carpal tunnel syndrome...need your advice!

L

lucy111

New Member
Hi all,

I need your advice regarding carpal tunnel syndrome. I've always had weak wrists and got frustrated each time I do pushups or ball pikes because my wrists would kill me. Anyway, recently I've been diagnosed to have CTS! I am devastated. My GP told me to lay off weights and do other forms of exercises. Is there anyone out there who have had CTS and got better without surgery? How long did it take for you to recover. I understand you will not be back to normal again, but have to modify habits such as using your knuckles, keeping wrists neutral and using push up bars to do push ups etc. Also is there anyone who have had CTS a personal trainer as well? If you are, how do you modify in your training with your clients?

I went to a sports doctor and he told me to keep exercising but modify as mentioned above. He also referred me to have my a nerve conduction test at the local hospital.

Thank you for reading this. I appreciate any suggestions, advice and tips that you may have.

Lucy:)
 
My DH had HORRIBLE carpal tunnel from his military service. He was not able to recover without surgery (or in his case....surgeries!), though. I do remember, however, that the best treatment is rest (as in the neutral wrist positioning), ice (to reduce the inflammation), and NSAIDS (to also reduce the inflammation). Elevating the wrists/hands at night also helps.

Sorry to hear about this and I wish you luck!
 
I use wrist braces on both of my wrists at night and that helps a lot. I've had CTS for several years and have been putting off surgery, but I think I will need it eventually.

Erica
 
I had the surgery on both of my wrists a few years ago. Best thing I ever did. No more pain and my workouts are great!

KarenL:)
 
I had a bad flare up of CTS after doing Kathy Smith's step workout years ago (after the push-ups and tricep dips off the step). I had chiropractic adjustments for it, wore a spint at night (and sometimes a support during the day). After I stopped having the adjustments, I realised they really weren't helpiing any more than just time would.

For quite a while, I had to either do push-ups with a straight wrist and splayed fingers, or using push-up handle bars (and my wrists would let me know if I was overdoing). Then I did a rotation of P90X, and it seems like Yoga X and stretch X (the wrist stretches) really helped. Now, I rarely have any problems.
 
Thank you ladies for your response. How long did it take you Karen to fully recover from your surgery? You are one lucky lady because I've heard stories of others who didn't recover full use even after surgery.
Kathryn, how many months did it take for you to feel "normal" again after the bad flare up? Did you exercise at all after the flare up? Were all you ladies able to do your daily activities?

Thanks again for taking the time to help me out. Appreciate it very much,
Lucy

I tried posting earlier on but it didn't come up, hence this post.
 
I had bad CTS about 10 years ago. I wore splints to bed at night for a long time. It just got to the point where I was up pacing at night. Broke dishes because I couldn't hold onto them. I finally had the surgury and have never had a problem since. I don't recall that it took to long to get back into my workouts.
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My DH's coworker had the surgery and was thrilled with the results and is so relieved to not have pain anymore.

My carpal tunnel seems to be hormone related and gets worse right before my period is due. I'm guessing it is aggravated by fluid retention. I can do most strength activities, but I have a hard time using an elliptical trainer because my hands go numb as a result of the angle they are at when I'm holding the bars. Same with driving. As far as normal activities, my hands are usually numb first thing in the morning, but then they are back to normal after I've been moving around for a while.

I'm not sure how long the recovery from surgery is. I thought that my doctor told me six weeks of NO lifting - groceries, trash, children, etc.

Erica
 
Hey Diane,
You look swell! What a body!
How long did it take to progress to dropping the dishes? Did you have both wrists done? Right now my strength aren't affected. When it started, it was difficult to drive. Now with the anti inflammatory and taking different supplements, I can feel tingling off and on. Today my wrists are very sore and it worries me.

Hey Erica,
A friend thought my CTS could be a sign of menopause! I'm 47 and could be going through the change, I really can't tell!

