Carpal Tunnel Syndrome While Preggo

I got carpal tunnel while prego and the doc gave me a wrist brace to wear while on the computer and doing anything over and over. I even had to wear it sleeping when it got bad. It did go away!

I had the same thing, except I had many stupid expensive tests only to find out, yes, it's CTS, and yes, the muscle spasms are normal! I slept in wrist braces for the last 3 months of my pregnancy and often wore them during the day even though it was a huge pain having them both on at the same time. Good news is that it went away shortly after I delivered. I also had muscle spasms and similar aches in my feet, but decided against more expensive tests! For the last 2 months I was pregnant I couldn't even write with a pen or pencil more than a few words before my hand started to tingle and go numb. My handwriting looked like a 5 yr. olds! Hang it there, it will get better!

Hi Leah,
I'm an OT. Since you just woke up with it this morning, you can't, technically, be suffering from Carpal Tunnel.

If you are having some swelling in your arms and hands from pregnancy, though, you could be experiencing very similar symptoms; and not treating these symptoms, if they persist, could *lead to* Carpal Tunnel.

Gentle stretching of your upper extremities (from the shoulder blades down through your fingers), as well as regular activity, should help control any swelling. It also wouldn't hurt to have a massage (never does!!!)

Muscle spasms can also be caused by potassium deficiencies (and others). Make sure when you can eat, that you are getting in your fruits and veggies :)

Congratulations on your baby!
t

S

Very normal. I had CTS with all 3 of my pregnancies. The only relief I got was wearing wrist braces, especially at night. It went away a couple weeks after I gave birth

Last time I was pregnant I got carpal tunnel and tendonitis. The doctor said it was common for both with all the fluid retention. I got a couple of arm braces from the drugstore and it helped me make it through. The doctor did say that it would go away after I delivered and it never did. I went to a massage therapist and she rubbed up and down my arms and everything was gone in about 1 minute. I still have episodes of minor tingling in my arms but nothing in comparison to what it was.

up CTS sounds like the problem get a wrist brace from your drug store they help so much

Try upping your potassium. Thats what it sounds like to me. When I start getting cramps and spasms especially when pregnant I take a potassium vitamin.

take a hot bath as hot as you can stand it as soon as you get out throw your head both ways 2 or 3 times and see if your neck will pop I pop my neck when my carpal tunnel bothers me I went to chiropractor for carpal tunnel it went away and I had no surgery

I had this with my pregnancies. My was pretty severe. Wearing wrist braces at night helped and sometimes if the pain was bad, I would sleep sitting up with my hands elevated on pillows and that helped too. My husband would wrap my wrists with icepacks and ace bandages that seemed to numb the pain a bit.

It goes away after delivery.

This happened to me as well. I called my OBGYN and she said that it is fairly normal and go the drugstore and buy and cloth brace for my wrist. I did this and it went away after a day. I was lucky. She said that she had this happening for the rest of her pregnancy. It did drive me crazy while it was happened though. I hope that your does not last long.

It certainly sounds like Carpal Tunnel to me. I suffer with it because a job that I had for years had me doing the same repetetive motions for hours and hours a day. Our daughter,who has a 9 week old son had trouble with it when she was pregnant but it seems to have faded away now. Could I suggest that you go to a chiropractor? They were able to give me relief when I had them adust my wrists for me. You can also get "cock up braces" for your hands and wear them at night, but don't wear them all day long because you don't want your muscles to become weak from lack of use. I also found that I could get a little relief by massaging the insides of my wrists ( right where you would feel for a pulse), that is the site of your carpal tunnel and it seems to ease the tingling.
Good luck and congratulations on your baby!!

I bought an arm brace at walmart and that helped me.

I had this problem with my first pregnancy and it was worse after the baby was born. I nursed for 11 months and that took a toll on my arms. I tried the braces, but the didn't fix it and they are awkward. I then tried accupuncture and it completely got rid of it. It took about 3 months of treatments. They start you out going frequently and as you get better they space the appointments further and further apart until it is gone. I am pregnant again now, and luckily haven't experienced the symptoms as badly this time. If you are insured look to see if it is covered. I am blessed to have very good insurance. Accupuncture can be pricey if insurance doesn't cover it, but it did cure the problem for me.