This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

well my latest diagnosis: carpal tunnel syndrome. back to B complex for me!

and the first thought is yippy more pills..lol....or if you are like me my first thought is oh boy another problem to add to my list..lol...then i start laughing ya know when it rains it pours....but i still keep my head up and smile...with a cuss word in there every so often for good measure,,,,got to have some senes of humor here...good luck with everything

chris

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waiting for answers

thx rhat /:) i know, right away i'm trying to figure out how to take it on, as long as it doesn't avoid staying away from the computer hahaha. we all gotta keep smiling that's for sure!

Hey JL

Sorry you are hit with yet another problem to manage - are they sure that it is carpel tunnel and not the ms aftecting your hands, as there can be similarities?
Carpel tunnel is usually relatively easy to manage conservatively with rest (no repetitive movements, so no computer!) and anti-inflamatories if it is mild.

If this does not help, surgery (in the right hands) is very successful, and can be done under regional block (local), rather than general anaesthesia if you have a problem with an anaesthetic - I have seen it done in a few pregnant women (they seem to be at higher risk of developing this condition, but a GA is bad for them) and releasing that nerve surgically cures the condition....

I hope it gets better - it is just one more thing to stress you out.

Take care

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Al

thx ally. i think the doc is pretty sure. i can make my hands go to sleep on demand, in a few seconds.

it would be much easier to rest my hands if i weren't in school! i'm a lefty and one of our profs is the kind who won't make his presentations available for printing, so you have to write everything on his overheads and slides, plus every verbal aside, if you want to be prepared for testing. there's not even a required textbook to study from. i'm thinking of starting to record his lectures, and writing them out after the fact, with breaks. i've been doing prep for an essay today, trying to take it easy on my left hand. not too easy! hopefully i can fix it without surgery! will have to see, think i'll give it a couple months.

thanks

jl

Hey, Legs--Here is the chapter on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from my own history: When I went to Minnesota's Mayo Clinic with symptoms (1992), my doctor considered Carpal Tunnel. I got a steroid shot in the wrist in a diagnostic effort--if things improved, it must be Carpal Tunnel. Things did not change at all so testing continued for a total of two weeks and they still did not find my real problem. They thought I had a herniated disk and performed a cervical laminectomy (NOT a fun time!!!). They were kind; they wanted to help me, but they were wrong--even at the Mayo Clinic.

Go slow. (I don't think I've heard of anyone dying of this, but I know it can hurt a lot!) Try immobilizing your wrists with braces at night first, or maybe the diagnostic shot of corticosteroid. A friend here had the surgery at least fifteen years ago. At that time doctors would not do both her wrists at once (too debilitating). According to Ally, techniques have improved. Best of luck.

hi thanks LC. wow my doc never said a word about a 'diagnostic' shot. he had me do a physical test which made my hands fall asleep in seconds, then he said get the braces you mention. and rest. ha! i wish.

but i will go slow for sure. the last couple nights i have changed the way i rest my arms for sleep, and the hands are doing better so far. i mean they'll still go to sleep right away when i bend my wrists, but if i keep em straight ya not so bad.

so for further action, as usual, i went googling on "carpal tunnel "and "deficiency" and have located the b-vitamin debate on the subject, so i'll see if bumping part of the b-complex back up for a couple months will do anything.

well if i'm going to focus any typing efforts i better move on to essay thx c ya

Digital Photos of the board?

When I was in college, I used to record my lectures all of the time. I never had carpal tunnel syndrome but invariably there were always important things that I missed and the tapes helped to fill in the gaps in my notes. It was also a good way of studying as I could listen to a lecture while doing other things such as the driving or while I was doing the dishes for example. These days, you could skip the tapes and get a digital voice recorder. In fact, some of the MP3 players already have this function built in. You could then transfer the recordings to your computer and then you would have a nice archive of the whole class to study from. You could probably even sell them to other students to earn some cash on the side!

NHE

COB - thanks! i was thinking of that at first, or even just asking for copies of his presentation files... but he's a talker. i'll have to take two cameras - one for stills and one for audio!

NHE - wow, you reminded me of my mp3 recorder! that bloody thing cost so much and in the end it didn't do what i wanted (2 tracks with playback on one and record on the other). hmm, i wonder how much time i can get with that thing's card... will have to see!
your entrepreneurial bent is right up my alley, NHE but i think i'd hear about it sooner or later lol!

thanks guys

I'm sorry to hear that Jimmy.

I don't want you getting any worse, but I'd hate it if you had to cut down your ThisIsMS time. I find your posts to be msot enjoyable.

thanks, neighbour!
how's married life treatin ya?