Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


I've had this problem for a Decade or more of years, increasing, & progressing...
I guess I should note I'm an elder now at 60+++ (?)

Appears having been 30 years in US Military, a professional drummer/musician, daily typist, shootist, MC racer and playing at martial arts has taken its toll now.

It has recently become almost debilitating for me.
I wear compression wristlets which do provide minor relief and ?some recovery.
I limit my daily typing time and I just started using Dragon Speak program to compose off line for most posts.
And that's a PITA too.

I've consulted with medical professionals including Doctors and read the WWW near blind on the subject.
Steroid injections are not an option, and Surgery is not in my mindset just yet.
Another family member suggested the Acupuncture treatments.
Appears this method is now suspect also?

You don't have to be in the medical profession to respond. But has anyone had the Acupuncture Treatment for a similar problem? Any porcupines out there? (giggle)

How horrible that it's nearly debilitating for you, Conundrum - gentle hug! Sadly, if I remember correctly, the 'recovery' from compression wristlets is short lived and the pain is nearly non-relenting.

I can only speak of carpal tunnel from my husband's point of view but with the first wrist he tried sterioid injections (made the condition worse, oddly) and then surgery. (Very long recovery periods and still not quite 'perfect').

With the other wrist, a few years later, he had acupuncture once a week for two months - the treatment itself didn't hurt (if they are truly skilled, one feels no pain as the extremely skinny 'needles' go in) and the relief started the second week and lasted nearly a year, although the pain was never completely gone. Because of the time off work during the flare-ups, he finally had surgery on that wrist, as well - but different surgeon, no pain during recovery and no pain since at all.

However, all that said, 3 friends have had acupunture for the same reason and two are thrilled with the results and one 'not so much'. I do wonder if it's a question of how skilled/well-trained the person giving the treatments is as the two happy friends went to the same practitioner and the unhappy one to another.

No matter what you decide, Conundrum, I hope it's truly successful and you will be pain free very, very soon! Please let us know how it goes.

Kind thoughts,
Mara

Conundrum - I gather you've researched the web for anything that may help - however, did you check out www.regenerativenutrition.com - as the problem is basically an auto immune disorder, they suggest a range of treatments aimed at fixing the base cause and thus relieving the condition - with out surgery or nasty medications! If not, these seem to offer something that may help?? Whatever I wish you well with this awful complaint - and yes, I've known several people using acupuncture and, as mentioned previously, the results (generally very good) do depend on the skills of the practitioner, so it means vetting out the ones available to you. All best wishes and I sincerely hope you find permanent, lasting relief.

This post has been edited by mz30: Jan 10 2008, 09:15 AM

My problems are not due to an "an auto-immune disorder".

We've been through that diagnosis.

Mine is pure abuse of the body.... ha ha ha Too much fun over too long a period of time.

I thank you for the suggestions and referrals.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

I have found and am going to try an Acupuncture Practitioner not too far away as a crow might fly.

[color me] A pin cushion [/color] from next "Moanday" onward.

I wish you great success with the procedure! I'm sure that you are aware that keeping an open mind to this procedure being effective is important as well.

Well i had acupuncture yesterday for the first time in my life,not for carpal tunnel syndrome but a shoulder injury.
I have a bad shoulder(left hand) since i was a youngster and to my surprise a couple of week's ago i started getting pain in my right shoulder,so i went to see an osteopath yesterday who proceeded to tell me that along with my job and sitting with my hand on a mouse for hour's a day that i had strained my a.c joint .so i was pulled and twisted and finished up having acupressure then acupuncture ,i then had my neck cracked ouch!!.
I think the acupuncture was great i could feel thing's loosning in my shoulder while the needle's were in ,but i think after a few treatment's it will do the trick.
On the flipside of the coin i have been in agony all day after the treatment ,but was told this would happen,if i was you 'c' i would give it a go ,the worst tht can happen is it does not ease it.

I've been remiss in responding to my own thread.

I have had some success in the acu-poke... giggle

I've had pain relief and some other tingling relief in the left hand.
I've had numb feeling relief in the right hand.
This has been combined with a hydro-therapy system also.

My hands don't work just quite right (or left) just yet. But I've seen major improvements.
(Remember, I'm an ambi - and lucky at that.)

Realize, I'm trying to stave off surgeries that would cause me more problems probably.

So, on a rating from 1 to 10, I'd give this procedure and the associated treatment a full 7 at least.
(BTW - there is no pain from the needles as the DR swipes the area first with a mild surface pain killer.)
((It is amusing to look at 40+ needles stuck in oneself and not feel anything...))


