11 replies to this topic

[maineman]

Dewey, I can give you an objective answer. I am not a surgeon, but i have many patients with carpal tunnel (CTS). If you have seen a neurologist and been tested (not just "looked at") and you have proven CTS it is likely that surgery in the hands of an experienced orthopedic surgeon will help. The data comparing traditional to laser surgery shows traditional to be just fine. If your CTS is mild, however, you could do well wearing CTS splints to bed at night and beginning proper physical therapy, changing the behavior that caused it (repetiive motion), ice and occassional anti inflammatories. Bottom line: the surgery is effective in the hands of an experienced orthopedic surgeon in dcocumented cases of moderate to severe CTS. No surgery is without risk. What I tell all my patients when asking for a surgical opinion is this: look the surgeion in the eye and ask ,"If I was your (mother - father - sister - brother etc) what would you reccomend? If it was YOU, what would YOU do? And then look them in the face when they answer... usually you'll get the answer you need... best of luck mm

[Rogerdodger]

I suffer from pain in my wrists and hands especially at night. Following the advice from a doctor, I elevate my hands at night with a pillow on each side of my body. This works for me. The explanation is that fluid settles in the lower parts of our body. During the day our ankles swell, but when sleeping the fluid moves back up. So in the morning we have bags under our eyes from the increased fluid. A slight nightime elevation can reduce some fluid collection in the hands and wrists. It won't cure you but may help with night time pain. Now, I'm trying to figure how to elevate my whole body.

[Rogerdodger]

Roger-A hand specialist I saw in California told me told me the same thing about the fluids collecting in the hands at night.

I have always done a lot of hands intensive work.
I love woodworking, remodeling and I used to make jewelry.
I guess I've abused my wrists. I've used them for sure.
I used to think my hands were "asleep".
I had tingling and numbness, almost every night especially after working on some intensive project.
Then I heard Dr. Dean Edell's radio show discussing the very problem.
(He used to make jewelry too! Like me, a real renaissance man.)

Now, when I wake at night with pain, I just prop up my elbow on a pillow beside me, put my hands on my chest and peacefully fall back to sleep.
It works remarkably well.

I'm now working on the whole body levitation deal:
http://www.metacafe....ation_revealed/

Edited by Rogerdodger, 16 August 2007 - 09:22 PM.

[esther231]

My MIL had severe Carpal Tunnel in both hands. Because of her age and health, she could not have surgery. Her doctor sent her to an acupuncturist. I took her there 3 times a week for about six months. Nothing happened. She was still having trouble. It wasn't getting worse but it wasn't getting better. When he was going on vacation, he had her try a magnet on each wrist to hold her over till he returned. Now, they worked for her. She got better. More than better, the carpal tunnel disappeared after a month. I have no idea why. None. But when I got carpal tunnel about a year later, I skipped everything else and tried a magnet bracelet first. My carpal tunnel mine was bad. My hand was going numb, not just at night. but also during the day while I was using it. I had shooting pains in my arm - day and night. But the worse part was my hand was getting weaker and weaker. I couldn't lift a cup a tea with that hand at times. The magnet bracelet was amazing. I put it on and within a week, I started getting better. Like RogerDodger, I did change my sleeping position and made sure I slept on my back and never on my hands. When my husband got it, I slapped a bracelet on him and it worked for him too. Again, I have no idea why it worked. I have no idea if it works for many or just a few people with carpal. But it's worth trying. You never know, it might work for you. It's an easy thing to try and not expensive.

Edited by esther231, 21 August 2007 - 08:06 AM.

[maineman]

Esther,
Interesting result. CTS is an enormous problem and has been extensively studied. A huge review was done in 2003, looking back over decades of data of NON-SURGICAL treatments. You would be amazed what has been tried. This review looked at data with statistical significance. Here's what was shown to work:

Hand Splints
Steroids
Yoga

Here's what showed "a little" benefit:
ultrasound


Here's what was shown NOT to work (compared to placebo):
Vitamin B6
Acupuncture
Laser therapy
Chiropractic
Magnets
diuretics
non-steroidal anti inflammtory drugs

It is important to understand that an individual's response may be different. This review simply looked at statistical results of studies.

Here's the reference:

O'Connor D, Marshall S, Massy-Westropp N. Non-surgical treatment (other than steroid injection) for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD003219. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003219

[esther231]

Absolutely what works for one person might not work for another. The magnet bracelets did work for myself, my mother in law and my husband. Again, I also changed my sleeping position and I know that was a big help. If it doesn't work, no harm done beyond the cost of the bracelet. (about $40) That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Edited by esther231, 22 August 2007 - 01:46 PM.

[esther231]

I got mine at Acemagnetics on the internet. I got my husband's at a local golf store. (There is also a new kind that is getting good reviews and available at most golf and sporting goods stores. It's a Phiten. I haven't tried it but it is getting enough good reviews that I would be willing to.) I hope it works for you but I know stuff like this is individual. At least, it won't hurt you and is easy to try. If you do sleep on your hands, you have to stop. I know, I know. Me too. But you have to. It makes carpal tunnel worse. Yikes!!! You have to get back on the bike. I can't believe how much fun it is. I'm turning into a bike nut. Sad but true. I've had some trouble with my hands going to sleep when I'm biking. I shake 'em out when it happens and try to remember to not lean on them. Hands aren't suppose to carry your upper body biking - they are only suppose to steer the bike. But let's get serious. Who on earth is gonna sit there for hours at a time and not rest on your hands? So, I try to take my weight off them when I remember. When I find myself leaning on them, I relax my arms and keep the wrist flexible. That helps. If I keep my upper body relaxed, it takes pressure off my hands. If I'm riding for a long time on the hoods, I unwrap my thumb from around the gears and instead keep it with my fingers. So, I grip the gears with my fingers but other side of the grip is with the palm of my hand. Does that make sense? It tends to straighten out my wrist. And I move to the bar itself now and again to get myself upright regularly. Just helps me to remember carry my own weight and to stretch my back. Good luck. I'll keep my fingers crossed.