Thanks again ladies. You are all wonderful!
Lucy
 
>Kathryn, how many months did it take for you to feel "normal"
>again after the bad flare up? Did you exercise at all after
>the flare up? Were all you ladies able to do your daily
>activities?

I'd say 6-9 months, though it would bother me on-and-off for a while after that, especially when I did some push-ups (even with the splayed finger technique).

I exercised continuously, but modified quite a bit (the push-ups, and definitely no 'on-the-toes' push-ups).
 
Hi Lucy!

I had surgery on one wrist in the middle of April and the other one that June. Recovery time was pretty quick. I was in alot of pain for a very long time and had symptons the same as Diane Sue. I remember how wonderful it felt and still feels to sleep through the night pain free. My hands no longer hurt me during my workouts and I can do push-ups! While recovering I did a lot of fast paced walking and kick boxing which kept me in great shape. I actually slimmed downed about 10 pounds but that was short lived!:*

Hope this helps! Fire away with any questions that you may have!

KarenL
 
Lucy thanks for the compliment:) It progressed for years. I would say around 5 years. It just got to the point that I did not sleep well same as Karen mentioned. The surgury was like instant relief. I wished I had done it sooner. I do regular pushups as well.

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Cortisone shot. I have it in both hands/wrists pretty bad, but I'd say the right is severe. I had ONE shot years ago. And while I get pain from time to time, it's not unbearable like it used to be.

Staying off the computer helps immensely. ;)

I still do regular pushups. They're ok. Pikes sort of hurt. Planks are okay, but depending on how my pain is that day, my wrists may give out before the rest of me.

The only think I really have problems with now are very heavy deadlifts. My hands, wrists, and forearms scream when I do heavy deadlifts. ;(

As others have mentioned, rest, aspirin, ice, braces, etc. And less computer time. :7
 
>>>>>He also referred me to have my a nerve conduction test at the local hospital.

Hi Lucy -

If you haven't had the nerve conduction, how was CTS diagnosed? I was told the nerve conduction was the best way to test for CTS.

What are your symptoms?
What is your occupation?

I was a legal secretary for years and my wrists started bothering me and my doc suspected CTS. But, x-rays, an MRI and the nerve conduction test were negative and I was referred to a therapist who helped me a great deal. The doc suspected I injured my wrist and it never healed properly.

Anyway, I still can't do pushups "normally", and I don't like the pushup bars, so I do them on my knuckles (my bro calls me "Rocky"), I do not do pikes, but have recently started tricep dips without pain.

Also, do you have access to a gym? If so, the weight machines may be a better alternative since you don't have to worry about dropping the weight as with a barbell/dumbbell.

Good luck to you! I feel your pain and frustration.
 
Hi MadnNatsmom,

I am going to have the nerve conduction test in late February. The sports doctor is not convinced that it's CTS. I went to 2 GPs and they both said it's CTS. The 2nd GP told me it's not bad yet. She is referring me to a hand therapist. I'm a personal trainer and am modifying my work and personal training habits.

So is it only one wrist that's giving you grief? The strange thing with mine is that it started with the right but now my left is worse off than the right and I'm right handed.

I believe alot is going on in my mind at the moment and is not helping my condition. I seem to be too obsessed with getting better that I am getting worse. Does that make sense? A friend thought it could be a symptom of menopause but I don't think so.

Thanks ladies for all your input. Keep them coming. Appreciate hearing all your experiences.

Lucy
 
Yes, it's my right that mainly gave me problems, but sometimes my left bothers me as well.

I really thought that you need the nerve conduction test to determine whether it was CTS or not.

What were you before being a PT?
 
I have carpal tunnel. I wore a wrist brace for about a year after I first got it but I bought gel pads for my keyboard and mouse (gelly middle with spandex type material over it and I never use a computer without them. I get twinges here and there but it is fine really. It bothers me really bad when I do really repetitive stuff (example - sealing grout on tiles). Also I stretch my wrists alot too.
 
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