Carpel Tunnel

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.

Edited by WestiesGirl

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!

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.

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.

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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.

Guess I better grab another bag of frozen peas today then

Thanks for all your help everyone

I found this link with diagrams of the stretches, I only did part A with one repeat though.

Carpal Tunnel Exercises

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??

You should be able to get them free from the hospital, and you just have to return them after baby is born.

Lurking

Try going to a good massage therapist they should be able to help .