Carpal Tunnel

Colin_Partridge · #11 12-04-2005, 12:11 AM

I had carpal tunnel had the operation and that was probably fifteen years ago never had a problem since. Even today when I carve a lot my wrists can ache. It is no different than anything else you exercise a lot it is bound to get sore. I wouldnt give up on carving just be more aware of how long you carve.
Yes there are a lot of Canadians on this message board Canada is a really big country now with the break up of the Soviet Union it is the largest country in area in the world even though the population is only just over 34 million.
Colin

dart · #12 12-04-2005, 03:25 AM

I hope I don't have to give up carving. My hands are numb and tingle. Sharp pain sometimes too. Have trouble holding onto things. I have another doctor appointment at the end of this month. I plan to discuss therapy and no and operations if possible. I have been carving about 8 or more hours per day. I love it so much. I was using my knife and no power tools to remove large amouts of wood. I will use the power tool to do most of the work from now on. That may help. I want to get the exercises that everyone spoke of here. Is there a website I can go to for this? I haven't carved since I took the test and was told I have CT. I will try to get some really good splints and wear them while sleeping. Still I am worried about this problem...

brian bailey · #13 12-04-2005, 09:57 AM

dart, Here is a link that might be of interest and help to you and others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome

Donna_T · #14 12-04-2005, 04:49 PM

Just another thought. Sometimes if your neck is out of alignment, that will cause numbness in your arms and hands. I can never remember if it's the 3rd or 5th Vertabrae, but I experience this a lot--whether it's carving, working, computer, reading, writing, painting, etc.

However, I agree with the suggestions, exercise, frequent stops to stretch your hands, icing them when you go too long, and sometimes wearing an elastic, fingerlesss glove (kinda like a support stocking for your hand) can all help (I think you can get them in the quilting supplies.)

I also think one of the secrets is to vary the type of carving you do--some power, some hand tools, some woodburning. It's the long, uninterrupted sessions that will hurt you the most.

Donna T

Alice in Wonderland · #15 12-04-2005, 06:18 PM

I am sorry for all of you with hand problems especially for us women :-) not only do we have to do the housework we also like to carve ,I have had Osteoarthritis in both hands for 20 years, I had 6 fingers operated on as well as one bottom thumb joint .and I still carve , with envy am I reading about you guy's and girls to carve with knives it is powertools ( with flexshafts) only for me and hardly any details I went almost entirely into abstracts or stylized carves and if it comes to the end my husband has to do the final touches ,so as you see there is always "where there is a will there is a way" keep enjoying what you do it does not matter how you get there.
Alice

dart · #16 12-04-2005, 09:54 PM

Thanks Brian, looks like a good site.
That's what I wanted, the exercises and prevention. Donna, I have osteoarthritis in my upper spine. Could be out of alignment? I am concerned about going to a chiropractor. May make the OA and CT worse? I think the rheumatologist will want me to take physical therapy? Alice, sorry to hear about what you have been thru with the osteoarthritis in your hands. I can sympathize with you on that. I have several spinal bones that are degenerating. But that causes my pain in a different area such as my lower back where the OA hasn't started yet. The area where the OA is in my spine does not hurt much at all unless I agrivate it. The CT makes my hands numb and I can't pick things up and I keep dropping things. I got a half gallon of ice cream from the freezer in the grocery store the other day. I didn't realize I had lost my grip in it and it fell and made loud noises as it crashed its way down the isle. Needless to say that everyone looked. It was a busy time at the store too. Oh well, at least it was good for a laugh.

brian bailey · #17 12-05-2005, 12:42 AM

I wouldn't let a chiro.. touch me unless an x-ray was taken to show that it is just a mis-alignment of the spine and nothing else was causing the pain!

A few years ago I twisted my lower back lifting something I had no business in lifting.

To make a long story short, I went to a chiro.. for a week for adjustments to relieve the pain with no results other than the pain was getting worse rather than better.

I finally wised up and went to my MD. After describing the situation to him, he asked if the chiro.. had taken any x-rays of my back. When I told him no, he just shook head. He took some x-rays and found that I had a bulged disc pressing against the sciatic nerve. He stated that the chiro.. with his adjustments was only aggravating the problem.

With my MD's approval, I replaced the chiro.. with one of these.

http://www.healthyback.com/store/rel...rsiontable.htm

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #18 12-05-2005, 10:26 AM

Brian, its too bad you had a bad encounter with a chiropractor, but I don't think trying to scare people off of them is the answer, I would be crippled if it weren't for chiropractors and have had many many more problems with medical doctors! I and my family have had problems arise where the doctors want to solve the problem by giving you shots, pills or surgery, when a trip to the chiropractor and an adjustment solved the problem......remember there are good and bad in all professions...ifyou want a chiropractor, choose one that went to one of the top schools, sorry can't remember the name of the big one, think its in Minnesota ..Lumlow or something like that..don't quote me! Oh and just for general information, a chiropractor spends approximately 20 per cent more time in medical school training than a general physician!

brian bailey · #19 12-05-2005, 11:25 AM

Dave,

I believe you have read my post wrong.

I wasn't trying to scare anyone away from chiro's. They certainly have their place in the medical community.

The point I was trying to make was, make sure that the chiro's adjustments are going to help not hinder your recovery. An x-ray will show whether an adjustment is needed or a trip to the MD is in order if you're experiencing a sudden onset of pain.

BTW, that wasn't my first or last visit to a chiro.

I posted the link to the inversion table because it has reduced my visits to a chiro.. to nil and I feel good about promoting its use.

Just Carving · #20 12-05-2005, 03:55 PM

Dart,

If you're carving for 8 hours or more a day, then you need to take breaks--and lots of them. This happened to me with my neck, back and shoulders, and I soon learned that all I needed to do was rest and relax and get away from my computer every half-hour or so. So, get up, and walk around periodically. Whether it is carving, knitting, or working at a computer all day, you will stiffen up and suffer aches and pains from staying in a similar position for too long. Likewise, if you keep making the same motions over and over--not only with the hands, wrists and arms, but also with the shoulders, neck and torso, some muscles will be getting a lot of activity and strain, while others will get very little movement and stiffen. Results? PAIN!!! So, make an attempt to change your motions, every half hour for at least a few minutes. A good idea would be to do the opposite of what you are doing repetitively. For example, carving might have you sitting, looking down, with your hands above your hips. Do the opposite: stand/walk, with your head looking anywhere but down (for longer than a few seconds), and keep your hands down by your sides. At the very least, your changing positions will improve your blood circulation and also, alleviate any stress.