT
I have chronic CT, but it's only aggravated when I'm doing a lot of strenuous work with my hands, like deep cleaning or putting together furniture. Long drives (where I'm the driver) also makes my CT flare up. I too wear splints when my hands are really bad, which do much to alleviate the pain and numbness. I'm a side-sleeper with my left or right arm above my head, and I always have an extra pillow to prop my wrists on at night to help keep them straight, otherwise I'll wake up with them sore and numb as well. When I worked in surgery we would do several CT surgeries a week. It usually works very well, but it also depends on the person, and often on what kind of work they do. We would have some patients coming in every-other year for CT surgery. How long ago did you work in surgery? I only ask because I think CT surgery has changed a LOT over the years. My MIL had it done on her right hand probably a decade ago and it was quite invasive. She had a long scar on her wrist/hand and it took quite a while to heal. I had mine done in 2010 artheroscopically and the scars are literally only about 1/2" to 3/4" long. I had the big bandages for a day or two, and then nothing more than a big bandaid after that until the skin had healed. It took a few months to regain the strength in my hands, but I would take that nuisance over dealing with the CT pain any day of the week. My surgeon was great and he recommended massaging the area while it was healing so scar tissue wouldn't build up in the area and I haven't had any issues with it since.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,600
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jul 28, 2015 2:58:49 GMT
I have chronic CT, but it's only aggravated when I'm doing a lot of strenuous work with my hands, like deep cleaning or putting together furniture. Long drives (where I'm the driver) also makes my CT flare up. I too wear splints when my hands are really bad, which do much to alleviate the pain and numbness. I'm a side-sleeper with my left or right arm above my head, and I always have an extra pillow to prop my wrists on at night to help keep them straight, otherwise I'll wake up with them sore and numb as well. When I worked in surgery we would do several CT surgeries a week. It usually works very well, but it also depends on the person, and often on what kind of work they do. We would have some patients coming in every-other year for CT surgery. How long ago did you work in surgery? I only ask because I think CT surgery has changed a LOT over the years. My MIL had it done on her right hand probably a decade ago and it was quite invasive. She had a long scar on her wrist/hand and it took quite a while to heal. I had mine done in 2010 artheroscopically and the scars are literally only about 1/2" to 3/4" long. I had the big bandages for a day or two, and then nothing more than a big bandaid after that until the skin had healed. It took a few months to regain the strength in my hands, but I would take that nuisance over dealing with the CT pain any day of the week. My surgeon was great and he recommended massaging the area while it was healing so scar tissue wouldn't build up in the area and I haven't had any issues with it since. We were doing them with the scope when I was working in surgery. It was pretty slick, compared to the more invasive CT surgery. I also worked with a neurosurgeon who didn't do them with the scope, but had a technique that only involved a .5 inch long incision. We would still get the occasional patient coming back for a redo, but like I mentioned, sometimes that had a lot to do with their jobs and what they did with their hands all day. If my CT was an everyday issue, I would definitely be looking into surgery .
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