Carpal tunnel during pregnancy..

oliarnmom1517 · May 2015

has anybody else been diagnosed with carpal tunnel during pregnancy? I went it today because my whole hand went numb...they did some tests and my doctor told me its carpal tunnel..I haven't had this problem ever until I got pregnant...is this normal or am I the only one??

MommaEarth · May 2015

I get it during pregnancies, read that it's a rare pregnancy symptom.

segorman17 · May 2015

I haven't been diagnosed, but I'm almost positive that's what's going on with me! I'm planning on talking to my OB at my next appointment. I have odd twitches shooting up my wrists and forearms, and nots of shooting pains if I put a lot of weight on my hands. I've also been having issues with my left arm going numb, sometimes from shoulder down.

mag9812 · May 2015

Thank you so much for posting this, I thought I was going crazy! My hand has been killing me, no numbness but I get this sharp twinges that go from my wrist up my arm. I hadn't read anything about it being a symptom but I plan on talking to my OB at my appointment next week too.

kittidavis · May 2015

I've had it with all three of my kiddos. Expecting for it to start up soon with this one.

blams05 · May 2015

I got it in my first pregnancy. By the end I had to wear a brace on my right hand. Went away immediately after delivering

ashleywuli · May 2015

I have had it with all my pregnancies! It's horrible. I find that using a brace and rubbing magnesium oil On the joints (you can get it at the health food store) helps tremendously. My dr told me it was fine to use, but I suggest doing your own research before using it on you. I hope this helps you. Good luck!

dogsombrero · May 2015

Yes I got it towards the end in both hands. Mine lingered til about 8 weeks PP.

wedding crazed · May 2015

I got it my 3rd pregnancy, but not until the 3rd trimester. It didn't go away until a month or two afterwards, but at least it went away. My friend got it in her pregnancy and it never went away so she had surgery. It was so painful I would wake up at night. I am so hoping that I don't get it this time.

oliarnmom1517 · May 2015

Thank you guys so much!!! I thought I was the only one..I appreciate all of your advice and will be getting a brace today since my OB said it would be a good idea...

Marchmellow2 · May 2015

Yup I had it in both my arms my first pregnancy. I had to wear braces all day and at night. You should invest in some wrist braces cause it only gets worse and if you're like me you won't be able to sleep at night without them. Mine went away The day after I had LO.

I'm pretty sure I'll get it again this pregnancy. For me it started around 13 weeks pg.

AshenSky · May 2015

I have carpal tunnel from work (hairdresser.) I quit working in the salon a year ago and my symptoms competent went away after a few months. They came back again when I got pregnant and come and go. My dr said it is definitely pregnancy related and to not panic. Just brace it. I will put tiger balm on my arm when the pain gets bad. It helps a lot!

snlyon0614 · October 2015

My thumbs have been hurting so bad lately!! Especially when I first wake up, this is just getting ridiculous!

Why on earth is pregnancy feigned to be so "beautiful" it's a trick!

JStill0603 · October 2015

It's terrible... I can't wait to be able to feel and use my hands as normal again.

snlyon0614 · October 2015

All the things our mothers forgot to tell us about the "journey" haha all I can say is, I'll let you know in 18 years whether it was worth it or not..

nano1 · October 2015

I had it in the end of my third trimester, and it felt better as soon as I had my son. I just started feeling it this pregnancy now at 36wks.

msjudithk · October 2015

Very normal and common....had it with my first pregnancy, stuck with me ever since. On my 2nd and its back like hell! My hands/arms get numb a lot....it sucks but get a wrist splint, stretch and ice it.

Hope you get some relief! :-S

vbvelasquez · October 2015

I started having finger joint pain followed by numbness in my entire hand at 32 weeks. Thought it was just poor circulation while sleeping but my OB said it's probably pregnancy related carpal tunnel and there's not much to be done about it. I'm now 36 weeks and find that wearing a brace helps a lot. I have it in both hands and it's getting worse

JLB24 · October 2015

Me! I had it in my right hand with my first, nada with my second and this time around both hands are affected. My index, middle and ring fingers are all super swollen and the tips go numb. My middle finger is completely numb and it's hard to get comfy while
sleeping bc they fall asleep and get sore. It really stinks, but should subside shortly after giving birth. I also drop stuff constantly bc my grip isn't like normal. Few more weeks!!

DogLoverX3 · October 2015

Yep-to the point of tears at the start of the third trimester. Hands numb-tingly-dropping stuff. Can't make fists. Wakes me up at night. Can't open Gatorade bottles or new gallons of milk. Can't grab the milk. Yada yada yada. OB recommended wrist braces I wear every night-doesn't diminish symptoms, but makes them livable!!

Tracy1111 · October 2015

I have it quite badly as well. Physio has supplied some splints/gloves to wear in bed which help a little. Hands get pins and needles, go completely numb, my fingers lock in place. I can't open the toothpaste or coffee tin in the morning. Have to open doors with my elbow.

The only saving grace is that it will most likely go in a few weeks after birth. Some people get this outside of pregnancy. At least we know ours will likely get better soon.

Cornstarch7 · October 2015

I haven't been diagnosed officially but I've had it since 30 weeks. I read it can happen from swelling in your hands, which I definitely have. It's worse at night. Never had a problem with it before.

nano1 · October 2015

Do you ladies find it hurts worse in the morning? That seems to be the case for me and I was wondering if it's just because I haven't moved my hands while sleeping.

oliarnmom1517 · October 2015

nano1 said:
Do you ladies find it hurts worse in the morning? That seems to be the case for me and I was wondering if it's just because I haven't moved my hands while sleeping.

Yes!! There were mornings it's so bad that my whole arm just feels numb!! Wasn't as bad as when I made this post originally but it still hurts in the morning!! I have found a hand brace at night has really helped!!

WeirdAlice · October 2015

My last OB office said It was pretty common in pregnancy. I had it with my first and it went away and now I have it again.

JStill0603 · October 2015

nano1 said:
Do you ladies find it hurts worse in the morning? That seems to be the case for me and I was wondering if it's just because I haven't moved my hands while sleeping.

Definitely hurts worse in the morning but my midwife told me it was because we tend to sleep with our hands and wrists curled up at night, that's why the hand braces help, because they keep our wrists in the neutral position and allow the fluid to drain instead of build up and cause the hands to "fall asleep."

phyllisnefler · October 2015

At about 25 or 26 weeks the outside of my left thumb started killing me. I never went to the doctor, but did call my father-in-law who is an orthopedic surgeon. He thought it might be "de Quervain's Thumb" based on my symptoms - certain movements would send shooting spark-like pain up my thumb and arm, and it also felt pretty numb. It was super unpleasant.

Apparently the condition frequently flares up during pregnancy. (The Wikipedia article for it even says: "also known as BlackBerry thumb, texting thumb, gamer's thumb, [ha!!] washerwoman's sprain, radial styloid tenosynovitis, de Quervain disease, de Quervain's tenosynovitis, de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis, mother's wrist, or mommy thumb.")

I got a splint that he suggested (nothing fancy or bespoke; picked it up at a Rite-Aid) and it helped prevent me from making the sorts of sudden movements that triggered pain. For a few weeks I wore the splint and iced it a lot. At this point it feels about 90% better, although some of the numbness is definitely still there.

There was another woman in my birthing class who was having Carpal Tunnel issues, which has made her job difficult - she is an aesthetician. Just one more weird byproduct of pregnancy. I hope some of you can find comfort and relief soon.

Want a personalized experience?

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy..

Re: Carpal tunnel during pregnancy..

Choose Another Board

Search Boards