[Closed] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Anyone else had/got it?

My wife has suffered with carpal tunnel for nearly 5 years , the 1st 2 years she just put up with it then went to the docs as it was getting unbearable.

3 times over the next 18 months the doc syringed some fluid out of the carpal tunnel which gave some relief but it was just a temporary thing. Eventually she managed to get reffered to a specialist who then put her forward for the operation to correct the problems(although this isn't always a permanent fix). She had the op 6 weeks ago and so far apart from an odd twinge now and then is having none of the previous symptoms (numbness/pins+needles/weak grip)

I had the operation on my right hand 4 years ago. It used to wake me up 3 or 4 times a night with numbness & pins/needles. Only occasionally does it bother me now. However, I had it done under our company scheme so start to finish was under 3 months (picked date to suit company).

i've got it in my RH from working in a lab (leaning over a computer terminal to work).

Took about a year to die down to a pain free level, also helped droping my office chair bay an inch below where i'd nromaly have it, puts more wight on my elbows and makes sure there's none on my wrist when typing.

I used to have it. Heavy manual work, combined with windsurfing and mountain biking meant alot of work for teh tendons running through teh carpel tunnel. I used to wake up in the early hours with my hands having either total numbness or the worst case of pins and needles , similar to having them on fire ( again) imaginable. Always had to get up and shake them out, and in doing so woke up 100% so went to work early to get to finish early and go on my board or bike.
(un) fortunatly i had a crash on a winter holiday which snapped the tendons in my right thumb base. Whilst this meant a lay off from work and some physio it also made me slow down and the carpel tunnel problems all but dissapeared. I have lost alot of my grip strength in my right hand , and holding pints causes some discomfort, but in no way as painful as CTS .
I was booked in for the op , but was going to try splints as a last resort, can you imagine grip sports in a pair of the snowboard wrist protectors . . .

Skiprat, do you work with hand held power tools? vibration exposure can lead to similar symptoms, and in some cases folks have had operations and time off work, only to go back to power tools and develop full blown vibration white finger. If you notice it more when it's cold it could also be raynauds syndrome.

just a thought

Had decompression in both hands and have also had decompression at both elbows. To quote the consultant - tendons were so tight he was amazed i didn't have more problems.
Nerve tests don't always give the right answer - especially if your well built.Had mine done on NHS- 3months diagnosis to surgery.
Amazed at how much better it is - i can now hold my handlebars - always a bonus.
It's looking like i'm going to have to have the left hand done again - as scar tissue can cause complications.
Best thing is i now sleep 8 hours a night - bliss.

Tazzymtb,only power tools i use are at home for the odd bit of DIY. I have bad thumbs in the cold due to breaking both of them so will have to ask the question. Thanks for that.

I work for a waste company so a bit of computing, listing waste, moving drums, bags and bottles of waste about. My left hand is not too bad but the right is the worst. Grip between thumb and index finger feels weak, now having problems with pop bottle lids. Like most of you its night time when its worst. Hand goes numb most nights and when the pins and needles start its time to start shaking. Just a waiting game now although the consultant likes to get things done pretty quick.