I am very upset: I am sure I have CTS - my wrists, fingers, sometimes forearms ache quite a bit and after doing pushups, it is worse. Anyone have experience with this, and what exercises are safe? I am going to switch to very light weights (5 lbs) and high reps for a while and give up the pushups and heavier weights (for me about 22 lb. barbell). This is depressing, especially when I use my hands for my livelihood. I will be going to the chiropractor next week, am taking extra B6, wearing a wrist brace, tried to adjust my workout area, and using arnica cream. Anyone have any experience with this and what exercise changes did you make? Thanks
carpal tunnel syndrome
- Thread starter mparker
- Start date
I can relate-
I had Carpel Tunnel Syndrome both times I was pregnant. The first time I was working in an Electron Microscopy lab (finishing my research). Well, by month 7 I could not do anything but look at samples I had already prepared and develop pictures. I had given up the fixation due to the chemicals earlier, and had to stop all work that required any precision at all (just about everything). And of course, since it was my first pregnancy, I didn't know if I would get feeling back in my hands or not.
I know how you feel- It is scary. Especially when you can no longer do things that you took for granted all along.
I hope your chiropractor can help-they are the best when they can help! Best of luck moving past this. I remember how frustrating it was-Like all day long I had mittens on, and couldn't take them off.
BLinda
I had Carpel Tunnel Syndrome both times I was pregnant. The first time I was working in an Electron Microscopy lab (finishing my research). Well, by month 7 I could not do anything but look at samples I had already prepared and develop pictures. I had given up the fixation due to the chemicals earlier, and had to stop all work that required any precision at all (just about everything). And of course, since it was my first pregnancy, I didn't know if I would get feeling back in my hands or not.
I know how you feel- It is scary. Especially when you can no longer do things that you took for granted all along.
I hope your chiropractor can help-they are the best when they can help! Best of luck moving past this. I remember how frustrating it was-Like all day long I had mittens on, and couldn't take them off.
BLinda
kathryn
Cathlete
carpal tunnel
Yup, I have it, too, brought on after a bout of push-ups and tricep dips a few years ago. I've gone through chiropractic adjustments and using some push-me/pull-u machine at the chiropractor's office, as well as electrical stimulation, until I figured out that I can get just as much relief for less money by doing my own thing. I'm pretty symptom free most of the time now, except for the fact that my handwriting is illegible after about two sentences! Using an ergonomic keyboard really helps! I have one in my office, and start to feel a bit numb and tingly only if I overdo--marathon typing sessions. When I used a regular keyboard a few weeks ago, I started to get that same discomfort after only about 20 minutes.
Exercises I avoid like the plague!: ANY exercises with weight on bent wrists: push-ups (I hold my weight on my splayed fingers, with wrists straight, or use special push-up supports or dumbbells. I also substitute bench presses for a lot of push-ups. Doing pec flyes first, before going on to a chest press, helps pre-exhaust the muscle, and I feel like I'm getting a better workout. If you have any of the new FIRM tapes, they have some nasty "push-ups off a tall box" that are also killers on the wrists), tricep dips (even worse than push-ups, I think. Unfortunately, more and more tapes seem to be including them!). Also, if you have any tendency to break the wrist when doing barbell bicep curls, I recommend switching to dumbbells (easier to control, at least in my experience) and/or wearing a neoprene wrist support when doing those exercises. Taking vitamin B6 is supposed to help with CT because is reduces water retention and swelling in the area. When I do get symptoms back, I wear a wrist brace for a few days (at night, especially) and things are o.k. later.
Yup, I have it, too, brought on after a bout of push-ups and tricep dips a few years ago. I've gone through chiropractic adjustments and using some push-me/pull-u machine at the chiropractor's office, as well as electrical stimulation, until I figured out that I can get just as much relief for less money by doing my own thing. I'm pretty symptom free most of the time now, except for the fact that my handwriting is illegible after about two sentences! Using an ergonomic keyboard really helps! I have one in my office, and start to feel a bit numb and tingly only if I overdo--marathon typing sessions. When I used a regular keyboard a few weeks ago, I started to get that same discomfort after only about 20 minutes.
