Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

[Dee]

Yesterday I woke up and I thought I had pins & needles, but it's now a day later and the numbness / tingling (mainly in the left thumb) hasn't gone away. I have a feeling this could be the start of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Does anyone else have any info, such as how it starts? It isn't painful right now, thankfully. Cheers.

[shogun]

all i have to say is you better take care of it

[Dee]

Obviously. That's why I am asking other guitarists here.

[Algiman]

Stating the obvious, but see a Dr now.
I had the same sort of thing thing, it turned into severe tendinitis before I finally got round to seeing a Doc. By then I was frequently in pain just flexing my fingers if my hand was cold.

I've been really lucky in that there is no long term damage but by all accounts I'm lucky. I ended up being on stupidly powerful anti inflammatories for several weeks, banned from using that hand for a fortnight, and no guitar, lifting etc for a month after that. I had a good doc who also gave me loads of physio to do, instructions about warm up and massage etc. For a while I was having to rest my forearm on a hot water bottle 4 times a day, and straight after coming off stage from a gig (not very rock'n'roll when you have to pack a hot water bottle!).

I fully admit I was an idiot, don't do the same.

[bluealien]

Check web MD -

Usually, people with carpal tunnel syndrome first notice that their fingers "fall asleep" and become numb at night. They often wake up with numbness and tingling in their hands. The feeling of burning pain and numbness may generally run up the center of the person's forearm, sometimes as far as the shoulder. As carpal tunnel syndrome becomes more severe, symptoms are noticed during the day.

my brothers wife has it from twirling baton back in high school & compititions. She has to wear a brace on her wrist when the pain gets bad.

http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/...unnel-syndrome

[Algiman]

Originally Posted by bluealien

Usually, people with carpal tunnel syndrome first notice that their fingers "fall asleep" and become numb at night. They often wake up with numbness and tingling in their hands. The feeling of burning pain and numbness may generally run up the center of the person's forearm, sometimes as far as the shoulder. As carpal tunnel syndrome becomes more severe, symptoms are noticed during the day.

Exactly what was starting to happen to me. I'd wake up in the night in pain, and not be able to move my wrist first thing in the morning without being in pain. Day by day it was getting worst though the pain only got as far as my elbow.

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by Dee

Yesterday I woke up and I thought I had pins & needles, but it's now a day later and the numbness / tingling (mainly in the left thumb) hasn't gone away. I have a feeling this could be the start of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Does anyone else have any info, such as how it starts? It isn't painful right now, thankfully. Cheers.

This is funny coincidence, Dee. As I am suffering from the same thing.

The cause of my case, is that I fell asleep playing guitar. The next day, I had a sleeping finger, which didn't wake up for days. Pins and needles, pain, numbness... Just like you said in your post.

I went to the doctor, and he said that this could take a month (if not, longer) to get back to normal. I don't have carpal tunnel, I just put pressure on a nerve in my arm for a long time, causing this. It just takes time to get back to normal.

I hope this is of any help to you.

Alwin

[bluealien]

Sorry to hear, you should have it looked at even if its just a pinched nerve from sleeping on it wrong at night.

[Dee]

Great help. Thanks guys, I love you. I'll go see a doc ASAP.

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by bluealien

Sorry to hear, you should have it looked at even if its just a pinched nerve from sleeping on it wrong at night.

I already went to the doctor, so you mean I should go see a physical therapist, just in case?

Originally Posted by Dee

Great help. Thanks guys, I love you. I'll go see a doc ASAP.

You're welcome.

Alwin

[bluealien]

Myst, I meant Dee, as for you (Myst) probably yes if the doctor recommended it.

I don't know know what they do, however I know someone in high school it happened to and his hand was never the same and ended up with nerver damage and he gave up playing guitar too.

[Algiman]

Originally Posted by Dee

Great help. Thanks guys, I love you. I'll go see a doc ASAP.

Let us know how you get on.
Since getting rid of the pain and looking after myself properly I've realised how long I had been putting up with a problem. My fore arm is now way stronger than it has been for years, and I've had to tighten my watch strap for the first time in ages so this had obviously been slightly swollen for a while. It just isn't worth risking these things.

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by bluealien

Myst, I meant Dee, as for you (Myst) probably yes if the doctor recommended it.

Ah, I see. The doctor didn't say anything about physical therapy, so I guess that's a good sign.

Alwin

[southpaw_lefty]

From my own experience, about a year ago when I would wake up in the morning, my thumb, index, middle and part of the palm of my left hand would be completely numb. At first, I thought it was just bad circulation, but that wasn't the case. The doc said it was CTS and made me wear a wrist splint at night to keep my hand straight. Apparantly, I was sleeping with my wrist bent causing the nerve to be pinched. Luckily I recovered, but that was scary.

Let us know how you make out at the doc's. Guitar playing and CTS do not mix.

[Dee]

I will let you guys know how it goes. Your concern is much appreciated.