Saturday, December 29, 2007

OH, MY ACHING HANDS

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I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE TRIED TO COOK!
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I overdid it this Christmas with all the cleaning and cooking I did, and now my hands are screaming in pain. It didn't help that Dan's knee started to swell up on Christmas Eve day and by Christmas Day he was in excruciating pain. I ended up cooking Christmas dinner. It's been a long time since I've handled a full blown meal like that (Dan usually wears the apron in our family.)

I am now at the point where I am starting to drop things, and I can't open a Coke bottle. I am having trouble writing. and I can't make a fist. I can't believe that my original symptoms started in late September in my left hand and now both hands are compromised. It’s like the right hand “caught it” from the left.

Aleve, ibuprofen and Celebrex aren’t working anymore, physical therapy is only briefly helpful and I have no vacation or sick time built up for surgery (not that I want that anyway.)

It's obvious something needs to be done. The first option I will explore is cortisone shots. If the doctor won't approve them for me or if they don't help, I am ready to consider alternative medicine. I'm not giving up on Vitamin B6 yet, but one website says I should have been taking 300 mg a day for the past three months. What??? My vitamin bottle says that 3 mg a day is 200% of the daily requirement. Can anyone say toxic?

That's the trouble with doing one's own research on the web. It's so confusing. Should I order something called Carpal Tunnel Solution? The testimonials sound good. But wait a minute, it costs $160.00 for the 28-day, two-hand “pack”. That’s pretty spendy.

How about herbal medicine? There’s an enzyme found in pineapples called bromelain. Maybe I should just eat a lot of pineapple. I do like pineapple but would probably end up hating it, like my Hawaiian college roommate who worked a summer in a pineapple canning factory. I could, however, take bromelain and herbs in supplements.

Shall I try accupressure, acupuncture, massage or chiropractors? I have never been a believer in chiropractors before, but maybe I should start now. There’s Hellerwork (deep-tissue body work) and Feldenkrais (movement re-education). Both sound German and painful.

Ultrasound, fluidotherapy, paraffin wax dips? Been there, done that, don’t work. Splints, ditto. Rest? Out of the question. Therapeutic touch and magnetic therapy? Therapeutic touch “does nothing”, and magnetic therapy “has no benefit for people with carpal tunnel syndrome”, pooh poohs Mayo Clinic.

The new Balloon Carpal Tunnel-Plasty? Is it even done here in Bismarck? Biofeedback, diet, laser therapy, hydrotherapy, yoga, hypnosis? Aack, too much research. I don’t have the time and money to fool around with all these remedies. Let’s hope the cortisone shots work. I am impatient, I know. I want a solution, now.

If anyone out there has found success with any of these methods, please write and let me know.
I keep telling myself I could have cancer or another terrible disease. But the fact is, I don't. I have carpal tunnel syndrome and when I feel my hands like dead weights at the end of my arms, all I can think is, I DON'T WANT THIS ANY MORE!
(Below - ad for Carpal Tunnel Solution)



(P.S. Dan's knee is fine now.)

15 comments:

Mary said...

Poor you Julie - I'm so sorry that your hands are so painful now. You definitely need help with this, especially as it's in both. Quite honestly I know of nothing that works 100% other than surgery - a few friends have had it and are fine now. There are so many "quack" medicines and treatments out there, I doubt any bring a complete and permanent cure.
Glad Dan's knee is OK - shame it happened when it did and you had to cook and lift items. I don't know what your job is but I hope so much you can rest your hands whilst there - PLEASE don't tell me you have to type!!
My love and thoughts go out to you. I pray you will find relief very soon so you can enjoy the good things 2008 is sure to bring your way. Just wish I was close by and could be of assistance.
Take care dear -
Happy New Year - Mary.

Lila Rostenberg said...

I wish I could give you a hug!
I really don't have any valid info and I know you are having to type!!!Yikes!
cortizone shots helped me with plantar facitis(spelled wrong)..in my feet.
I hope you can rest those hands this weekend!

Kelli said...

