Is the pain I'm feeling CTS? - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

brandy82 · 07-12-2004, 09:02 AM

hello everyone. I have had a steady pain in my wrist for about a year. sometimes it goes away, and sometimes i can't even push myself up from sitting. If i lean on it, there is pain. if i push it back to far, there is pain. i went to the doctor and had him look at it, but go figure, there was no pain. he said it was just muscle strain, but the other day i lifted myself up off the couch, and my wrist completely gave out with pain all the way up my arm. is this CTS or was my doctor right?

brandy82 · 07-17-2004, 10:28 PM

Thanks for the help all 43 of you that viewed this...glad i asked a question.

lidia09 · 07-18-2004, 12:22 AM

Hi Brandy82
There's so many conditions which affect the hands & wrists. There's conditions of the shoulder, neck & elbow which affect the hands too. The symptom of pain could probably be applied to most of them so it's not easy for anyone except a doctor to know what's wrong with your wrist.

In CTS, generally the symptoms are tingling, pain, numbness of the thumb, index, middle & part of the ring finger. Not everyone has all of these symptoms either. I've had CTS & wouldn't say I had pain with it, someone else might say they had terrible pain with their CTS.

Did you injure your wrist at any time in the past? Could it be arthritis? If you're not happy with your doctors diagnosis, I'd suggest you see another doc for a second opinion.

Best wishes.
Lidia

wideawakeinaz · 07-18-2004, 10:27 PM

Hi Brandy,

Does your wrist or hand ever feel like it's completely numb and fallen asleep? I tend to sleep on my hand at night and i've been trying hard to break from the habit, but i wake up in the middle of the night because my hand is completely numb and tingling. when that happens, i get my hand wet. no idea why, but the water helps.

i dont' know if i have CTS or not. i'm thinking i do, because, like you, if i use my wrist at all, it hurts. typing usually doesn't bother me, but if i'm sitting on the floor, i can't use my wrist to help lift me, so usually, i have to kinda roll onto my knees and work myself up.

for about a week though, my left wrist hurt like crazy and it was so bad, i couldn't even put my bra on in the morning for work. i had to wake my boyfriend up to help me get dressed. that made me cry so much. i'm 30 and sometimes i feel like i'm crippled.

what tests can be done to see if you do have CTS? i know my dad had this and he had surgery, but it made it worst on him. my boyfriend tries to massage my wrist, especially by where it bends, but sometimes, i feel nothing, other times, i'm in so much pain i am crying.

anyways, i don't have much help to give, other than to let you know, i'm going through it too.

have you thought of taking B6 tablets? one of my coworkers takes that and says, her CTS is no longer an issue. you might want to try. at least that's a vitamin, unlike some kind of weird medication to try.

good luck!

xxredstarxx · 07-21-2004, 06:48 PM

its quite possible that you have cts. i had it in both my wrists. i do suggest that you find out asap if thats what it is, cause i waited too long to get surgery on mine, and the nerves in my right hand are all screwed up now.. does you hand/s get numb or tingley at all? cause that is also another sign of cts...