Tune in again next month? ha ha ha

Good to hear, you are at least getting some relief,'C'
Surgery is a last resort.IMO.

Dear Conundrum,
After my spinal fusion in June 2000, I was suffering with what the doctors call, "failed back surgery syndrome"
One of the treatments I tried to help relieve the pain was accupuncture.
Only the very first treatment gave me any relief at all, and I went three times a week for six months. After the first treatment all I got was holes everywhere including my head. LOL
Now I have a, " spinal cord stimulator implant" and it only gives me around 30% relief.
My wife suffers with carpal tunnel, and she wears braces on her wrists at work, and now has to wear them in bed. ( if she doesn't her hands fall asleep making it so she can't move her wrists at all for a number of hours after waking)
She works for "Jeep" and her plant doctor and her union representative have informed her, that if she gets to a point that she cannot perform her job, she will not be able to receive medical benefits unless she has the surgery.
My father had the surgery back in 1994. He returned to working only 3 days after the surgery. ( dad was a cement worker and was a liscensed carpenter along with many years of construction experience)
I wish you all the best with trying accupuncture, and I agree with you in that, "I will never have another surgery unless I am on my death bed and it will save my life".

John

Thanks for your story UJJ. I'm sorry to hear you only get partial relief with your stimulator. Maybe they can turn up the Amps? (Bad joke I know)

I too wear compression wristlets most of the day now. I guess they are part of the help. But a real PITA, as I need help always to put on the second one.

The acu-poke has accomplish pain and tingling relief in my hands for me. Has not helped relieve the numbness or restored full finger movement for me.

We discovered I was often sleeping on my hands as my usual sleeping position was face down. I've had to modify that too. I wonder if your Lady might be doing similar? Sleeping with her hands pinned underneath her I mean.

I know I'll have to get surgery done eventually. I'm just putting it off as long as I can.

You know, I don't think either of us has ever paid attention. Yes that is exactly how we both sleep at night, with our hands underneath our pillows.

So now I will make a suggestion to her, not to do so one night so she can make a comparison.
Thank you Sir.

And it too was funny!

In reality, I have turned up the stimulator to it's highest output in order to maybe not having to get rushed to the hosptial. Something that happens about six times a year.

The stimulation is actually very pleasurable, but unfortunately it only covers from the top of my butt to the bottom of my feet. This device, including surgical costs, was $45,000. It has three programs, "A,B,C"
with three sub-programs, and delivers from 1 onehundreth of an amp to 15.50 amps (D.C. of course) these are the controls that I have at my disposal.
Then when I go to my therapist, she has 150 different settings x 2 ( each side of my body) that she can input through her hand held computer. Now that I have bored you with all these stats. I will end by saying this: "you would think that with about one million different settings available" and forty five thousand dollars that I would be able to get more than just thirty percent relief for my pain!!!
In all honesty, " I am just elated to get this much relief" beats the heck out of rushing to the hospital every other day, and having interns, and residents look at you as if though your completely crazy!!!
Young Doctors act as though, if you aren't broken, and blood isn't gushing out of every pore of your body, then you have got to be either a dope head or just plain nuts!!!

I apoplogize for the side trip!

Thanks for the simple little heads up about sleeping on your hands.
I feel foolish for not having thought of it myself!

I'm glad to hear you're having some relief using the acupuncture treatments C. I had carpel tunnel syndrome and went the route of the braces, physical therapy both to no avail. I finally ended up having surgery on both of my wrist as I was beginning to lose the use of my thumb on my right hand and alot of nerve pain in the left. The surgery wasn't bad at all and it worked great. This was about 3 years ago and so far so good, I'm still pain free. Alot of the success with the surgery is just like any other surgery, it's only as good as the surgeon. I was lucky to have a very gifted surgeon. This same surgeon, by the way, had done surgery on 4 of my cervical vertabre 5 years ago, I trusted her with my spine and she did a wonderful job so I had every reason to expect the same with the carpel tunnel surgery. I hope the acupunture works well for you and you get maximum pain relief. I'll be interested to hear your further reports on your progress.

After numerous acu-treatments, I am pain free, the tingling is gone in both hands also.
Although I still have some numbness in both hands, other treatment is in the future.

I know I'll have to have the surgery eventually. I'm a wimp, and putting it off as long as I can.
I just have to find the Doctor that I really can trust. Too many other horror stories around and about.

(Besides, I have to find a very tall Swedish Nurse to look over me after the surgery..... Svenda where are you? ...Joke.)