? about carpel tunnel and cortisone

[Marguerite53]

Hi. Thanks for indulging me my questions about a non-heart related subject. I?ve been waking up several times a night with numb arms (seems like forever). Usually the one I?m sleeping on, but uncomfortable. Also, driving to Seattle both arms went completely numb for the whole 3 hours. So I went to see my orthopedist (also a friend/neighbor) since my knees (which he?d fixed orthoscopically) were bugging me too. Well, he determined that I do indeed have carpal tunnel syndrome. He suggested a one time shot of cortisone which he had found to be more beneficial in his patients and in studies than surgery (mine is probably not very advanced?) He was going to do both, but the instant numbing caused me to falter on the left hand (had to drive and cook dinner, hello!), so we just did the right one. (I could not use the right hand to drive home)

So, my question stems from this. It?s the next morning and my hand is really hurting. But, there was NO tingling in my arm all night ? wonderful!! He had said my hand would be numb for a few hours but only the last 3 fingers would be affected. Instead, my whole hand went numb and stayed pretty yucky for many hours. It?s still prickly and aches, like a major cramp. Like I don?t want to stretch it out at all to make it hurt. I?m assuming it will resolve and wouldn?t even question it but he seemed to think I would have no discomfort. He?s in surgery today and this is such a small thing. I guess I was wondering if some advil would help.

Is there anyone with any experiences with carpal tunnel or with cortisone shots? Thanks.

Marguerite

 

[bvdr]

Hi, it is very very common to have the pain increase for a day or so after a cortisone injection before it starts to diminish. My daughter-in-law had both wrists done a few weeks ago and feels great now. I hope the result is the same for you.

 

[Marguerite53]

Good!

Good!

Thanks, Betty. That's exactly the kind of thing I was hoping/expecting to hear. Just never had a cortisone shot and was puzzled by his remarks that all should be perfect in a few hours!

I finally broke down and took some advil and that helped. It's now worn off and I can tell things are better, but it still hurts and is certainly a weird feeling! I'll probably go back and have the other one done soon. It will be interesting to see how long the good affect lasts. He thought it should help permanently. We'll see.

Thanks! Marguerite

 

[aussigal]

Hi I have many troubles with my arms first bi-lateral carpal tunnel which the did the Op on the right cos it was severe. Now 2 1/2 years on I have spent the last year with constantly bad elbows and have had cortisone shots for tennis and golfers elbow in both elbows. I couldnt even use the computer for nearly 6 months when it was at its worst, talk about withdrawal .
They still give me trouble and I still get shooting pains up my arms but I do recall that the immediate relief from the numbing stuff was great !, but it then ached like mad for a day or two til it settled, i just took an extra neurofen or two til it eased.
I find if I lie on my side 1 aside of my hand will go numb and if I lie on my back both sides will go numb , I also have quite a mess in my cervical-spine in the area that corresponds to these numb-fingers but they dont like to operate on necks much either. Same for my Lower back which is plagued by arthritis too.
..... and am only 41.
.....Way too young to be ruled by pain on a daily basis. .

anyway, I have quite alot of info on file on carpal tunnel as I hae had it and one side fixed surgically and the other healed by itself with my own therapy...ask away and I shall do my best to see how I can help...it is NO FUN waking up every hour or two with numb hands and then it begins to impinge on your daily life as well.

 

[Nancy]

Didn't get treated for carpal, but did get cortisone shot for trigger thumb. As he was injecting the pain killer and cortisone, the doc said, "you'll be numb for a few hours, and then it might start swelling. So ice it for a couple of days off and on. If you don't, you'll hate me, 'cause it'll hurt".

It was a little painful for a day or so. And the cortisone took much longer to work than he thought, but the thumb is so much better. I had an appt. for a second shot if this didn't work, but ended up cancelling it.

I hope things get better soon.

I have mild carpal tunnel which is very annoying. I sleep with a wrist brace on and since I am a side sleeper, two pillows so the nerves in my shoulder, arm and hand don't get compressed too much. Works for me, and has for a number of years. Still get a little numb once in a while, but I can shake it out.

I spoke with the ortho about it and he told me that if the large muscle on the inside of the hand at the base of the thumb is strong, carpal tunnel will be controllable. If that became weak, it could cause additional problems. Who knew?? Fortunately it's in good shape.

 

[momshell7]

I also have carpal tunnel. I had surgery on my right hand about 15 years ago and it does very well now. I did have to have a tendonitis surgery on my right wrist a year or so after the carpal tunnel surgery. I also have it in my left hand but have not had anything done to it. It really bothers me at night as I am a side sleeper. I especially like to sleep on my left side so I wake up frequently with a numb hand or arm. I also have the wrist braces and they really do help. I found they take some getting used to. I had a hard time doing anything with them on in the begining, but once I got used to them it was like they weren't even there. I could do anything.

