Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy- in agony no support from medics.

[Jess1981]

So I’m grateful to be 32 weeks pregnant tomorrow after losing our daughter at 20 weeks pregnant last year and 2 early miscarriages that followed her loss. We have a 2 and half year old daughter after 7 year struggle.

I had CTS in my pregnancy with my 2 and a half year old daughter but it was manageable. I spoke to my midwife 6-8 weeks ago she recommended a steroid injection if pain and symptoms were unmanageable, at that point it wasn’t. So I didn’t feel it was necessary.

However the pain now is unbearable I’ve birthed 3 babies and am no wimp to pain but this is horrendous. I cannot sleep with it. I can’t remember when I last slept. I have tried a tubal support but it made the pain worse as it squeezed my wrist more. I have tried paracetamol it doesn’t stop the pain. I have tried ice in a tea towel made swelling worse. I am losing my grip on holding anything and am terrified I will one day drop my toddler.

I phoned maternity department believing they would help me- I was not even allowed to speak to a midwife. The person said nothing I can do but speak to a dr on Wednesday. My drs surgery is hard to get an appointment- we have to do a e consult before it gets triaged. With the public holidays god knows when I’ll hear. I cannot as she suggested fill a form to get “ahead” until my drs surgery is open. She had no suggestions on how to treat my symptoms to make it not more bearable. I feel let down I see lots of posts here with direct midwife contact details and I have a maternity department that are uninterested who think it is acceptable to leave me in this level of pain. And tells me as I had this with my toddler this time will be worse. Until now I have had such wonderful support from the all of medics during this pregnancy they have gone above and beyond for me. I can’t fault the drs nurses health care assistants or midwives.

My hand is swollen on my maternity notes if you have concerns which swelling is one listed to call maternity department but when I did they wouldn’t help me.

If they aren’t interested I have no chance with 111. I won’t go to A and E with Covid everywhere even tho I’ve had both vaccinations and booster besides it’s not an emergency situation. Shame there are no walk in clinics which don’t require an appointment.

Seeing as this is a common pregnancy complaint I wondered if anyone found something that worked for them! Feeling pretty depressed over it.

[Seb9]

My mum has Carpal tunnel and was advised by her doctor to get a soft splint, I found her one on Amazon and she said its really helping, so you could maybe try one of those?xx

[Jess1981 in reply to Seb9]

Thank you so much for replying I’ll look into that. Xx

[ToniaB123]

So sorry to hear you’re in so much pain. Mine wasn’t anywhere near as bad but these exercises did help. There’s loads more online too. Hope you feel better soon xxx

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