Carpal Tunnel?

mollydarren · March 2012

Hi Moms!

I was wondering if anyone else is experience numb fingers , shooting pain in hands and wrists, inability to move hands out of a fist position and then pain going up through the elbow to the shoulder? I have been experience all of this the past month and my Dr. says it's a normal side effect of pregnancy because of all the swelling. I am dealing with it with hand braces and taking Tylenol PM right before I am going to bed. If you are dealing with it , do you have any recommendations? It's starting to really keep me awake and night or anytime I lay down. Thanks so much!!!

Zoie2010 · March 2012

Guess I am lurking here. Not sure how I found this post. Not sure when my wrists and hands started hurting so much. Yes, it can be signs of carpal tunnel. Best idea is ask advise of a physical therapist if you can. They can have strength exercises or heat and ice and massages for you.

Good luck and Yes it will get better. However doubtful until you after you have recovered from having your little ones.

ougrad1 · March 2012

I had it horrible during both pregnancies but, it went away immediately after and I've never had it again. It sucks.

mars724 · March 2012

I have it pretty badly, I usually ice my hand for an hour or so before bed, it helps. Then I sleep with a prescription brace on.

kafunder · March 2012

I got it real bad starting around 30 weeks. My dr said it's really common, especially with twin pregnancies and if you're on bedrest (which I was).

Wearing braces at night helped. You can get them at Target, CVS, etc.I got some relief after I delivered, but it didn't really go away until about 6w post-partum. However, I ended up with some weakness in my wrist that still sometimes bothers me (particularly when I write with a pen).

Eriksgal · March 2012

I had it pretty bad. Braces helped some. It went away immediately after I delivered.

mollydarren · March 2012

Wow thanks so much for the responses everyone!!! I have the braces and I do where those, but lately they aren't even helping as much so I'm definitely going to try the Ice! So glad to hear it goes away quickly after birth!!

kthappy76 · March 2012

Mine showed up after I had the babies (go figure). Two and a half months later, it's just starting to get better. Braces, ice, and anti-inflamatories didn't really help. I've been going to acupuncture and that and time are helping. It definitely sucks, esp when you have two babies to take care of.

mrsmac08 · March 2012

I got it pretty early on...by about 20 weeks, maybe a little earlier.

I used braces at night which helped for a while. At the end, not much helped, it was so difficult to dry my hair or use my cell phone. I have heard that going to see a PT can help a lot, so you might want to try that. IT improved immediately after delivery.

My babies are almost a year and I do still have it, but not anywhere near the level that it was. It's only noticeable occasionally.

CulinaryKate · March 2012

I've been waking up with my hands asleep for weeks if not months at this point, but it's definitely getting worse. It's a double edged sword if you keep your hands above your heart they get numb, and if they are below they get swollen. My wrists hurt mildly all the time (only VERY noticeable when i'm doing yoga). but the numbness the worst.

13pickle · March 2012

So i had it before the pregnancy, it first showed up 10 years ago. i turned down surgery and went the alternative route, which worked out really well with a few flare ups, it has come back but the tricks i have seem to still work.

wear the braces all the time, i only take them off when i'm eatting.

arnica gel, it is natural and topical and safe it helps with the swelling

rub down, i have my husband rub the inside of my arm from elbow to wrist, a strong pull is more what it is like, it starts off as uncomfortable (maybe even painful) but it will start to feel better. then i rub in the base of my hand where the carpel tunnel is this will help open up the space and can really give you fast relief. there are pictures here to show you where it is https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001469/

pp mentioned it gets worse with yoga, try to always put your weight on fists, never open palms

and then i also put my hands in a prayer position twice a day, very light pressure to help open things up and get blood flowing.

and ice 20 min at a time

hope this helps, for me i have a flare up and throw these things into high gear and within 4-5 days i feel better and take the braces off, hen i do something that triggers it, or the weather changes, or i grow and i start again

Good luck

lola6711 · March 2012

No other suggestions other than what has been already posted, just wanted to say it was one of my most painful pregnancy side effects! It did go away as soon as I delivered!

Leigh71 · March 2012

Yes. so severe I couldn't lift patients at work. I did a padded night brace (navy blue night time one from CVS) and it helped a lot. It did go away after pregnancy.

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