Anyone here develop carpal tunnel since becoming a nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

I now have HORRIBLE carpal tunnel syndrome. My wrist HURTS and I cant hold my coffee mug anymore. I cant make a fist AT ALL and my fingers are NUMB. I cant stand it. I have developed these severe symptoms in just the past 3 months. Its progessively getting worse. Its now affecting my work...Its hard to hold an IV catheter to start an IV. Its nearly impossible to chart because its all paper charting and I have to try to hold my pen a certain way or my wrist hurts. Anyone else? Someone told me that if I wait too long to have surgery I may have permanant damage!

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I now have HORRIBLE carpal tunnel syndrome. My wrist HURTS and I cant hold my coffee mug anymore. I cant make a fist AT ALL and my fingers are NUMB. I cant stand it. I have developed these severe symptoms in just the past 3 months. Its progessively getting worse. Its now affecting my work...Its hard to hold an IV catheter to start an IV. Its nearly impossible to chart because its all paper charting and I have to try to hold my pen a certain way or my wrist hurts. Anyone else? Someone told me that if I wait too long to have surgery I may have permanant damage!

trying not to PMWOL, lol,,,,a complete physical is in order...a complete thyroid panel, not just TSH....they dont appear to be doing quite as much of this surgery any more, d/t less than stellar outcomes...prob related to what is called double crush or triple crush syndrome......perhaps an oc therapy consult...physiatrist....etc.....good luck

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

I agree with morte: Any Hand Surgeon worth her/his scalpel will have you try a NSAID first, for about 30 days, then a splint to be worn at night, then you should have an EMG to r/o other things along with some Dx serum tests run

I had carpal tunnel in both my hands...Had release done to them both and haven't had any recurrence. But I also agree you should not wait too much longer especially with the type of symptoms you are experiencing.

Good Luck to You...

athena

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Well, Ive been on NSAIDS for weeks with no relief. Its actually getting WORSE. Ive taken Naproxen, nothing. Then Motrin in high doses. I plan on making a doc appt, just wondering how many others suffer the same thing. I am shocked at how quickly it has progressed though. Its tripled in intensity in just the past month.

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for best results, you must stop the aggravating activity.....i know, i know.....try checking the other things i mentioned..ie the double and triple crush.....and esp your thyroid.......good luck

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There are LOTS of reasons for CTS symptoms, they are not just work related:

  • Various injuries, including previous fractures of the wrist
  • Medications that may lead to fluid retention, including oral contraceptives
  • Hormonal changes and conditions such as pregnancy and polycystic ovary disease
  • Medical disorders that involve constricted blood vessels, such Raynauds
  • Medical disorders that lead to fluid retention or are associated with inflammation, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, etc ....

The following can increase the chance of developing carpal tunnel syndrome:

  • Cigarette smoking, which constricts blood vessels
  • Obesity, which can increase pressure on the nerves
  • Possible congenital predisposition

I agree with everyone else ... see your health care provider ... the sooner, the better !!!

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Specializes in LTC & Correctional Nursing.

I developed it while working in banking for 6 years. It was better for awhile after I left but flared up again during nursing school.

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Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.

I had carpal tunnel and a gangliion in my right wrist. The pain was excruciating and I had significant reduced mobility. I suffered for two years before I got the surgery in August, 2008, because I was afraid of complications. I think that writing nursing notes and taking blood pressure with a manual cuff caused the carpal tunnel. I am so glad I got the surgery. I now have complete mobility and strength with no pain. The scar is a pencil line in my wrist folds. Unfortuantely I had to have a horizontal incision across the inside of my wrist. I was out of work for one month. Go to a hand specialist. Talk to your colleagues for referrals.

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Specializes in Oncology, Triage, Tele, Med-Surg.

The wrist splints at night helped me for a long time. When I could no longer grip the steering wheel I knew it was time for the surgery. Only thing I regret is that I waited so long! Much better! Good luck.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Please, go to Employee Health and fill out an incident report. I am saying this because this could very well be a work related injury and if it is and you have filed an incident report, your employer will have to pay for medical costs r/t this injury.

You have what I would consider to be RSI or CTS:

Here is more information on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and other repetitive stress injuries (RSI) or cumulative trauma disorders (CTD).

Some of the other forms of CTD are:

Carpal tunnel syndrome; compression of the median nerve by swollen tendons in the wrist.

Tenosynovitis, pain and swelling of the tendon and its sheath, especially in the hand or wrist.

Tendonitis, pain and swelling of the tendons.

Epicondylitis, pain and tenderness at the two bony points on either side of the elbow (tennis elbow or golfer's elbow).

Thoracic outlet syndrome; compression of the nerves and blood vessels between the neck and shoulder.

Cumulative trauma disorders are much easier to treat in the early stages, so see a qualified specialist at the merest hint of trouble. The warning signs of CTS are:

Numbness and tingling of the thumb and first three fingers. It can feel like a mild electric shock in finger.

A clumsy feeling in your hand.

Weakness in your hand.

Pain going up into your elbow or shoulder.

Pain is worse at night.

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Specializes in med/surg, TELE,CM, clinica[ documentation.

I had carpal tunnel prior to becoming a nurse. I now am just returning to work from Guyons' tunnel surgery--- this affects the ulnar nerve. The pain involves the ulnar side of your arm and the ring and pinky fingers. I was dropping everything and in alot of pain, especially at night. My doctor could not attribute it to being a nurse- He said I just probably was predisposed. Whatever, the case or cause- you must seea qualified MD to be properly evaluated and treated. Good luck!:saint:

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Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.

I've had CTS for years, long before i was a nurse, and i have cysts in my wrist too. had a doc on the floor once tell me the way he treats his cysts like that is to have his wife drop a PDR on it as hard as she can to bust it. ha! never tried that, dont have the guts, lol.

recently it had really started to affect my life in a bad way. it was waking me up at night constantly. my thumb and 1st two fingers would feel like they were dead. they werent numb, they literally had no feeling in them at all. and it hurt! omg it hurt!

i got a brace and started putting it on everynight. it has fixed my problem!

i was also having my fingers go "numb" all during the day too.

since wearing my brace, ive stopped having any problems at all.

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