I finally caved and went to the doctor about my hand pain. Diagnosis: A flare up of carpal tunnel.
I think it isn't severe because I have no shooting pains, just pain. I'm supposed to rest it from normal use (yea, right), exercise it with specific exercises, take advil on a regular basis, and keep it in this split as much as I can. Report back in 2 weeks and let her know how it is feeling. Today has been a week and I haven't seen any improvement.
So many movements can cause this:
I've been doing a lot of this the past several months.
And quite a bit of this over the hiking season.
A lot of this at home and work.
I'm a book keeper and use the adding machine on a daily basis (since I was 17 basically!)
Always lots of this. When it hurts so bad I can hardly sign my name.
I"ll be trying to ease up on this as well. If you ask a question in a comment I'll answer, but I won't be answering comments until I get through this flare up.
Of course, this doesn't feel good.
And neither does this.
I am grateful
For my Go! cutter which I can use while I'm trying to ease heavy use.
Janet Olson shared these dies with me! Thank you sweet friend!
If you've been though this and have any suggestions I'd love to hear them!
We had a lovely day on Saturday-My BIL and SIL celebrated their 50th anniversary! It was worth 10 hours in the car to share this special time with them.
Happy November!
so basically you can still eat....LOL...not funny but looks like all your favorite pastimes are temporarily off limits...
ReplyDeleteI wear my brace for all quilting and computer activities. Keeps the pain to a minimum. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI have been having some hand pain from too much knitting so today I am prepping some quilt blocks for machine sewing to use different muscles. It’s all about balance
ReplyDeleteI hope your wrist heals in the very near future. No reply necessary. Please give your wrist a rest.
ReplyDeleteI hope your wrist heals soon and you get some pain relief. Let it rest as much as possible. No reply needed.
ReplyDeleteI agree, thank God for my electric Go Big Accuquilt cutter. My right hand thumb joint is terrible from years of crushing meds as a nurse. The Accuquilt dies transformed my quilting life. Rotary cutting was just too painful. I’m sending you healing thoughts. Perhaps if you have die cutting friends you can borrow needed dies for a project. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a speedy recovery. I have had flare ups in the past and rest and wrist exercises have helped. It takes quite a few weeks of therapy for full recovery. Hope yours feel better soon!
ReplyDeletefrom my episode years ago - work in short spurts, during those breaks do stretching exercises - gently bend your fingers & wrist back the "wrong" direction, also do the thumb separately, place a rubber band around the tips of fingers and thumb and open the rubber band (use thicker bands as you get used to this), move your hand in circles both ways, (basically do anything that is opposite of gripping things), massage the wrist, vitamin B6(B12? whichever is good for nerves), use one of those elastic compression gloves. Self opening scissors and thread snips. Use a track ball instead of a mouse for the computer. Alternate heat and ice, take anti-inflamatory pain meds. It took a while, but I was able to avoid surgery. It did take about 2 months for the pain to subside IIRC. I'm sure there's nothing I listed that wasn't covered by your doctor. Sadly, all the weed pulling earlier this year has given me a bit of a flareup again.
ReplyDeleteI hope you recover soon!
I'm sorry you are in so much pain! Your hands do so much!
ReplyDeleteLori espero te recuperes y se termine el dolor,
ReplyDeleteCuÃdate querida
Overuse of the wrists. Free motion quilting was the first to go for me. I wear wrist braces if I rotary cut anything (but try to avoid it). Everything is sent to the longarmer to be quilted now. I can machine/hand sew but only in small stints. I wear fingerless compression gloves all day long. When I watch TV, I make it a point to keep my hands at rest. As a crafter, that is a difficult task. I would love to be doing needlework but had to give that up too.
ReplyDeleteHope you see signs of improvement--know you want to return to your normal activities
ReplyDeleteMost of my pain is in the thumb joints but also some in the wrists, especially when using any kind of twisting motion (opening jars etc.). Have worn thumb/wrist braces on both hands at night though mine are too restrictive for daytime use. They do help if I'm diligent about using them every night. Good luck and best wishes for a quick recovery.
ReplyDeleteNothing helped me—the worst was the night pain that kept me awake. After many years I had surgery on my right wrist and I’m so glad I did.
ReplyDeleteLori, I hope and pray you’ll recovery soon!
ReplyDeleteLove you my friend!
