Carpal Tunnel - pain relief?

[Gust0o]

Chaps, a brief follow up to my previous adventures in having f***ed hands - but is there a secret to any pain relief?

Bloody hell, considering they feel numb they don't half ache!

[b]Edit: [/b]Sorry, this was my previous thread - [b]I have been diagnosed already: [/b]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176064-im-not-moaning-but-carpal-tunnel/page__p__1650059__hl__carpal%20tunnel__fromsearch__1#entry1650059"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176064-im-not-moaning-but-carpal-tunnel/page__p__1650059__hl__carpal%20tunnel__fromsearch__1#entry1650059[/url]

Edited July 11, 2012 by Gust0o

[Coilte]

I think you need to give us a little more information. Have you been diagnosed with CT ? Why are your hands so f***ed in the first place ? Prevention is better than cure. Perhaps your technique needs to be looked at ? Are you sure your problem is bass related ? These questions will do, for a start.

[Lozz196]

I`m just recovering from a sprained wrist, and found doing the hot & cold treatment every hour helped. Put your hand/wrist in hot water for 30 secs, then cold. Do each a minimum of 3 times, then finish on hot. This was what my physio recommended. but, a lot of what is needed is rest, otherwise whatever is playing up will take a lot longer to heal.

[Commando Jack]

I assume you've been using over the counter medications like ibuprofen and diclofenac (including the topical gels)?

What about a comfortably hot bath with some[url="http://be-selfish.co.uk/products/bath-therapy/muscle-therapy"] Radox muscle therapy[/url] in it? Obviously the main benefit will be from the hot water, but it smells nice

[Coilte]

If the OP is looking for advice on technique, how to prevent injury while playing bass etc, that's fair enough, but IMO this forum does not seem like the right place to be discussing medical problems.

[xilddx]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1342007384' post='1727848']
If the OP is looking for advice on technique, how to prevent injury while playing bass etc, that's fair enough, but IMO this forum does not seem like the right place to be discussing medical problems.
[/quote]

I always say this. It's possibly going to make G's problem worse. There have already been some posts about muscle pain relief

Painkillers are not going to help either.

G, have you been properly diagnosed? You have a serious condition that needs medical advice and treatment, not a bunch of quackery on a bass forum

[gjones]

I have carpal tunnel too but I don't get the pain just the numbness. Hopefully you have seen a specialist and they've suggested options. In the meantime I have found this little device that may give you relief without having to resort to steroid injections or surgery. This is a NHS report on C-Trac which stretches the ligament over the carpal tunnel. It's now available in the UK and costs about £100. When I heard about it I was sceptical but this NHS trust assocation pdf says it gets good results. The information starts on page 16 of this pdf file [url="http://www.nhsta.org.uk/documents/nhsghl_08.pdf"]http://www.nhsta.org...s/nhsghl_08.pdf[/url]

A US report [url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17254905"]http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/17254905[/url]

NHS trails were undertaken in 2006 but I can't find the final conclusion on the web [url="http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Carpal-tunnel-syndrome/Pages/clinical-trial-details.aspx?TrialId=ISRCTN26618585&Condition=Carpal%20tunnel%20syndrome&pn=1&Rec=0&CT=0"]http://www.nhs.uk/Co...pn=1&Rec=0&CT=0[/url]

Edited July 11, 2012 by gjones

[bigd1]

[b]Before you try anything go get your GP to investigate the problem. I have had CP in both hands, and have had release opps for both.[/b]
[b]There are lots of reasons for pain, the only way to get correct treatment is to see a Doc, not seek help through a forum.[/b]

[dmccombe7]

Would agree that this is not the best place to diagnose serious or recurring medical conditions.
Best see a Doc.

Dave

[gjones]

If it wasn't for basschat and the information I found out about carpal tunnel from bassplayers who suffer from it, I wouldn't have gone to my GP as soon as I did to get treatment (the sooner the better to avoid permanent nerve damage). Amusingly, the impression I got from both my GP and the surgeon I was referred to was, because of basschat (and other online forums), I knew more about the symptoms and treatment available for carpal tunnel than either of them. My GP of course is not a specialist and the surgeon I was referred to is a specialist in surgery not neurology. I am now to be referred to a neurologist who will assess the damage to the nerves in my wrists and advise me further whether surgery or other forms of treatment would be best for me. Getting advice from medical experts is all well and good but It's taken 9 months to get this far (which is not very far). If it wasn't for basschat I would probably be sitting around still wondering why my hands had gone all numb.

Edited July 11, 2012 by gjones

[Geek99]

I got this condition and went to see my gp. We are fortunate to have a specialist hand clinic in our area (pulvertaft centre at the derby royal) and they gave me intra wrist injections which made things much better. They wear off eventually so they then did an operation on my wrist to loosen the ligament and the difference is amazing

[gjones]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1342004346' post='1727739']
Chaps, a brief follow up to my previous adventures in having f***ed hands - but is there a secret to any pain relief?

