dazla Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I have had a numbing sensation in my hand now for 4 weeks. and permanent pins and needles that doesn't go away. I went to the docs and hospital for tests and to cut it short, I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my hand which is caused by years of strain put on the hands. I am a leather upholsterer and work on peace work and not to mention the gym to be another cause. The hospital has said that the operation will cause me to be out of work for ten weeks. I cant afford this guys. what should i do? They said it wont get any worse than what it is but i just don't have the power in my hand anymore. Its horrible. do i carry on working or have ten week of work. feel like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 See a chiropractor. Mine is sorting out my ex's carpel tunnel syndrome, which is caused by problems in her spine due to a childhood injury. (kicked by a horse). He/She may be able to work the problem out...it's worth a consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 2nd idea...take out some unemployment/injury/sickness insurance and then claim in about 3 months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazla Posted October 21, 2006 Author Share Posted October 21, 2006 2nd idea...take out some unemployment/injury/sickness insurance and then claim in about 3 months? already thought of that but i have been to the docs and when you have the medical to join they check your history. so I'm buggered on that one. option 1 seems like a plan though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathew Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 a work buddy hasnt long come back to work after having the operation. being a bricklayer he has been put on light duties. i think it was 6 weeks off after the op he had but even now he says he doesnt feel that much better after it although the doc has ensured him that it will get better. his left wrist also needs doing but he chose not to have both done as that would meen his misses wiping his arse but he isnt sure whether he will go back for it unless he starts to feel noticable differences with the previous operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 TBH a Chiropractor wont do much. Heres an exercise for you to try. Sit at a desk put your hands in the "Prayer" position, now keeping your palms pressed together slowly move your elbows out to the side. You'll feel a pulling across the back of your wrists, hold fo 10secs and release. Repeat about 5 times, 3-4 times a day. Also ice the area on the back of your wrist (palm side) twice a day to bring down the swelling inside the Carpal Tunnel. Might be worth investing in a wrist support to wear while at work, they are called "Futura" splints and are beige in colour with velcro straps and have a metal bar inside that goes from your forearm to your palm. THis will stop you aggravating the problem at work. Not guaranteed to make it 100% but may improve the symptoms. The other alternative is surgery. HTH, im a physio by the way so you can trust the information. Not just making it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupra Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 My misses has had both wrists operated on, one at a time. The op doesn't always cure the problem for good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazla Posted October 21, 2006 Author Share Posted October 21, 2006 TBH a Chiropractor wont do much. Heres an exercise for you to try. Sit at a desk put your hands in the "Prayer" position, now keeping your palms pressed together slowly move your elbows out to the side. You'll feel a pulling across the back of your wrists, hold fo 10secs and release. Repeat about 5 times, 3-4 times a day. Also ice the area on the back of your wrist (palm side) twice a day to bring down the swelling inside the Carpal Tunnel. Might be worth investing in a wrist support to wear while at work, they are called "Futura" splints and are beige in colour with velcro straps and have a metal bar inside that goes from your forearm to your palm. THis will stop you aggravating the problem at work. Not guaranteed to make it 100% but may improve the symptoms. The other alternative is surgery. HTH, im a physio by the way so you can trust the information. Not just making it up. Some good advise there matey. Thanks alot. I'll take it on board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 Some good advise there matey. Thanks alot. I'll take it on board. No probs at all mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I had a similar operation to one the one you need Dazla. I came off my bike and broke my left wrist in 7 places. As the fracture healed I started to lose sensation in my fingers and they were cold all the time. I could still move them ok but the lack of feeling meant that I couldn't do some simple things like tieing my shoelaces. Anyway, eventually I had the op to relieve the pressure on the nerves, which I believe is the same op carpal tunnel sufferes have. They told me some long time like 10-12 weeks to recover but I was back at work after 4 weeks and had full use of my hand after 6 or so weeks. There's never going to be a good time for you to have 10 weeks off work, is there? The sooner you get it done the sooner you'll have the full use of your hand back. Good luck mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranz Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I have something like this too. Wrenched my left shoulder about 5 years ago pushing a Frontera out of a cold box at -30. Slipped on the icy floor & went down still holding on with left hand. Developed neck problems about 3 years ago and then started to get numbness in my little finger and the ring finger on my left hand. The doc gave me diclofenac, which helped for a while but I guess I need some pretty intensive physio. I did see a physio a few years back and he said it was a problem at vertabre 5? Its not too bad, just annoying as it's uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazla Posted October 21, 2006 Author Share Posted October 21, 2006 yea i know the feeling. i wake up in the middle of the night with mad pins and needle in my little finger and ring finger. Its so weird how the lack of feeling in two fingers can make your had so week.. guess your all right though. its an opp i need and there's no time like the present really. Just scared of the money situation of having all that time off work. Its lucky its my left hand and not my dominant hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 Mate the other thing to do is get your GP to refer you to a Physio, or go private. There are quite a few machines we use that can help with the inflammation in the Tunnel. THe exercise i gave you they will prob give you again but the machines may be useful. Id always try that first before the op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazla Posted October 21, 2006 Author Share Posted October 21, 2006 superb cheers gaz, your a savior matey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 My pleasure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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