Carpel Tunnel
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33520
Printed Date: 21 August 2025 at 12:26am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Carpel Tunnel
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Subject: Carpel Tunnel
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 11:10am
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Hi, I know this has been discussed before but I cant find it...
I have this blinkin thing this time round and its quite uncomfy - does anyone have any remedies that have helped besides wrist splints? Thanks in advance  ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
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Replies:
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 11:54am
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I was never diagnosed with it while I was pg with Jackson but I still have it in my left wrist and its a real PITA.
My Dr and cousin thats an OT both have said that I would need to wear a splint full time for at least 2 months, so Im also interested in other ideas as well. ETA make sense. ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 1:42pm
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I used to get it and found that wearing the splints just at night helped, other than that I can't remember what else I did. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 2:11pm
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That's the one you do stretches for right? I found stretching as far back as I could for as long as I could, then once more really helped. It hurt a bit but once I stopped I felt fine for a day or two. So stretching once a day would probably have held it back completely.
Feel free to ignore me I'm thinking of something else entirely!  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 2:27pm
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Stretches for your hands Jelly? dont know MW just mentioned the splints ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: SophiasMummy
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 2:28pm
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I got really bad carpel tunnel with my first pregnancy, think it kicked in around 33/34 weeks. Totally agree is is bloody uncomfy and annoying. I go to pilates and the instructor is also a physio, she told me to ice my wrists for 10min or so mainly before going to bed. But to TBH it did not help a lot but I guess it did a little. In the end I decided to try accupuncture, but left it a bit late and went into labour the next day!! But if and when it occurs this time I am going to head straight to accupuncture and give it a proper go this time round. I was also told that if I had CT for 6 weeks before bubs was born it would probably take 6 weeks to go away and the was about right.
On a side note, I found it really difficult after Sophia was born because my wrists and hands were so weak to hold her to breastfeed, esp for long periods of time. I think it amoung many issues we had made bf a real struggle. But as this is not your first it may be easier for you, but I recommend you have plenty of pillows etc to prop baby up on to bf so that you can rest your arms are much as possible. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 3:14pm
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I got it with Ollie, I don't think it was really bad, but it was annoying.
I saw the hospital physio and she gave me splints (which I stopped using cause they were a pain to get on and off when needing to pee and wash my hands 3-4 times a night! And the velcro was really noisy!) Ummm a couple of other things I remember was the ice water as SophiasMummy mentioned. This helped for a short period of time. I do vaguely remember her taking me through some stretches to help open the tunnels in the wrist (and therefore reducing the fluid) and another tip was sleeping with my wrists not curled over, again, it helps to keep the tunnels in your wrist open. It did eventually go after I gave birth, however then I developed De Quervains tendonitis in my wrist  ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 6:44pm
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Im a hand therapist and see (saw) heaps of pregnant ladies with carpal tunnel syndrome. Ways to reduce symptoms are:
- Night splints: Try to keep your wrists neutral (straight) to reduce pressure on the median nerve, which is the nerve affected in CTS. If you arent wearing splint, try not to curl your wrists up. - Avoid tight gripping or using tools that vibrate or have impact e.g hammer, drills etc. - Keep your hand cupped rather than flat - Gentle stretches can help, but go easy as they also may cause more damage. - Try a cold pack for short periods. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 9:28pm
Thanks!! pretty easy to avoid drills - but will try the others Do heat rubs etc make any difference? ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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HuntersMama wrote:Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 7:07am
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[/QUOTE]
Thanks!! pretty easy to avoid drills - but will try the others Do heat rubs etc make any difference? [/QUOTE]
Hmm...probably wont do alot but it if relieves your symptoms then go for it. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 9:39am
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I was going to suggest icing as well, as CT is caused by the inflammation of the nerve that runs though the little carpal bones in your hand. Hope it eases off for you! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 10:13am
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Guess I better grab another bag of frozen peas today then
Thanks for all your help everyone ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 4:41pm
Argh carpal tunnel! I hate it - had it both times and still have it 
Frozen peas were my friend, wore splints a lot of the time, slept with my hands level with my arms and not on them. Other than that, putting up with it and hoping it will go away
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Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 10:13pm
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I found this link with diagrams of the stretches, I only did part A with one repeat though.
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm - Carpal Tunnel Exercises ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 10:38pm
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Thanks Jelly, those excercises were a bit uncomfy, so might try the peas first and see how my hands feel in the morning
Can you hire splints? they are quite expensive to buy ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 22 May 2010 at 6:53am
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Not sure about hiring sorry. My mw referred me to the hospital and I was given mine for free. Perhaps you can ask her to refer you?? ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 23 May 2010 at 3:16pm
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Splints are expensive and you need to make sure they arent too tight or they will compress the nerve even more. If you got to a private hand therapist you will have to pay, unless they are feeling kind and lend them to you. We used to have a stash that we would lend to private patients (non-ACC) as they only needed them for a little while. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 23 May 2010 at 9:45pm
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 24 May 2010 at 6:40pm
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Thanks everyone, nothing is really helping so I might ask for a referral, hope it dosent take too long though ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: sweetpea
Date Posted: 25 May 2010 at 1:59pm
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Lurking
Try going to a good massage therapist they should be able to help . ------------- http://daisypath.com"> 
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