I ended up wearing my brace for any activity for about one year--then off and on if pain returned. Driving a car bothered me even. I am so sorry to hear about your flare up..so painful...and frustrating! Hope you heal soon...hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your wrist problem. You have all the solutions right here in the comments. Move your wrist any other way between invoices, use ice up to 10 minutes at a time, flex fingers, extend arm 5 - 10 times at a time to have a better blood flow and be patient. It didn't happen in a day, it won't leave in a day. Let the others spoil you for a bit. ;^)
ReplyDeleteHope your wrist gets well soon. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteOuch - sorry to read of these problems. Looks like you are getting good care and in these comments people have some good ideas too.
ReplyDeleteI have extreme carpal tunnel in both hands/wrists along with arthritis in both. 1st surgery is 11/23 with 3-4 months recovery and then the other hand done with same recovery time
ReplyDeleteExpert on this one as the genes are in my family! Wear the braces all the time. See if you can get some of the newer ones that are all softer cloth with velcro closures. Next. Wear them at night. Now, if you have not had the surgery and are NOT a diabetic, consider it, BUT remember it comes back.
ReplyDeleteI had the first set of surgeries in 1998 (diagnosed in 1991 and wore the braces all the time at work)- then in 2017 (before they told me I was diabetic (now pre diabetic) I had the second set of surgeries.
Moral of the story. Use the braces, but get some that are not so bulky. they are easier to do quilting, typing, adding machine, etc work. Make sure that there is not a history of CT in your genes as is with mine. I also have Ulner Nerve (elbows) I wish you all the luck in the world, but they have told me that it will return after surgery if you are Pre diabetic or Diabetic!
Hugs
One thing I have done as far as rotary cutting is purchasing a Martelli Ergo Rotary Cutter. It has made a world of difference for me! 🙂
ReplyDeleteOh my ... 8-((( Perhaps the left hand might get more use to alleviate right hand?
ReplyDeleteSplints, braces, rest. I also use Liberty Lotion CBD, and Voltarin. Soaking hands in hot, then cold then hot. 1-2 minutes each. Plus rest and switching up activities. I hand quilt one evening, and then applique the next. I also take a few stitches, rest, repeat. It's the pits. I too, need right hand carpel tunnel surgery (dr is waiting for me to book the surgery) but I've also broken my left wrist 6 years ago, then last Dec broke bones in my right thumb, at the base. Cortisone shot really helped that pain, (after 4 months of not getting better) but it's back and I'm in a thumb brace. Look up MetaGrip It's new to me, but the relief was quick so i shall continue with it. Might even order one for my left hand. Most of my stitcher buddies were all talking about the same issues at our retreat last week.
ReplyDeleteOhhh I'm so sorry and which you a speed recovery !!
ReplyDeleteNot fun..... good luck !!
Huge hugs !
Yep, I have a similar issue right now. I sleep with my hands curled under my chin and then don't move for 8 hours. I HAVE to wear braces at night to keep from doing this. Right now I'm wearing one on my left wrist that is perfect for daytime use by Core Products. I wear something different at night. Hope you heal fast! Stop what you are doing to rest it. I've learned to mouse and write with either hand.
ReplyDeleteQuilting, sewing, writing, computer, eating, sleeping...did I miss anything? Yeah, painful most of my waking, sleeping hours. Plus, both thumbs are jammed. I can sympathize. Feel better.
ReplyDeleteSuch a bummer, Lori. But from the looks of these comments, you are not alone. I hope something will be helpful in alleviating your pain without having to go the surgery route.
ReplyDeletePraying for you to know which treatments are right for you!
The Go cutter is a great way to rest your wrist. Lots of rest and take your meds. I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteI don't have carpel tunnel, but I do have tendinitis in my right wrist. I've had it for almost 34 years now. For a while (while I was also in a splint for several weeks) I had to write, type, etc with my left hand. V E R Y S L O W at that, but I did it. I've learned what triggers it, and I'm super careful now. I can only pin blocks for so long, then, when it starts aggravating me, I have to stop, or else I can't do much for several days. I still wear the splint every once in a while, when it keeps hurting. Take it easy, and listen to the doctor. It takes longer than they say it does. Take that Motrin even when it doesn't hurt, since that helps the inflammation. When it hasn't hurt for a couple of days, then stop the Motrin. Get hubby to do the cooking and dishes. That will help, too.
ReplyDeletehope it feels better soon!
ReplyDelete