Hi Jeanette: I wear the prescription hand braces and they seem to help me.

When I get pain, I use the frozen gel packs that have a cotton cover and remove my hand braces and put the gel packs on top AND underneath my hands for about 5 to 10 minutes, then remove for about 15 minutes, then back on again. I can usually relieve pain that way.

I get on the computer every day trying to exercise the fingers and hands and to not lose skills, although my typing has gotten worse with this.

You can try a chiropractor and see what they say. Ask the chiropractor what you can do at home to help also.

I had a cortisone shot and my pain has gone away it didn't even hurt this might be a thought.

The cortisone shot is a great idea and works for many. I had an allergic reaction to the local anesthetic they had to use in order to do the cortisone shot so they won't do any more on me.

I see an acupuncturist weekly. The improvement is slow but steady. He also manipulates my wrist. That seems to help too. I have no idea whether or not other acupuncturists are as good as this one, but treating pain is one of their most important goals.

I am new as well, actually haven't joined yet as ds is so slow. I came to ask about surgery also. Having first one next month then other 6 weeks later.

I am going to ask about cortisone injections.

I did want to comment, about seeing an acupuncturist or chiropractor, sometimes treatments aren't covered by insurance. You probably should check that out first. Good luck.
And to AsTimeGoesBy....love the kitty!!

Hi Nana: My only option now is surgery and I'm holding off on it. The specialist told me that surgery is not fool proof.

I have nerve damage in my hands, in addition to the carpel tunnel, and they are becoming weaker. I can't be given any guarantees whether surgery will work or leave me worse off. It's a gamble right now that I'm not willing to take.

AsTimeGoesBy...

New here. Had an EMG, saw the hand surgeon today. While surgery has no guarantees, not having surgery seems to have a guarantee once CTS becomes severe. And that is nerve damage and loss of muscle tone and control in the thumb and fine motor skills like buttoning a shirt. My hand therapist who treats my tennis elbow shared that with me. I had numbness come on suddenly four months ago, in one hand and then in the other hand. Moderate to severe CTS in left and scheduling surgery. Night splints have not worked. Have no idea where this came from except I have symptoms but no diagnosis of some kind of connective tissue disease.

Hi Orygun: I'm very worried because my one hand, my writing hand, and my hand that I do most with, is the one that is so affected. I'm having trouble (weakness and a little pain) touching the thumb to the smallest finger and even touching buttons on the TV remote control I don't have the strength and sometimes I get pain. This hand is not going well. My big concern is exactly what has happened to the nerves and how they would be fixed. I also have an HMO, but they referred me outside because although they had their own doctors for everything, they don't have the specialist for carpal tunnel and I don't have money.

I'm afraid if surgery goes bad, I will lose control of the hand and it will be unable to be used, I won't be able to drive, and I live alone.

Am new and glad to be here. I have had great pain relief with therapy gloves, they are not a brace. But helped me very much with pain and hoping they could help others. I would recommend as I was surprised at how much they helped me.
www.therapygloves.com/carpaltunnelsyndrome.html

I had carpul tunnel surgery on both of my hands in Dec. 2005. I had what's called bilateral endoscopic carpul tunnel release surgery. I saw an orthopedist who ran the test on my hands to confirm I had it. Then he gave me a cortisone shot in my right hand. OUCH! The shot was supposed to have lasted 6 weeks but only lasted 4 weeks instead. Talked to the orthopedist again. He said I needed surgery on just the right hand and his type of surgery was the open kind where the palm is cut open. My older sister works in a factory and talked to the lady in the office, who took care of the insurance, & a few people out in the factory. Thanks to those people, she found me a new orthopedist who only specializes in hands, arms, & shoulders. Not only that, the orth does endo scopic carpul tunnel release surgery which is under the skin. We went to see this guy. He disagreed with a few things the other orthopedist had wrritten down about my hands. He then told me that he'd do surgery on BOTH of my hands. Why both? The insurance pays 1x & I save them money. I heal 1x & save me money. He also answered my sister's quesion without her asking it when she said she had a question. YES, I can go to the bathroom by myself. LOL

I was in & out of outpatient surgery in 4-1/2 hrs. I had a little incision on both of my wrists were the scope was inserted. Each incision had 3 pieces of tape over them. The stitches came out 10 days later. I was off work for 1 week and was put on light duty for 2 months. I couldn't lift no more than 2 lbs. per hand. After 2 months, I was released from the restrictions.

My job was a small-town cafe cook/dishwasher/?. I was 6 months into my job when I had my surgery. I'm a crafter and so, I also worked on my plastic canvas needlepoint projects & etc. crafts. I noticed problems with my hands awhile before I got my job when I was crafting. My job just enhanced the problem. I was at my job for 2 yrs. and then off for almost 2 yrs. I went back for 1 yr. and have been unemployed for the last 3 yrs. .

During my 2 yrs. off from work, I ended up having a trigger finger on both of my hands. I had 10 accupuncture sessions on my hands. They helped some but not completely which is why I chose to see the orth again. During my final 1 yr., I went back to my orth for a cortisone shot in each hand. Then 6 months later, I got another shot in each hand. I was told that IF I got trigger fingers again, I was only allowed one more set of shots and then I'd have to have surgery. Well, it's been 3 yrs. now and I've never gotten the third shot in either hand. I've been praying that I'll be able t continue to NOT need the shots but we'll wait & see. I was 39 yrs. old when I had my surgery and am now 47.

I've only had my own private insurance. The hospital was the most expensive bill to pay. My orth's bill to me was over $2,000 but in the end, I was truly blessed that he wrote off all except $250. I called my sister at work to tell her the final bill came and I was bawling. She was afraid of me telling her it was still the same. Then I told her what it was and she was VERY amazed at what had happened. Our prayers were answered.

I still have some sort of problems with my hands but they weren't like they were before the surgery. If I had to do it over again, I'd have the surgery again. I was told that there was a very small chance of having problems after the surgery but I went through with it anyway. I've got the carpul tunnel gloves and the splints. It's been a long time since I've used them but I have used them a little within the last 3 yrs. I have diabetes, high b/p, cholesterol, & now, Psoriasis on my hands & feet and so, I have to figure in those when my hands don't seem rght.. I don't have the strength in my hands like I once had since before CTS and find it difficult to open an occasional jar or do whatever where I need my strength. Carpul Tunnel surgery is like any other surgery. There are risks. . I also was blessed wth a GREAT orth who made me feel as if I'd known him for years. I had my faith in him and believed that everything would be fine. I haven't lost faith in him and recommend him to everybody I know who needs an orth for CTS or other things in his speciality field. I suggest trying other things beforehand and let surgery be the last resort. Finances plays a BIG part in the decision for surgery or not. Try the cheaper methods first. I fully believe in homopathy treatments. I LOVE foot reflexology! Do what is best for you. IF you decide to have surgery, find an orth who does endoscopic carpul tunnel release surgery. I personally prefer the doctors who specializes in hands/arms/shoulders even though there are good surgeons who can also do endoscopc carpul tunnel surgery. I feel that the surgery was right for me.

Darlene