Oh yeah. I'm twenty-plus years with good old carpal tunnel. Surgery was an option but frankly it just wasn't an option---and if the brace or spint hurts? To be honest? I WOULD TAKE IT OFF AND ICE THE AREA NOW. The "expert" hand therapist I had to see at one point? Gave me a splint that *hurt my cartilage*. So now I'm in a whole new kind of pain atop the rest. Call them and ask if increased pain is normal, etc., and see if you're meant to wear the brace 24/7 or so forth. Also, if the doc just fussed with it yesterday, he/she should've mentioned about what to expect, particularly with the braces involved.

I tried three kinds of braces over the last 20 years. The first ones were standard, and ended up aggravating the median tunnel nerve in my forearms. The others, as I said, screwed up my cartilage.

That said?

I've had good luck using NSAIDs, hand exercises, liniments, and of all things *acupuncture*. It was my go-to for several yeas. Until the PTSD phobias mean I can't cope with being touched or poked like that. But acuptuncture was great. After the first three sessions, I started to see real improvement---and then it lasted for a week at a time with going once a week thereafter.

There's also hand massage techniques to do yourself. Hand doctors can teach them---or professional massage therapists.

I also use MELT balls (see youtube for those---there's hand techniques using very soft ones.

In short, I've tried just about everything. So that's my stuff.

Good luck. I know the way it works, and I work on a keyboard for a living. Not fun.

The cure is a simple snip of those elastic bands constraining the nerves passing through your wrist. Or like me breaking your arm so bad the had to take them out of the way to put in the screws for the

I hope that the testing helps to determine the proper course of treatment. My way was not the best way.
Hugs, J.

The bands(tendon sleeve) are already irritated, so holding in place maybe uncomfortable until the swelling eases. The idea is if you don't move the wrist the swelling inside the canal will decrease, but it may not, this is a step to determine if the surgery is necessary...yet. Though it sounds like you are heading that direction. Did your Dr., suggest a cold pack? it may also help in reducing swelling/pain.

Typing , and repetitive movements will irritate that sleeve of tendons, so holding it in place for a bit is the reason for splint. But if your hand wrist are uncomfortable, have him adjust the splint.

A minosa sounds good, is that the non-alchohol mimosa?

CB, bumping for you. Maybe someone has ideas? BTW, for icing, I love the heat-ice gel packs from the pharmacy. Soft and flexible with a Velcro thing to hold them in place if you need, and best of all, re-usable. Frozen peas in this house tend to end up eaten. Gel packs, not so much!

Hoping your wrist and arm are feeling better today. I see by your status you are thinking of dusting off the camera. A very good idea to divert the mind to a creative route. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I "over-wore" the brace. It felt really good when I first put it on. I took it off as soon as I got home and iced it a couple of times.
What ended up helping was the pain med and heat. My hand and wrist were really tight from the splint. I felt I needed more support during the night so I put the splint back on. I took the metal supports out though.

Feels better this morning. Still hurts but not as bad.

I have found the best hot/cold pack. It has a clay based insert. Stays warm or cold for a long time, molds to the body and has a nice weight to it. I bought a store brand version.

CB, glad you're doing a wee bit better---oh wow, metal in the brace? Yeah, that's what screwed up my cartilage. *shiver* I'd sooner rig my own with duct tape, LOL!

I love that clay idea---gotta see if I can get one. Mmmmm.....

I was working in Computer graphics (mostly CADD) when my carpal tunnel became was starting to produce tendon seizures in 1992. I started asking among my associates what treatments had worked for them before I bothered with the doctors. The treatment reviews were so low that I never did bother with the doctor.

A couple of my associates said what helped them the most was physical therapy, but the physical therapy reminded them so much of the exercise that is a natural part of construction work that they wished they could afford the pay cut and just go back into construction.

I did just that and it worked. The early going was rough, but ultimately paid off. I still experience pain and hand weakness, and have to limit how many hours I spend on the computer, writing or drawing, but... I have full hand function and the pain is in the aspirin range.

Got any fix-it projects that need doing?

As a bonus, I learned how to write with my non-dominant hand during the tendon seizure stages. Which brings us to the ageless question. If left-handers are in their right mind and right-handers are in their left mind, are the ambidextrous in their whole minds?

Arfie, my sis was ambidextrous.... and so am I. I taught myself when I had carpal tunnel issues. BTW, yes, doing physical work like light construction to strengthen arms and so on is big help to me, too! And other than acupuncture, nothing the medical pros did was as useful as me just making sure I keep my hands massaged, take breaks, etc.

So here's a question---does that mean the ambidextrous are in no mind at all?

Hello! Yes, I've had it too. My doctor told me the surgery is actually pretty ineffective. And the meds for it are so strong yet they don't help that much.

A few alternatives - if you're open to that...

1) I was ready to have surgery for mine and was seeing a chiropractor for my neck when he asked about my splints. He was able to keep it at bay for years with a few sessions of "muscle stripping" which sounds awful. It doesn't feel good, but it helped enormously. He put lotion on my arm and then ran his thumb down my arm - hard - several times per arm and several times per session. After 3 sessions, I was better enough that it didn't bother me for about a decade.

2) I've also used ultrasound. The home system is about $100. You just put gel on your arm and then run this little thing over it - in circles - for about 2 - 3 minutes. You can do it several times a day if needed but usually just once a week is plenty for me.

3) Acupuncture may also help. Acupuncture is ideal for both pain and sleep.

4) I also use Biofreeze to try to help with pain. It's a topical gel that seems to help.

I hope you find the answers that work best for you.

Please. My mother had it her sisters. I started to get it. Guitarist, writer. "Doctor's Book of Home Remedies." B6. That's it. 50 mg 3 times a day. It's most effective when taken with the other B vitamins. I used to take my multi-vitamin with and extra 50 mg. B6. Then twice a day B50. I am cured. I am cured. I was at it religiously for years, and it's gone. I still take an extra B6 with my vitamin, but the strict reigem is over. No recurrence.

Most people I know have had success with the carpal tunnel release. Sometimes the numbness can't be fixed. Once a nerve is damaged it takes a long time to heal if ever but the numbness isn't the problem, the pain is.
I have no problem with having surgery if needed but I do need to get through the next 6 weeks or so. I know that even with surgery there will be a recovery time.
I have never tried acupuncture but I have heard that it can help with a lot of things.

I will straight up admit I like quick fixes if I can get them. If I can get a surgery that will fix it and spend a few weeks healing and be done with the pain I am all for it. Other people are definitely more holistic in their approach and there is nothing wrong with that either.

No argument there. I go holistic b/c surgery for me is problematic (epilepsy meds and anesthesia don't always like each other, is the short version).... I loved acupuncture for it, and doing preventive work rather than surgery.

That said, if you do physical therapy after the surgery? Make sure you keep those exercises handy and do them regularly. THat seems to be the trick to success in surgical cases from what the hand surgeon told me. (Before telling me he can't fix my cartilage, ugh.) Nice guy. Glad I didn't have to see him again;-)

Hang in there---let us know when the surgery is so we can root for you:-)

Sofia is right. Since I've started on B6 (folate) my carpal tunnel isn't causing me any trouble. I don't even need the ultrasound anymore.