Exercises I avoid like the plague!: ANY exercises with weight on bent wrists: push-ups (I hold my weight on my splayed fingers, with wrists straight, or use special push-up supports or dumbbells. I also substitute bench presses for a lot of push-ups. Doing pec flyes first, before going on to a chest press, helps pre-exhaust the muscle, and I feel like I'm getting a better workout. If you have any of the new FIRM tapes, they have some nasty "push-ups off a tall box" that are also killers on the wrists), tricep dips (even worse than push-ups, I think. Unfortunately, more and more tapes seem to be including them!). Also, if you have any tendency to break the wrist when doing barbell bicep curls, I recommend switching to dumbbells (easier to control, at least in my experience) and/or wearing a neoprene wrist support when doing those exercises. Taking vitamin B6 is supposed to help with CT because is reduces water retention and swelling in the area. When I do get symptoms back, I wear a wrist brace for a few days (at night, especially) and things are o.k. later.
J
Joanna
Guest
You might want to try...
...going to an orthopaedic surgeon. My husband (who is one) sees lots of patients with cts. He says the main symptom is numbness in the pointer and thumb, usually at night, while driving a car, or when drying your hair. Pain on its own is probably not the full syndrome...but hey, he's the doctor and I am not so take it for what it is worth. If you do have cts, orthopods can inject or operate, both considered 'minor' procedures in his practice.
Thought I'd throw those thoughts in...hope you all recover/feel better/survive
!!
...going to an orthopaedic surgeon. My husband (who is one) sees lots of patients with cts. He says the main symptom is numbness in the pointer and thumb, usually at night, while driving a car, or when drying your hair. Pain on its own is probably not the full syndrome...but hey, he's the doctor and I am not so take it for what it is worth. If you do have cts, orthopods can inject or operate, both considered 'minor' procedures in his practice.
Thought I'd throw those thoughts in...hope you all recover/feel better/survive
Carpal tunnel
I'd like to add to Joanna's recommendation...it's important not to wait to long before seeking more advanced care. As Joanna stated-pain relief or surgical correction of carpal tunnel syndrome is relatively simple...however permanent (or at least prolonged) nerve damage can occur if it is severe enough, you continue to exacerbate the problem, or if you wait too long!!! I've seen it happen, often people complain that carpal tunnel surgery didn't work...often they just plain waited too long before seeing the orthopod. Also, consider physical therapy...this is one of those problems they could DEFINITELY help you with and also help you modify your exercise routine.
Good luck!
julie
I'd like to add to Joanna's recommendation...it's important not to wait to long before seeking more advanced care. As Joanna stated-pain relief or surgical correction of carpal tunnel syndrome is relatively simple...however permanent (or at least prolonged) nerve damage can occur if it is severe enough, you continue to exacerbate the problem, or if you wait too long!!! I've seen it happen, often people complain that carpal tunnel surgery didn't work...often they just plain waited too long before seeing the orthopod. Also, consider physical therapy...this is one of those problems they could DEFINITELY help you with and also help you modify your exercise routine.
Good luck!