Hope you find some relief from it. I know it is very painful.


Michelle

 

[Marguerite53]

thanks, everyone.

thanks, everyone.

Well, it's now 4 days later and frankly, I'm sorry I went ahead with the shot. It seems to have woken up every feeling and made things worse than I remember!! I really don't have pain, just the numb, tingly, shake out your hand thing. Sometimes an inner whack like a rubber band is being snapped inside, but I hadn't felt that for months until the shot!

It really isn't that intolerable, and the sleeping is actually better (or was until last night, but after putting out Turkey dinner, everything ached -- didn't douse it with enough wine, I guess ) I'm still in the wait and see mode.

Are the arm braces those lace up contraptions? Or just the stretchy ACE type wrist wraps. How tight do you make them? I'll give those a try. It really all does seem to go in waves. Almost as if the weather were responsible! I wonder if my seasonal knitting bouts are causing things to flare up (yeah, duh!!)

Mtn. I suspect the numbness could be attributed to neck problems. My neck is always tight, and I know that I cannot lift things over my head for long without really paying for it (like rehanging curtains on hooks, etc.). My orthopedist, took my arm and his little hammer and boinked the inner wrist. Asked if I had an electrical feeling run up my arm (yes!) and proclaimed it carpal tunnel. Told me the cortisone was proving more effective and long lasting than surgery, so I "gave it a shot".

Thanks again, everyone.

Marguerite

 

[Nancy]

You can get the wrist brace in the pharmacy, or even Walmart. That's where I got mine. They have a steel bar which keeps your hand in the proper position to keep it from inpeding the nerves (your hand/wrist cocked up slightly). It has elastic and some velcro. They sound uncomfortable, and take a little getting used to, but I find mine quite comfortable now.

I think there were two versions in Walmart, a smaller one and more elaborate one. I chose the more elaborate one 'cause I really wanted the hand to stay put when I had it on.

I also wear a brace underneath for the trigger thumb, that has some steel in it too. I'm armed for mortal combat at night.

You can also get some elastic fingerless gloves which give some compression to the hand and wrist. They help me too when I might need something without steel, during the daytime.

 

[momshell7]

Marguerite,

I have heard the horror stories of the shots. My mom has had them and says they are very painful. I had the surgery on my right hand and for the most part it is fine. Every now and then if I do something were my hand is holding something small or doing teadious work it will hurt a little. I had my surgery over fifteen years ago and my hand is doing fine.

I also got my wrist brace from my doctor. He gave me one for each hand. They are like the ones you can get at Walmart or Meijer. Mine are like the ones that Nancy described. It has a metal bar that goes on the bottom. There is some elastic and it goes about halfway over your hand and around your thumb. It fastens with velcro so you can adjust the tightness and find what feels best for you.

Hope you find some relief soon. I know how painful it can be.

Best of luck to you.

Michelle

 

[Marguerite53]

thanks again

thanks again

Nancy and Michelle. I'm headed to Walmart! Thanks. Those sound like just the ticket for typing on the computer, sleeping comfortably and doing my knitting (so far just scarves, but I enjoy it so much and my kids should get married and have kids someday!! I want to be ready for baby booties!)

Mtnbker. I did have that mild neck injury once. Had it MRI'd and it was a bruised cervical nerve. disc disease. bulging disc. disc protrusion c-5, c-6 framinal stenosis. He just had me rest it and the discomfort is gone now. Now I'm careful not to lift things over my head or hold things up in the air for long. I wonder if, with your small children, you do a lot of lifting them high in the air to make them smile and giggle (who doesnt'??) or do you let them ride atop your shoulders? Maybe if you get someone else to put them on your shoulders.....anyway, it was just a "light bulb goes on" kind of thought for me the other day and wanted to mention it in case you are still experiencing that problem. My 3 kids are close enough in age, that I felt very strong during those years of hoisting them around. I'm glad my problems never surfaced during those years.....or I was too busy to take notice of them!!

Marguerite

 

[Marguerite53]

just a mite annoying.

just a mite annoying.

I guess great minds think alike.

I've always loved that quote, especially the part about great minds!!

Well, it's a week later and probably time to just close out this little thread. I do not like cortisone. All it did was hurt like the dickens for 3 days, give me about 5 days of "relief" and in the meantime, reawaken every nuance of the bothersome affliction for me in my other arm. I swear, the brain remembers and acts up accordingly!! Now, the relief in the shot up arm is waning. Being at the computer is numbing (and hadn't been!). But never to the point of pain (never was), just shaking out your hands annoying.

I have yet to try a wrist brace (shop today) and may call the orthopedist about one as he always has fancy ones he just gives me (we're friends) out of his office. (had knee braces and finally went for the orthoscopic knee treatment for torn meniscus -- best thing I EVER did for myself! Surgery works.....must keep that in mind........surgery works!! )

Thanks again, guys!

Marguerite