Julie, I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I wish I lived closer and could come help you out. I don't have any information on things that might work but I can send ((((hugs))). I hope someone else has some ideas.
Kelli

Miss Robyn said...

oh you poor thing xo wish I could do something. as to the herbal solutions: have you tried seeing a qualified herbalist who would make up a liquid herbal remedy to suit your symptoms?

see you in Faery Land soon xox

Leanne said...

oh Julie, poor you. sending you a big (( hug )).I dont know of anyone else who has suffered this so I cant recommend any particular course of action but i will keep you in my thoughts and send yuo lots of healing wishes

leanne x

smilnsigh said...

Awwww Hon, I'm so sorry. And if I wasn't *such a lady,* I'd say; "Damn! Damn! Damn!" {And i'm not, so I say it!}

You sound like a person who would not 'cotton to' being told, you gotta' cut back everywhere you can. I know. But ~ you gotta'. There are times when we all have to be honest and say; "I can't."

And as to all the really "quack" solutions ~ please don't.

OK, done with the highly irritating advice!

Question? Are you sure it's CTS and not a form of arthritis? For which, treatment advice might be different? I don't know. Just wondering...

Rest is out of the question, you say... Which I guess means... job. But, how about resting them, in all else? {This is not advice, it's another question. -grin- Not necessary to answer any of my questions, of course.}

Hugs,
Mari-Nanci
{who this morning, is using her mouse with her left hand, because she is "feeeeling" her right/hand/arm "troubles." And this is how I address them. And if that's not enough, I'll drop off the comuter, till it's all better. But, I can.}

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to read about your health problames. I have some of the same myself and know very well what you are talking about.

My cure is often to count my blessings.

Carole Burant said...

Oh you poor dear, it certainly does sound very painful and I wish there was a miracle cure out there for carpel tunnel but I haven't heard of it yet!! Please know that I'm thinking of you and praying that something can be done soon to alleviate your pain! xox

Rowan said...

I'm really sorry that you are having so much pain, I don't know much about CTS and the only treatment I've heard of is surgery. I should try to rest your hands as much as you possibly can - easier said than done I know but if it helps it's worth it.

Bimbimbie said...

Oh Julie, I'm sorry to hear both your hands are giving you pain and discomfort. I know of friends of friends who have had the operation and the advice they gave was one hand at a time otherwise you are totally out of action for everything which is what happened to one of them who was persuaded by the Dr to save time and have both done at once. Sending you Happy New Year smiles *!*

gma said...

Have you thought about medical marijuanna? LOL
All kidding aside I am so sorry to hear that you have been hurting.
Do you think the cold weather has worsened it? Hope and pray you will find some relief.
Sending you healing hands,warmth, and a lot of love dear Julie.
xx

Naturegirl said...

Julie I am saddened to hear that you suffer with so much pain! I truly can appeciate *knowing how (((PAIN))) affects us emotionally.
I pray that you can get relief somehow soon! All the alternatives you have mention I have tried for various reasons and I find it is a personall thing on weather one finds them helpfull.
With the pineapple start making shakes so that you never get to hating that wonderful fruit.
I send you healing and comforting angels to help you with your ((PAIN!))..flutter flutter...

Wishing you peace love good painfree health inspiration and blessings as we move forward to a NEW YEAR! hugs NG

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

xxooxx to you!
I am making a healing collage rigth now in your honor.

Lena said...

Oh gosh Julie, I wish I knew the answer. My dad had the surgery, and it was a very successful treatment for him. I have had cortisone shots for frozen shoulder syndrome....in both shoulders,and I consider it a gift indeed, although many will argue with that as an alternative. Life is short. I'm all for what will work, and make it viable for me. You should probably take a break from computer things, that I do know. Take care sweetie. I'm holding a good thought for you.

Oh, and Happy New Year too! I wish that you had visited Merryville in the earlier days. They were good times indeed! I'm hopeful that I'll find my way back to feeling free in that way again, one day. In the meantime, your visits are a pleasure. Thank you for all the kind words. They mean a lot to me.

Tea said...

Sorry to hear you`re going through that. I have carpel tunnel too and have to wear wrist braces every day at work. It was the only thing that stopped that strange numbness and shooting pain. I did mega research too. Both my doctor and work nurse said to wear them at night in bed, but after three months of trying that and nothing, I decided to wear them where I was most doing damage.
Hope you find some relief.
Happy New Year too!

tea
xo