julie
Carpal Tunnel
I had had both wrists operated on for carpal tunnel. I had the operations a year apart about 6 or 7 years ago. When I was diagnosed both my family doctor and the neurologist I went to for the nerve tests said that if I was active in activites that involve wrist movement (golfing, skiing etc.) that I was wasting my time trying to relieve symptoms with other treatments other than surgery. The way carpel tunnel was explained to me is that the tendons and nerves run through the "tunnel" in your wrist (the nerve affect your thumb and first couple of fingers they said) and that in some people the tunnel is simply too small. After lots of activity and after just plain getting older stuff builds up in the tunnel and there isn't any more room so the nerves get hindered. So they explained to me that it was a structural problem and unless I stopped the aggravating activities I would continue to suffer. I am a flute-player and fine finger motion is vastly important to me so I didn't make the decision to have surgery lightly. But I had also been noticing because the nerves of my hands were being hindered that the muscles in my hands were beginning to atrophy -- particularly that meaty muscle below your thumb - opening heavy doors was beginning to be a problem. I had the surgery and after healing my hands are fine. I had some areas of my hands that were completely numb on the outside and a few months after surgery the feeling came back. The only advice I would give someone is to get a hand surgeon that knows how to do the surgery properly and has a very high rate of success!
Alison.
I had had both wrists operated on for carpal tunnel. I had the operations a year apart about 6 or 7 years ago. When I was diagnosed both my family doctor and the neurologist I went to for the nerve tests said that if I was active in activites that involve wrist movement (golfing, skiing etc.) that I was wasting my time trying to relieve symptoms with other treatments other than surgery. The way carpel tunnel was explained to me is that the tendons and nerves run through the "tunnel" in your wrist (the nerve affect your thumb and first couple of fingers they said) and that in some people the tunnel is simply too small. After lots of activity and after just plain getting older stuff builds up in the tunnel and there isn't any more room so the nerves get hindered. So they explained to me that it was a structural problem and unless I stopped the aggravating activities I would continue to suffer. I am a flute-player and fine finger motion is vastly important to me so I didn't make the decision to have surgery lightly. But I had also been noticing because the nerves of my hands were being hindered that the muscles in my hands were beginning to atrophy -- particularly that meaty muscle below your thumb - opening heavy doors was beginning to be a problem. I had the surgery and after healing my hands are fine. I had some areas of my hands that were completely numb on the outside and a few months after surgery the feeling came back. The only advice I would give someone is to get a hand surgeon that knows how to do the surgery properly and has a very high rate of success!
Alison.
Just found this-
I was looking aroung Andrew Weil's site, and found an interesting note. In his newsletter, there is an article about yoga. He mentions that yoga (11 upper body postures) were found to work better than wrist splints for CTS. He doesn't mention the postures they used, or really say much else, but does give a reference- Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Nov 11, 1998. Since it is a reputable jounal, it sounds worth taking a look. I don't know how tough this will be for you to find and read, but I should think that your doctor should be able to help- I know, some are more helpful than others.
BLinda
I was looking aroung Andrew Weil's site, and found an interesting note. In his newsletter, there is an article about yoga. He mentions that yoga (11 upper body postures) were found to work better than wrist splints for CTS. He doesn't mention the postures they used, or really say much else, but does give a reference- Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Nov 11, 1998. Since it is a reputable jounal, it sounds worth taking a look. I don't know how tough this will be for you to find and read, but I should think that your doctor should be able to help- I know, some are more helpful than others.
BLinda
Yoga and wrist pain
I don't have CTS, but I do have fairly severe, chronic tendinitis in my wrists. The pain in my case is in the back of the hand, radiating down into my fingers and up into my forearm on bad days. I never have any numbness. The original poster's symptoms sound like they could be tendinitis rather than CTS (I'm no doc though, just somebody who's been through the drill). I would definitely recommend seeing a doc before getting too worried about having CTS, which (if I recall correctly) is usually more difficult to manage. Fending off a tendinitis bout for me is as easy as ice, ibuprofen, and resting (i.e. no pushups or tricep dips.) Now that I can recognize it when it's coming on, it's not so much of a hindrance to my workouts.
Anyway, about yoga -- since I started doing yoga, my wrists have been so much better. I can do pushups on a regular basis again (within reason.) It takes a lot more to give me a tendinitis attack. I know that Yoga Zone's Conditioning and Stress Release video has some special postures for the wrist -- I don't know if those in particular did the trick, but a few months after I started doing yoga, my tendinitis bouts got less severe and happened less often, and the ganglion cyst in my wrist went away. So maybe Dr. Weil is on to something!
