[dart]

I took the EMG and nerve test. Ouch! The doctor said I have carpal tunnel but do not need an operation just yet. The doctor said not to do anymore repetative motions. Hmm? Sounds like I'll have to use a power tool to carve with now.

[DICK "chipncut" CAIN]

Hi Dart,
I think even holding a power tool, may aggravate it even more. You're holding your hand in the same position to long. I have noticed that for myself.

I don't have carpal tunnel yet & hope not ever.


My wife has this symptom & even using the mouse on the PC aggravates it.

I do a stretching exercise whenever I think of it. I open up my fingers, like I'm trying to squeeze an imaginary basketball. I do this for about 30 seconds, & it feels like it gets the blood flowing again.

Try it, it works for me.

Dick

PS: I notice there's a lot of Canadians on this forum.

A big "HELLO", from me

[Ron D]

greatings from the great green north {havent had any snow yet o cant call it white}

[squbrigg]

I wouldn't give up on carving just yet, with edged tools or power tools! From what I know of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the repeatative strain injury is caused by motion of the wrist over and over, for example in typing or jobs that require you to move your wrists in the same direction over and over (a press operator flicking a plate from a press machine) . Unless the motion ceases or is changed, it can cause a disabling injury.

Carving along would not normally cause an injury like CT, unless you were doing it full time and only carving the same pieces over and over. Hobby carvers or even professional carvers usually carve a range of things and while the motions are similar, they would be different enough so as not to cause the CT strain type injury. Think of a rope sliding through a hawse hole and chafing. That is the sort of thing that occurs, except the rope in this case gets irritated and swells and eventually scars.

Before giving up on carving, might I suggest trying to carve using a variety of positions. What I mean to say is, try holding your tools in different positions. If that still aggrivates the pain, then by all means, switch to power carving or a combination of both. I had to, though for a different medical problem. Now I rough out and shape in power and finish and detail with edged tools. I'll never stop carving unless they take my hands off and even then I'd rig something up ! Good luck.

Bob

[brian bailey]

I have CT in both hands. My fingers start to go numb after holding a knife, gouge, or woodburning pen for any lenght of time.

So far I have avoided the surgery by doing hand stretches as soon as the tingling sensation begins.

A few years back I went to a Waylon Jennings concert. It was quite a sight to see because Waylon sat on stage with both hands bandaged up from recent CT surgery. The surgery didn't effect his singing but sure put an end to his playing the guitar for a spell.

[DICK "chipncut" CAIN]

Hi,
After my wife read this thread, she had a suggestion.

The doctor told her to wear a wrist splint, especially at

bedtime. It helps, & makes her feel much better the

following day.



Dick

[Callynne]

Dart, I messed both my hands up real badly when I started carving. They swelled up (the joint at the bottom of each thumb, down to my wrists), lots of pain, weird tinglings and numbness. I was sure it was carpal tunnel or arthritis and it would be the end of my carving.

The doctor said no, without further testing, that it was tendinitis. It took two courses of theraphy and molded to my hand shape splints or braces. I had the 'over the counter' ones first, special ones from a drug store specializing in that kind of stuff, not just the elastic kind you get at Wal-Mart. I wore the molded ones in the day, the other ones at night.

That, and the exercises really did the trick. I still have flare ups on occasion, with repetitive motions, woodburning really does it and I actually wear my brace on my right hand when I've got a lot of burning to do.

The one thing they told me to do that helped a lot, was to run through my excercises before and after carving and to ice my hand. To make an 'icer', take a styrofoam cup, fill it up with water, freeze it. When you want to use it, score around the cup just below the frozen water level, peel away the styrofoam, this leaves just a little ice sticking up and the rest of the cup to insulate the ice so your holding hand doesn't 'freeze'! Just put a towel down, lay your hurting hand on it and run the ice over the sore spot for a few minutes. Return the cup to the freezer when you're finished and it's ready for the next time. This might help, I know it certainly did me.

Good luck! Deborah

[Kenny_S]

Dart, Like Callynne, I have tendinitis in my left wrist and have had since 1973 from repetative motions, then fell a couple years ago and cracked myleft wrist bone(I don't remember which) and now after holding a carving for a long period of time, I have to pry my fingers away from the object. However, and here a lot of doctors give it a bad rap but Celebrex works wonders. I know, I have heard the same stuff from doctors but most get on the band wagon on that sort of stuff. What they are finding out is that most have a heart condition and Celebrex like many other pain releivers are bad for people who have heartprobelms. Luckly, I don't. So, don't let that stop you and you may want to seek a second opinion as I have nor faith in doctors. That is why the call it "Practicing Medicine", because that is what they do, They would rather give you a pill and call back if it didn't take care of the problem.

Well Hweck, Guess I am on my soap box so will end this by says, Check it out futher before you go for an operation. I know several who were worse after the surgery.

[BasketballJones]

I'd find a new doctor, or the doc may be telling you what he perceives you want to hear.. Go old school, squeeze a rubber or tennis ball and use the splint and braces for support. Keep carving just rest often, or slow it down and stop when the pain is bad, the carving will keep your hand strong. The worst thing for joint inflammation is inactivity. A good physical therapist will help with strenghtening. Let the doc know you want to carve.

[dryheat]

My daughter works at a computer several hours at a stretch and her company had a presenter in to talk about carpal tunnel and he recommended this website. She knows I have had some problems with it(TT) too. It has a downloadable bit on some stretches that might help. They work for me. Additionally, my doctor had me get some braces that keep my wrists straight they seem to help also. I only wear them at night, he (my doc) believes that people with carpal tunnel seem to sleep with thier wrists bent.
Good luck,
Ed








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