I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Trigger Thumb (or Trigger Finger) about a month after I had given birth to my first child, Alycia about 6 years ago. The pain and weakness on my right hand were so bad that I could not even hold a milk bottle or open the door. I really felt like a handicapped with my right hand partly losing function.  After several months of enduring terrible pain and weakness of the hand and fingers on my right hand, especially at night, the pain miraculously went away. However, up until today, there are still numbness and pins and needles on my right hand and fingers, especially at night when I am asleep.

The numbness and pins and needles sensation on my right hand have recently intensified. They are so bad I would be awaken up from my sleep every night.  My right hand would feel as if I had slept on it. To alleviate the discomfort and pain, I have to shake my right hand and prop the hand up on a pillow or bolster. The pins and needles sensation on my hand is worse if I sleep on my right side while I breastfeed Baby. Sometimes it feels so bad I could barely lift my hand up.

Studies suggest that surgery is a better option for severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Surgery is also more likely to be necessary for patients with underlying conditions such as diabetes. Even among patients with mild CTS, there is a high risk of relapse, like in my case. Some researchers are reporting better results when specific exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome are added to the program of treatments.

Preventing And Treating CTS

Limiting Movement. If possible, the patient should avoid activities at work or home that may aggravate the syndrome. The affected hand and wrist should be rested for 2 – 6 weeks. This allows the swollen, inflamed tissues to shrink and relieves pressure on the median nerve. If the injury is work related, the worker should ask to see if other jobs are available that will not involve the same hand or wrist actions. Few studies have been conducted on ergonomically designed furniture or equipment, or on frequent rest breaks. However, it is reasonable to ask for these if other work is not available.

Conservative Treatment Approach

The following conservative approaches have been shown to provide symptom relief:

* Wrist splints
* Corticosteroids (steroids). Injected or short-term oral corticosteroids may be tried if other methods fail.

Other Conservative Approaches

Ice and Warmth. Ice may provide benefit for acute pain. Some patients have reported that alternating warm and cold soaks have been beneficial. (If hot applications relieve pain, most likely the problem is not caused by CTS but by another condition producing similar symptoms.)

Low-Level Laser Therapy. Some investigators are working with low-level laser therapy (LLLT), which generates extremely pure light in a single wavelength. The procedure is painless. Two trials comparing laser therapy to conservative treatment or a placebo laser treatment from no real benefit for this therapy.
Alternative Therapies

Many alternative therapies are offered to sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress disorders. Few, however, have any proven benefit. People should carefully educate themselves about how alternative therapies may interact with other medications or impact other medical conditions, and should check with their doctor before trying any of them.

Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is often used for carpal tunnel syndrome. Studies have not supported its benefits, however, either in oral or cream form. It should also be noted that excessively high doses of vitamin B6 can be toxic and cause nerve damage.

Acupuncture. A very limited amount of evidence shows that acupuncture may be useful as a supplement to standard treatment.

Chiropractic Therapies. Chiropractic techniques have been useful for some people whose condition is produced by pinched nerves. There is little evidence, however, to support its use for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Magnets. Magnets are a popular but unproven therapy for pain relief.

In the past, I’d tried using hot compress and that provided temporary relief.  I shall try that tonight and heat up my cold/hot pack in the microwave.