Anyway, sorry to ramble, but just my 2 cents.
Elena
I don't have CTS, but I do have fairly severe, chronic tendinitis in my wrists. The pain in my case is in the back of the hand, radiating down into my fingers and up into my forearm on bad days. I never have any numbness. The original poster's symptoms sound like they could be tendinitis rather than CTS (I'm no doc though, just somebody who's been through the drill). I would definitely recommend seeing a doc before getting too worried about having CTS, which (if I recall correctly) is usually more difficult to manage. Fending off a tendinitis bout for me is as easy as ice, ibuprofen, and resting (i.e. no pushups or tricep dips.) Now that I can recognize it when it's coming on, it's not so much of a hindrance to my workouts.
Anyway, about yoga -- since I started doing yoga, my wrists have been so much better. I can do pushups on a regular basis again (within reason.) It takes a lot more to give me a tendinitis attack. I know that Yoga Zone's Conditioning and Stress Release video has some special postures for the wrist -- I don't know if those in particular did the trick, but a few months after I started doing yoga, my tendinitis bouts got less severe and happened less often, and the ganglion cyst in my wrist went away. So maybe Dr. Weil is on to something!
Anyway, sorry to ramble, but just my 2 cents.
Elena
B
buffed
Guest
Capral Tunnel
Mparker, I don't usually ready my husbands muscle mags, but the current issue of Muscle & Fitness has an article on some very good excercises to help relieve the syndrome. I have experienced bouts of it myself and with excercises it has gotten better. I modify the tricep dips and limit pushups. There are so many variations of excercises, as I am sure you know, that even with the syndrome you don't have to sacrifice your routine.
Mparker, I don't usually ready my husbands muscle mags, but the current issue of Muscle & Fitness has an article on some very good excercises to help relieve the syndrome. I have experienced bouts of it myself and with excercises it has gotten better. I modify the tricep dips and limit pushups. There are so many variations of excercises, as I am sure you know, that even with the syndrome you don't have to sacrifice your routine.
My Own Experience
I had the same symptoms you had for several years. I could never do many push-ups either. Push-up bars, by the way, will take the pressure off your wrists. I also was getting pain in my knees. Someone suggested to me to take glucosamine, chondroitan, and MSM. I was actually taking these supplements for my knees but after about two weeks the pain in my arms and hands went away, much to my delight! I was not expecting this. Now I'm at the point where I can do push-ups with no problem.
I don't know if what I had was CTS. All I know is my symptoms were just like yours and now, I don't have problems anymore in my arms, wrists or hands. Occasionally, now that I'm doing more push-ups and lifting heavier weights, I feel it, but only for a day or two at the most. I have not heard of people using these supplements for CTS but they worked for me.
If you want to read about these supplements you can check out a site at
http://www.supplementwatch.com
They don't recommend MSM because they say there is not enough evidence that it helps. But they also say there have been so side effects from these supplements. Good Luck!
I had the same symptoms you had for several years. I could never do many push-ups either. Push-up bars, by the way, will take the pressure off your wrists. I also was getting pain in my knees. Someone suggested to me to take glucosamine, chondroitan, and MSM. I was actually taking these supplements for my knees but after about two weeks the pain in my arms and hands went away, much to my delight! I was not expecting this. Now I'm at the point where I can do push-ups with no problem.
I don't know if what I had was CTS. All I know is my symptoms were just like yours and now, I don't have problems anymore in my arms, wrists or hands. Occasionally, now that I'm doing more push-ups and lifting heavier weights, I feel it, but only for a day or two at the most. I have not heard of people using these supplements for CTS but they worked for me.
If you want to read about these supplements you can check out a site at
http://www.supplementwatch.com
They don't recommend MSM because they say there is not enough evidence that it helps. But they also say there have been so side effects from these supplements. Good Luck!