Help - debilitating carpal tunnel sydrome

I developed CTS in the last few weeks of my pregnancy with DD, but it was quite mild. This time around, it started 2-3 weeks ago, but has really gotten bad in the past week. Even with splints, I'm only sleeping 2-3 hours per night and can't use my right hand for more than a minute or two without pain and tingling. I get some relief with massage, and keeping them splinted, but nothing long lasting.

Any ideas? Please!

 

My massage therapist told me to fill the kitchen sink with cold water and immerse my hands to my elbows in it for 2-3 minutes. She told me to do this a few times a day. It worked well for me but it is kinda a pain. I also lived with ice packs and anti inflammatories. I went for massage once a week and did stretches of my hands and arms multiple times a day. They are now way better! I hope you can get some relief before your babies come. Mine didn't start till after my boys were born. Best of luck

 

I would suggest ice and also some light stretching by pulling your fingers back.
I am sorry you have to daal with this, I know it hurts.

 

I'm a hand surgeon (and mom of twins) and see this commonly. The previous suggestions are good, but you can also get a steroid shot which should relieve your symptoms. This is safe to give during pregnancy and the steroid used is attached to a carrier so that it doesn't circulate systemically. It will stay where it is injected and act locally. I would continue to use your splints even after the injection to try to prevent a recurrence. Once you deliver, your carpal tunnel syndrome should resolve. Just make sure you are seen by a hand surgeon and he/she will be able to help you.

Good luck!

 

Thanks everyone. I'm going to try the cold water in the sink, as well as limiting my computer time, which can't be helping.

I'll keep the steroid shot in mind, but hopefully I can wait it out until I deliver. I'm in Canada, so it would probably take at least a month to get into see someone.

 

I had the steroid shots in both wrists during both of my pregnancies. I couldn't use my hands without severe pain and the shots made it mostly go away. I still wore the splints to bed every night just to keep the swelling down. Ask your OB for a referal to see a orthopaedic doctor. It was the best thing I did!

 

Well, I had a great massage yesterday and followed it with a cold soak in water before bed, and it worked wonders! I actually slept most of the night without pain.....such relief!

Ah, pregnancy....so much fun.

 

Glad you found some relief! Carpal Tunnel is awful! I also would ice my wrists daily with bags of peas from the freezer, this seemed to help me as well as the soaking in cold water. My carpal tunnel was completely gone by 7 weeks PP. Hope this gives you hope!

 

I had a special kind of brace for my hands to use WHILE on the computer. They kept my wrists in the right position for typing. But I had no issue with this in my twin pregnancy...it was in college!! It was so bad though that a pencil would just fall out of my hand with no control at all. My PT sister found the braces for me, and I would use them religiously whenever typing on the computer!

 

Not sure if what I have is carpel tunnel, but it sure hurts!!
For the past week or so, my fingers particularly my knuckles have been aching and been stiff. I have just started swelling a little, so at first thought it was because of this. The worst is the middle finger on my right hand - I can't bendit towards my hand without really hurting.
It hurts a lot, but I can deal with it. I just worry about after babies are born if it doesn't go away.

 

Mine was gone as soon as I delivered. My doctors referred me to a phsiotherapist but I was already juggling so many appts. I never went.

 

The pain in my knuckles is almost as if it is broken!? MAybe its the way I'm sleeping? Or pressure from fluid?