Posted by Larry Hoover on March 31, 2005, at 10:44:40
In reply to Re: Does anyone know anything about carpal tunnel? » gardenergirl, posted by Dinah on March 31, 2005, at 9:25:15
> Thanks gg, for all the good info!
>
> About 15 seconds till it felt tingly, so probably not too bad. I woke up with my hand feeling weak though, despite the brace, so maybe I need to look into the anti-inflammatories right away. Can't afford to rest the darn hand, with being so behind in work. :(
>
> So lots of ibuprofin till my next Dr. appt on the 19th. And I'll look into the B- whatever.
>
> God doesn't want me to keep my job, I think. :)
That's vitamin B6. But don't just use B6. Always use a B-complex, then add in some B6 on top of that.Ibuprofen is a good idea. Inflammation creates a vicious circle of inflammation within the carpal tunnel itself. It is actually your body's response to irritation of the nerve which is causing all the symptoms, not the irritation itself.
There is a fairly strong correlation between hypothyroidism and carpal tunnel problems, which may reflect your family history of this disorder. Or, it could mean God just gave y'all smaller carpal tunnels to work with.
When you get the numbness, focus on the little finger. Is it affected, too? It actually is connected to a nerve that is separate from the carpal tunnel. If it is affected, it might be a more general peripheral neuropathy. An EMG study will sort that all out. It's a weird experience, but it gives them hard data about the ability of the nerves to do their job. Comparisons above and below the carpal (wrist) bones tell them whether the problem is associated with that structure, or not.
I thought I saw you mention somewhere that you also get forearm symptoms? They could not be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, except via referral. Anyway, the EMG people will sort that all out. You get a thorough exam, and nothing should be overlooked.
Best,
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:477695
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20050306/msgs/478116.html