Bloody hell, considering they feel numb they don't half ache!
[/quote]

Futher to my previous post here's more info on the C-Trac [url="http://www.carpal-tunnel.net/node/76"]http://www.carpal-tunnel.net/node/76[/url]

It's also a very good forum for people who have symptoms like yours and where you can get advice from medical experts.

Edited July 11, 2012 by gjones

[Gust0o]

Sigh.

I know this isn't a medical forum, lads. That's why I held back on my thread about whether 10-12 pints of blood, the male average, would be enough for the 4ft penis extension I am considering. I think it might enough, but I wanted to post it on a guitar forum - well versed in the art of giant f***ing cocks - to get a proper medical opinion.

However, in the more sensible realm of Basschat, what I was looking for was the pragmatic, empirical experience of other players with the same condition.

To recap, because my first post was appalling short without the context of the prior thread
[list]
[*]I have seen my GP; I have been diagnosed (twice, in fact, lucky me - the first time he thought it might be RSI, confirming some of the comments from gjones about knowledge of the symptoms);
[*]I was referred to the Physiotherapy unit of York hospital who kindly applied the sticking plaster of fitting me with splints and discussed my, erm, usage;
[*]and now I am to be referred to parts unknown (assume neurology) for a proper discussion about what we might do next, with a note to return to my GP should anything worsen.
[/list]

Since joining my surgery I have forced my poor GP to hold my balls twice; put his finger in my bum once; to cure me of recurrent chicken pox (how does that even happen?) which I suspect he blames me for passing on to his kids; and cure me of anxiety, which was a total hoot. Oh, and we had a round of golf. I don't want to trouble him if I can avoid it; if I turn up at his door again, I don't believe his first reaction will be [i]"Ah, golf, brilliant!".[/i]

Whilst I wait out the interminable machinations of the NHS (which I'm assuming will culminate in surgery), I was looking for examples of how others had approached the situation - of trying to both continue playing whilst managing some of the inevitable, and constant symptoms.

Returning to that point, I have tried [i]no[/i] pain relief to date - I was worried that pain relief would hide further issues and potentially cause more damage. A trick I learned in my youthful rugby days.

To that end, that's a very interesting link gjones - I've bookmarked and will be returning to it for a proper read this weekend.

I'm assuming, from some of that, that I am being overcautious in my previous refusal to use pain relief - and that over-the-counter products are as fit as anything (thinking back I'm sure my GP mentioned this - but I'm pretty sure this is a stock answer every time I break something).

In terms of technique, I've gone almost predominently to pick and have picked up a couple of reasonable sturdy sports splints for playing in. They go right down to the hand (just shy of being Nige's gloves, really) and seem to work well both for support and avoiding the inevitable rub from the body whilst playing. Boots own-brand and highly recommended. I don't think there's much else I can currently alter in terms of technique; the rest has come in duration of play/practice, and I now take much more regular breaks... I can see out our standard 30 minute set without too much difficulty. Beyond that I need to pretend I'm tuning/have a sip from my beer a moment, and I've set that 30 minute duration as a hard rule, not to be broken.

Am I missing anything which has worked for others?

I will echo gjones' comment that the only reason I ever went to my GP was because of the commentary on the forum. I had, originally, just gone looking for a wrist support for a sore hand - not uncommon, since I broke my arm in 2003 (with complimentary nerve damage) in a bad car crash - following breaking the hand itself at the start of that year; and with a playing career which saw my thumb and 2 (3?) fingers on my right hand broken at some point or other.

If I could have typed in my scouse accent I would have done so.

[Gust0o]

An additional point, but I have reconfigured my work out routine to feature a lot more cardio - my thoughts being that an improved circulation would be of benefit anyway, but might aid with some of the issues around my right hand.

That feels more of a long-term healthy living/playing approach, though; I can't tell if it's helped or if it's pure placebo effect, as you do feel rather invincible after a good workout.

Also, it's very hard to describe the pain to others - particularly for a condition noted for producing numbness. Dull ache? Can you have a crippling dull ache? Perhaps you can and you can't, as it happens. It does feel like a mix of bruising, fatigue (or cold, maybe) and a break - when you know you've done something bad, but the pain isn't isolated enough to know what

[sarah thomas]

Bilbo recommended this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Conquering-Carpal-Syndrome-Repetitive-Injuries/dp/1572240393/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1342020205&sr=8-10

I've found it useful. I was down for surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, then went to a reflexologist and mentioned the problem - to be sort of holistic, not expecting anything special. After my reflexology session the swelling in my wrist had noticeably receded. Following that (several years ago now) I have been careful not to strain my wrist and have avoided surgery. I bought the above book when I took up the double bass.

