Carpal tunnel Sydrome - A right pain in the wrist!

[Injury prone]

I think I've developed carpel tunnel sydrome in my left hand. I've been using a few new machines in the gym and while using the chest press machine I have injured my hand, wrist and thumb. :(

I'm reluctant to visit the doctors because I always feel that doctors will simply say "lay off the exercise for a bit" when I feel that I should simply choose another exercise that doesn't hurt my wrist.

I suppose alternatively I should visit a sports therapist or physio - however these sessions don't come cheap. :eek:

Having never suffered from this condition before does anyone have any ideas on my best course of action?

[claired0]

Hi

what makes you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome? it would be unusual to develop it as a result of going to the gym. What are your symptoms and how long have you had it for?

(i'm a physio)

[Injury prone]

Hi Claired0,

Thanks for responding. The reason I think it may be carpal tunnel sydrome is because of the position or the injury and the manner of getting it.

The injury seems to be in a small tendon at the base of my thumb. I felt some stress doing the chest press for a number of weeks, but carried on thinking it was simply the position of my wrist during the exercise - as an experienced exerciser I usually understand the difference between uncomfortbale and an injury.

However, now I can handle a bench press, dumbbells presses etc because I can push through my palms but trying to turn a door handle or pressing my hand into a bed when getting up in the morning practically kills me.

[joned1]

Finkelstein's test will help to assess whether the pain is from the tendon of the thumb, which is probably more likely if the injury was due to exercise in the gym. Place the thumb across the palm, wrap the fingers over it to make a fist and bend at the wrist towards the little finger. Pain elicitied on this movement will point to a diagnosis of tendonitis at the thumb. Alternatively, place the thuimb across the palm and gently tap at the wrist crease on the plamer aspect. Pins and needles in the fingers and palm help lead to a diagnosis of Carpal tunnel. If you do get pins and needles, a median nerve stretch (upper limb tension stretch) will help to relieve the symptoms. Let me know what symptoms you find and I'll gladly help out.
Jon Edmondson - Senior Physio CMJ Physiotherapy Ltd. Colne

[Injury prone]

I've tried those test and found no pain or pins or needles.

My girlfriend saw a physio this week and she suggested that I may have fractured a small bone in my wrist. Apparently this bone - the name escapes me - is the most fractured bone in the body.

[Pamelaann]

If its not a broken bone, just stand back and take a look at the rest of your body.
What is happening with your shoulders, hips knees and ankles. if you are viewed from the side, are your shoulders forward of your hips, knees and ankles? Is your head forward?
Chances are the answer to this question is 'yes'.

I had trigger thumbs and surgery for this (its similar to carpal tunnel) and ended up with golfers elbow in 1 arm and dequervains tendonitus in the right wrist.

Why?........................I was massively out of alignment (and practicing very strong yoga (I teach yoga too) every day, plus distance cycling as well)
I was told by a friend to read the book 'pain free' by Pete Egoscue.......................and that changed my life. so much so that I took on the training and qualified in 'Postural Therapy' essentially postural alignment therapy, we use exercise to target anatomical dysfunction....................this works, big time and its permanent too. It really enhances sporting performance and improves lifestlyes.

Check out www.egoscue.com, www.soulution4pain.com, www.musclebalancefunction.com

Pamel Ann
Postural Alignment Therapist