Numbness in hands...carpel tunnel?

4

40something

Guest
Hi everyone. I have been experiencing numbness in my hands the past few weeks. For the last few days I have woke up in the morning to both of my hands being numb and it takes a few minutes of shaking them to get the feeling back. Is this carpel tunnel syndrome I'm wondering? I have experienced numbness/tingling in my right hand briefly for several years and I think because jobs I've hand I over-used that hand. Grew up milking cows twice daily and after college I worked in laboratory research which involved intricate and repetitive work and I'm right handed.

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts, suggestion's, experiences to share on this subject. Also, I have been building a paver patio and retaining walls for the last three weeks so this is probably making the problem worse with all the hand work and carrying very heavy block.
 
Others here have dealt with carpel tunnel, but I will tell you what the doctor told me a couple of months ago. She said if your hand(s) is falling asleep on the inside part (the palm), then it might be carpel tunnel. My hands were falling asleep some during the night, so she said if it was the outside part, I was probably just sleeping "wrong." Others can be of more assistance I'm sure. Good luck!
 
I have had carpal tunnel surgery on both of my hands (about 12 years ago). One of the symptoms was numbness in the a.m. You should definitely have the doctor check it out. They may put you in a brace at night to keep you hands flat...
 
I just wanted to say it could be the heavy patio work you have been doing the past few weeks since you say it started during this time frame. My hubby who has never had CT syndrome just recently went from a desk job to a physical job where he is lifting, moving and carrying heavy objects and has been experiencing the exact same symptom of numbness and tightness in both of his hands. Just wanted to share but I also agree if it continues, you should get it checked. Good Luck & keep us posted.
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Are your pinkys numb when you wake up? I believe that with carpal tunnel syndrome your pinky and half of your ring finger are not numb. That may be what the previous poster mentioned - the outside of your hand versus the inside. I had problems with carpal tunnel syndrome after pregnancy and it is just now easing up (my daughter is almost 22 months old).

Erica
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. The numbness is the whole hand entirely. This morning it was just my right hand and my middle finger has ached all morning and been stiff. Perhaps it is just from the heavy landscaping I am doing presently since it isn't just certain areas of my hands that are numb. Also, there isn't any pain associated with the numbness either, than what I've experienced today but as you can see, I am able to type without any problems.

If this continues after the landscaping is finished in our yard, which will be weeks from now!!!! I will have it checked by our doctor just to be sure. Thanks again. :)
 
Erica was correct that it is only your thumb through middle finger if carpal tunnel but there are other impingement syndromes. Had CTS though so that is the only one I can speak from experience.
 
It may or may not be carpal tunnel. I had a bad bout of it several years ago, which became symptomatic after a workout that had pushups and tricep dips in it. It still bothers me if I do too many push-ups with regular hand position, so I use push-up handle bars or a splayed-finger position that keeps my wrists straight.

When my CT was bad, it would help for me to sleep with a neoprene wrap on my wrist to keep it straight and to keep warmth in the area.

It helps to stretch the forearm (put arm straight in front of you, palm down, then bend hand down and hold for 15-30 seconds, then bent hand up for same amount of time. Also, strengthening the forearm (with light weights, arm supported on bench or on leg, palm up, curl weight up bending at wrist, then palm down, curl weight up bending at wrist, you will probably use less weight for the second exercise than the first). Be sure to do the stretches after these exercises. I also find that just stretching the fingers out as wide as I can, then making a fist, and going back and forth between the two, can help.

Vitamin B6, which reduces swelling, can sometimes help. And a form of B12 called methylcobalamin (not cyanacobalamin, which is the form you will usually find) can help with nerve problems. I gave it to my diabetic cat who started having neuropathy problems (nerve problems in his feet, which made him walk down on his "ankles" and "wrists" instead of his toes, like cats normally do, and which was getting progressively worse to the point of his not being able to jump onto the sofa) and after a month or so, he had improved greatly (even though the vet had said that once they get neuropathy, there is no way to reverse it..she was very impressed with his reversal). The methylcobalamin goes more directly to the nerves, whereas cyanacobalamin has to be broken down into methylcobalamin and other substances before it gets to the nerves. I get mine at www.lifelinknet.com
 
this is something to definetly have checked out...I had radial tunnel surgery several years ago, I was wrongly diagnosed and now I am paying ...I have RSD...(numbness, burning, loss of fine motor skills and since I had the surgery it caused a chain reaction and caused to spread to my foot and my other hand. If you go to the orthopedic at this point would be ideal, they probably will order a emg (it measures nerve response to electrical currents...not a pleasurable test ...trust me.. if it comes back with slower than normal conduction times it probably is carpal tunnel...comes back negative it could be rsd...doesnt pick up rsd because the nerve damage is in the small blood vessels and its microscopic and wont pick it up. I am doubtful it is carpal tunnel because it is effecting your whole hand carpal tunnel is middle finger, pointer and sometimes the thumb and wrist weakness. i am now on disablity because of this at 31years old, so please dont let it go... I cant not stress this enough... can be cured if caught in early stages..good luck and good health
 
 
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