I found pain killers to be counter productive. I was on quite strong ones (but forget the name) and was having great trouble turning off a cold water tap at a friend's house. I kept exerting more pressure, until a savage pain shot through my wrist and remained for days. The painkillers had masked the warning signs and resulted in more injury. This was before the reflexology treatment, by the way.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1342020559' post='1728242']I found pain killers to be counter productive. I was on quite strong ones (but forget the name) and was having great trouble turning off a cold water tap at a friend's house. I kept exerting more pressure, until a savage pain shot through my wrist and remained for days. The painkillers had masked the warning signs and resulted in more injury. This was before the reflexology treatment, by the way.
[/quote]

That's almost exactly the situation I was wary of - I'm torn between worrying about that and this perpetual ache.

Link bookmarked

[icastle]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1342019923' post='1728226']
Returning to that point, I have tried [i]no[/i] pain relief to date - I was worried that pain relief would hide further issues and potentially cause more damage. A trick I learned in my youthful rugby days.
[/quote]

That's the approach I tend to take as well - pain is there to remind you that something isn't 'right' and to be careful.
However, you have to weigh that up against your ongoing quality of life whilst you are waiting for the problem to rectify itself\be rectified.

Using that Ibuprofen Gel stuff probably isn't going to give you the sort of relief you need but it certainly won't exacerbate the situation - [b]provided[/b] you remember you have a sore hand and don't overdo it.

Mrs Castle v1.0 had CTS and surgery fixed it without any major issues.
She did moan about it being painful for a few weeks afterwards, but then she moaned at just about everything before, during and afterwards anyway.

[xilddx]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1342024603' post='1728343']

That's the approach I tend to take as well - [b]pain is there to remind you that something isn't 'right' and to be careful.[/b]
However, you have to weigh that up against your ongoing quality of life whilst you are waiting for the problem to rectify itself\be rectified.

Using that Ibuprofen Gel stuff probably isn't going to give you the sort of relief you need but it certainly won't exacerbate the situation - [b]provided[/b] you remember you have a sore hand and don't overdo it.

Mrs Castle v1.0 had CTS and surgery fixed it without any major issues.
She did moan about it being painful for a few weeks afterwards, but then she moaned at just about everything before, during and afterwards anyway.
[/quote]

But do remember that many tissues in your body have no nerve or blood supply, they get damaged without you feeling a thing, it's the secondary effects causing the pain, such as inflammation impacting on nerves.

[icastle]

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1342025424' post='1728366']
But do remember that many tissues in your body have no nerve or blood supply, they get damaged without you feeling a thing, it's the secondary effects causing the pain, such as inflammation impacting on nerves.
[/quote]

Absolutely, but that inflammation gives you a reminder to treat that area with a little more care than usual.

[xilddx]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1342025995' post='1728385']
Absolutely, but that inflammation gives you a reminder to treat that area with a little more care than usual.
[/quote]
Absolutely. The point I clumsily tried to make is don't rely on pain to let you know. Years of damage to your back, for example, will go unnoticed.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1342026465' post='1728393']
Absolutely. The point I clumsily tried to make is don't rely on pain to let you know. Years of damage to your back, for example, will go unnoticed.
[/quote]

Oh aye. Sadly, I can attest to that also. I could start a separate thread on subjects as diverse as [i]"how I suspect chiropractice might be a voodoo science" [/i]and [i]"just how f***ing expensive is chiropractice.[/i]"

[gjones]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1342004346' post='1727739']
Chaps, a brief follow up to my previous adventures in having f***ed hands - but is there a secret to any pain relief?

Bloody hell, considering they feel numb they don't half ache!

[b]Edit: [/b]Sorry, this was my previous thread - [b]I have been diagnosed already: [/b]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176064-im-not-moaning-but-carpal-tunnel/page__p__1650059__hl__carpal%20tunnel__fromsearch__1#entry1650059"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1650059[/url]
[/quote]

How have things gone with treatment for your carpal tunnel? I've now got to the stage that I'm on the waiting list for surgery.

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited February 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Big_Stu]

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1352157769' post='1859617']
How have things gone with treatment for your carpal tunnel? I've now got to the stage that I'm on the waiting list for surgery.[/quote]

If you're still having pain you could do worse than seeing Tom Darling of "Back To Balance" on Montrose Terrace, the continuation of Regent Rd over Calton Hill. He may be retired by now, it's run by the gorgeous Emma Cox, but if he's still there he's by far the best physio I ever saw, one of the top guys in Britain.
He saved me surgery and years of severe pain.

[gjones]

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1352199507' post='1859884']
If you're still having pain you could do worse than seeing Tom Darling of "Back To Balance" on Montrose Terrace, the continuation of Regent Rd over Calton Hill. He may be retired by now, it's run by the gorgeous Emma Cox, but if he's still there he's by far the best physio I ever saw, one of the top guys in Britain.
He saved me surgery and years of severe pain.
[/quote]

I think it's beyond that stage now. All that will cure it is loosening of the ligament via surgery.