Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Forum - Symptoms of CTS ?

Conditions and Diseases > Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Forum > Symptoms of CTS ?

TOPICS DOCTOR QUESTIONS

What is carpal tunnel?

Learn the basics about carpal tunnel syndrome here: causes, risk factors and complications....

Q: Symptoms of CTS ?

asked by: mjp1531 on June 20th, 2007

New User

Hi I need some help please. I don't know if I have CTS, but my mom does and says that whats been happening sounds like it could be. While I am asleep I wake up periodically to one or both of my arms and hands feeling numb. It doesn't really feel like pins and needles, it feels like the circulation has been cut off for a very long time. Thats really the only time it bothers me. If I'm on the comp too long my ring finger or pinky kind of goes numb too. My mom suggested that I wear some wrist braces to sleep in (thats what she has been doing for the past 6 years). I have and have noticed that my arms don't go to sleep nearly as much. They still do though just not as bad. I just can't seem to get used to wearing them though. Its only been a week but i haven't gotten any more sleep because now I wake up cuz its simply uncomfortable to wear these. Will it get easier? Does this sound like CTS? I saw different braces today, they said they were made from women with CTS and they were shorter, only covering the wrist and hand. I don't know what to do. Can anyone help out and give me some insight. I don't have insurance and can't afford a doc right now Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Replies(4)

mjp1531

replied on July 2nd, 2007

New User

awesome no one has any input?

Yolita

replied on July 25th, 2008

New User

Symptoms of CTS

I think that this very well could be CTS,I have exactly the same symptoms,however I also believe that I also have some ulnar nerve problems going on too.(this is the nerve that runs from your ring and pinky fingers,up the outside of your hand and up to your elbow) I believe that mine may be pinched because I have constant numbness and tingling in these 2 fingers on each hand and also up to my elbows.I just had surgery yesterday morning for CTS on my right hand and Dr. said that it was very bad,he said that the nerve was completely compressed,and that even after surgery the Carpal Tunnel area of the wrist is still really tight and I may need more surgeries later on. I don't have any splints or braces though,( I never have) where do you get these at? A dr. or at a store like Wal-mart or a Walgreens or something? I need to get some because I still have to wait to have my surgery on my left hand.Keep me posted on how things go for you,and if I can be any help feel free to ask.

mjp1531

replied on July 26th, 2008

New User

I got mine at walmart...don't buy the ones that are white and are supposedly made for women and boast to be more soft and comfortable...my doc said they don't work as well as the ugly brown ones lol. My doc hasn't decided if I will need surgery yet...he wants me to try the braces for about 6 months to see if it helps. Smile

Yolita

replied on July 27th, 2008

New User

Thank you for letting me know that,I appreciate it. I need to do something,I woke up this morning and my whole left hand was numb. I'm so glad that I have the feeling back in my right hand!! My Dr. didn't even suggest braces for my CTS and I was diagnosed in March of 2007!! (However this is NOT the same Dr. that did my CTS surgery) How long have you been using the braces now? Have you noticed any improvement? The neurologist that I went to (the one that diagnosed me) told me that there was no reason to treat the CTS because I am a diabetic and he felt that the numbness and tingling was MAINLY caused by my diabetes (nerve damage). So it kept getting worse over this last year so I went and got a second opinion from an orthoapedic (sp?) surgeon.I knew that it wasn't my diabetes,because like I said now I have all of my feeling back in my right hand even the ring and pinky fingers. What kind of work do you do? I am the head cook for a large size high school,I've been a cook for about 11 years and the surgeon said my CTS is caused from the repetative stirring and especially the lifting of the heavy pans of food. Does your Dr. think that yours is job related?

Learn About Us

Get Help

Join In

Do More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.

The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made. Schizophrenia health sitemap.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2009.
© 2008 eForums, Inc