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carpal tunnel syndrome

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in 2nd Trimester

Anyone else having trouble with carpal tunnel syndrome while pregnant?  I had it a long time ago, when I had a job that involved a lot of typing.  For the past few days, I've been having the symptoms again and it's really painful (keeps me up at night).  I looked it up online and I guess it's very common during pregnancy because of swollen tissue that presses on nerves.  Everything says that it resolves itself after you give birth, but I don't think I can handle this the next 5 months!

I will call my doctor in an hour or so (it's only 7:12 here), but just wanted to see if anyone else is going through this, and if there is anything that helps it feel better.

Thanks.

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Re: carpal tunnel syndrome

  • rapst1rapst1 member

    I have had this issue too, but mine hasn't been so bad that it keeps me up at night.  I just mainly try to stay aware of how long I am typing, and I try to do another project if I've been on the computer too long.  It comes and goes, and I've never tried anything as far as relief goes.  Good luck!

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  • WorcbrideWorcbride member
    had it w/DD and am having it w/LO.  Mine got WORSE after birth--to the point I was in a brace for weeks (with a newborn....not fun).  My dr said it's very common for it not to go away after birth.
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  • oohgrrl11oohgrrl11
    I too had it before but it got so much worse around 4 months. I got those wrist splints/braces from my doctor and I wear them at night. So much better! It still bothers me at times but is much improved.
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  • second_time_around_4_mesecond_time_around_4_me

    I hope it doesn't continue after I give birth- ugghh!!

    Thanks for the information.  I will look at getting a brace.  It kind of irritates me because I was feeling pretty good.  All the symptoms I had in 1st tri were getting better, but looks like they've just been replaced with this...

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  • JLG95JLG95
    I've got it in both hands.  Right hand started giving me trouble at 18 weeks while I was on vacation (no typing!), left hand started at 25 weeks.  I haven't done anything to treat it, my midwife recommended seeing a chiropractor, but I'm not really interested in that.  It's starting to wake me up at night, so I'm starting to think the wrist splints are my only option.
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  • stacynnickstacynnick member
    I just started having this over the weekend and my friend who is a nurse told me thats what it was. Yesterday was killer for me i couldnt even move my hand slightly and im on bedrest so if i need to pick something up from my tray its horrible and of course its the hand i write with. Im going to mention it at my dr. appt tomorrow but i heard not much that you can do for it.
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  • kmtfukmtfu
    I've got it in both hands now!! It's AWFUL. It started around week 15 for me and has only gotten worse. I highly suggest getting and wearing braces NOW! Your doc will most likely tell you to wear it at night, especially, however I tried that with my left hand and now I have to wear it all the time like I do with my right hand. GL!
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  • DANIELLE LORRAINEDANIELLE LORRAINE

    I had it too for a while. As odd as this is going to sound, I went to chiropractor (for neck pain) and the carpal tunnel was gone!  No pills, no surgery, just good ole' chiro. It's great for your ever-changing hips too!

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  • j+kj+k

    I'm beginning to wonder if this is what I have.  Two weeks ago, I was experiencing light numbness in the mornings. This last week - woah.  Serious numbness and pain in my right arm mostly, but I'll get it in my left too - it's when I find myself laying on my side. 

    Last night, it hit home when I noticed my mousing fingers hurt the worst. I do a lot of CAD work which is a lot of mousing. 

    I am going in to my chiropractor today. 

    JLG - you said you'd prefer not to go to a chiro?  I don't either, but I go to a different kind. Look up a NUCCA doctor in your area. They do not do the neck and back popping. I lay on my side, and they gently touch my neck which realigns my three vertabrae. My lower back pain is virtually gone when I walk out of the office. They are very non-evasive, gentle and extremely effective. After my first treatment, when I was in severe pain from a car accident, I couldn't believe the minimal work they did on me and I said, "That's it?!?"  They laughed. Yes. That was it. And before I left the office my pain was completely gone.  I swear by them and will go to no other kind of chiropractor. 

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  • lilmiss629lilmiss629
    I have had varying degrees of numbness in my hands/ arms for a few weeks now.  I asked my doctor about it and he said it was due to swelling and pinching of the median nerve that runs down your arm.  I have begun wrapping my wrists at night before I go to sleep and it has helped some.  Some of the other ladies I know that have experienced this said it went away as soon as they delivered.  I am learning to deal with it, but it sure makes sleeping much less restful.
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  • mrsnicolewmrsnicolew
    I had it when I was pg with DD too. It SUCKS! I am so sorry! I just stuck it out and when she was a year and 1/2 had surgery to correct it. The dr told me that it might go away or get better but that I was probably going to get it again and worse when I got pg again. I figured it was better to get the surgery than deal with it anymore. I am so glad I did. Unfortunately I think your treatment options are pretty limited when pg. Sorry!?
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  • seanswifeseanswife member

    Yeah, had it with DD...it sucked!

     

    I didn't have it so much during the day, but I would wake up in the morning having to pry my fingers open manually because they hurt so bad.  I tried splints, braces. etc., but none of them did any good.

     

    Mine did go away after delivery, though.;)

    You are so money and you don't even know it.
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  • MSMoss82MSMoss82
    Mine has been so bad that my OB doc sent me to the neurologist. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do for it during pregnancy besides wearing a brace at night when you sleep and taking tylenol. The neuro doc told me not to come back unless my hand falls off before I deliver. Sorry... I know it sucks.
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  • StacyJKStacyJK
    I have it in just one hand (for now). I hope it goes away after I give birth! I sometimes use a brace and sometimes have to hang my arm over the side of the bed because it bothers me most at night. I am going to try icing it.
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  • amber&patrickamber&patrick member
    I haven't had it as bad as some ladies posting on this thread, but I've had it in both hands off-and-on for a few weeks.  It started out really painful in my dominant hand and all the way up to my elbow.  I got a brace from Target that can fit either hand (Nexcare brace specifically designed for a woman's smaller wrists).  I put it on whichever one seems to be hurting at the time.  I found that after wearing while typing and while sleeping for about a week, I had virtually no pain for at least 4 or 5 days.  Then I would get a little bit of pain again.  So I am just cycling through periods of wearing it and not wearing it.  So maybe your case will not be as bad and you'll be able to manage it with a brace every once in a while. 
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  • MarthaP18MarthaP18 member
    Mine started around 18-19 weeks. It only really bothers me when I'm sleeping. Whichever side I'm sleeping on, my hand on that side goes totally numb and when I wake up uncomfortable, I have to shake my hand until it gets better, but inevitably, I wake up with the same issue a little while later. It SUCKS!!
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