How can I treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome while pregnant??

Question

I am 39 Weeks pregnant and i have pain and numbness in my wrist, hand and fingers. I am convinced it is carpal tunnel syndrome. It hurts really bad at night. Because I am pregnant, i am not too sure about pain pills or getting any type of injection. Please inform me on ways i can treat this without any drugs.

Answer 1

stretches, splint, exercises
many options
also see a chiropractor

Answer 2

I have had it horribly since month 7. Sometimes it ached all the way up my elbow. Docs gave me no hope except to have the baby, despite my desperation. It got better by about 40% when I spent an entire 24 hr period completely resting - feet up way high, only get up for the bathroom and eating briefly. This reduced the swelling, which was/is the main cause of the carpal tunnel. It is the ONLY thing that helped - ice made it worse!
I am 37 wks now and pray for the end also. You will have it over soon, although they tell me it may take a week or two for the carpal to go away completely. Good luck!

Answer 3

I had carpal tunnel when I was pregnant, painful and also hard to do anything with your hands. I wore the splints at night and kept rotating my wrists when possible. Some people have suggested surgery, this is possible, but it sounds like you have CTS due to pregnancy, and swelling of the hands which will go away when you have your baby. My sympoms dissapeared about 6 weeks after I had my daughter. So if you can endure the discomfort for the next 16 weeks it will improve after delivery.

Answer 4

Do you have a job that causes repetitive motion? If not I doubt what you have is carpal tunnel. Its normal for the female body to react with aches and pains while pregnant. The pain could be from the way you are sleeping (with your hands/arms curled up) in the fetal position? CTS is associated with doing the same thing over and over again.

Answer 5

My sister-in-law has carpel tunnel. You should take a heating pad and put in on ur wrist and hand. It helps a lot she says. Good Luck!!!

PREGNANCY

Alterations in fluid balance may predispose some pregnant women to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms are typically bilateral and first noted during the third trimester. Conservative measures are appropriate, because symptoms resolve after delivery in most women with pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer 6

NO DRUGS!
Go to a really good massage therapist preferrably with a physical therapist group or hospital wellness program. Get your neck worked and all the way to your arm. Could be a pinched nerve in your neck that is causing your symptoms or if it is ct getting it worked out with massage is the best thing for it at this time. See your doctor about it before you do anything. You may need a referral from the doc anyways. Best wishes.

Answer 7

You need to talk to your doctor about this. Just try to do less with that hand, even though I know that's hard. Once you have your babe, and are done with breastfeeding, get tested (I think it's called an EMT test - tests with electrical impulses your nerves), and have surgery if it's proposed. I had surgery done on one hand, and while it's not perfect or normal, it's better than going through all that pain. That was my right. I also have it on my left, but it's not bad enough all the time to have surgery yet. I can deal with it as it is.

Answer 8

When I had carpal tunnel I switched my mouse over to my other hand. Seriously and it helped me out. You can also try other mice. Maybe ice and/or heat to treat the symptoms.

Answer 9

I don't really know what that is, but I also had some serious trouble during my prego phase.. And it got so much worse the farther along I was.
Hang in there for another week or two. But do ask your doc what is right!
The numbess might be caused by water retention.

Answer 10

i had the same exact thing in my wrists i couldnt move them any way. i went to the hospital and all they gave me were wrist braces. there really isnt much you can do. the pain didnt go away until about 6 months after having my baby. the result is from the baby but the swelling in your arms,hands and wrists are causing your joints to rub and your vessels and nervesd are being pinched in a small opening in your wrists so after you have your baby your body will return ALMOST to its original size. i had the pains in my ankles and in my pelvic area also.

Answer 11

I had the same problem too. It's tendinitis and after the birth I took acupuncture for about 6-8 weeks. It definitely helped and made a difference. Ask your doctor if they can give you a referral maybe insurance will cover it.