Shooting with carpal tunnel syndrome

[bpsphoto]

Hey, does anyone have experience with carpal tunnel syndrome? I woke up yesterday unable to move the little finger of my right hand. In a rapid progression I can move my thumb, index & middle finger, but not with any authority, and my little finger and ring finger are nearly immobile. My wife had to wash my hair this morning. I'm 40-f@&king-2 and can't use my primary hand...at least temporarily. My doctor & I are working on a conservative treatment plan (hopfully I won't need surgery), but I'm wondering if anyone has advice and such. I'm a bit frightened right now...I know that thousands, if not millions, have had successful treatments, but this came on rather suddenly, and the pain is so great I feel as though I ought to look down and see a blackened, crushed finger.

And typing with only 7 fingers is no fun. How Tolkien wrote LOTR pecking 2-fingered is a mystery to me.

[Truckman]

I wasn't aware that CTS could occur overnight, but I suppose your doctor knows his business...My ex-wife had surgery in both hands to correct hers and never had another problem...I have arthritis in both hands which severely limits what I can do...Unfortunately, there is no cure for that, only pain treatment...

How the heck can anyone type using more than one finger?...That sounds impossible......Ben

[Analog6]

"Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being aggravated. The narrowed tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist pinches the nerves that reach the fingers and the muscles at the base of the thumb."

I had it in both wrists way back when (mid '70s from emeory).  It was when I was working, studying, and doing lots and lots of writing.  Wrist braces, rest, massage, anti-inflammatopries can all help.  But the greatest one is rest, I'm afraid.  Massage (up the wrist) may help.

If you use the right hand for the mouse, change it to the left.  Where your hand leans on the deslk when working the mouse could be creating a pressure spot.  And one of those padded bars that goes in front of the keyboard cant hurt.  And check your desk/chair height and typing 'posture'.

Look it up on google.  Here's a few links.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Carpal_Tunnel_Syndrome

http://www.medicineau.net.au/clinical/surgery/CarpTunnel.html

http://www.therapygloves.com/carpaltunnelsyndrome.html?gclid=CIHR--uPypQCFR4vagodrXQ-kQ - this one os for some 'infra red' gloves that are supposed to be helpful.  If it looks good to you (i haven't read it all) check with your doctor.

[Truckman]

Here is what helped me...Ben

[bpsphoto]

Happily, it turned out not to be quite as serious. The first doctor recommended an appointment with another doctor at the same clinic who has more experience. It's tendonitis. Still not great, but not as terrible, either. I've been taking 2400 mg/day of ibuprofen for a few days and doing an ice bath 2-3 times a day, and it has the swelling and pain down. I've been on the computer about 2 hours this morning - writing a business plan, catching up on emails and such - and while it's starting to hurt again, I know that I can probably go another hour, especially if I don't type much with my little finger.

Since I'm in Greece, another part of the treatment is to go to the beach and forget about things - so my wife made the great sacrifice and went to sit on the beach with me for a few hours yesterday. It was a tough, tough way to deal with it, but we do what we can to keep our bodies and minds functioning. Actually, it did turn out to be a sacrifice for her, as she forgot to use sunscreen on her legs and ended up with a pretty good sunburn.