Carpal tunnel syndrome

[Georgie68]

I have just been diagnosed with CTS in both hands and have been told they are severe!! I’m now waiting for an op on both wrists, apparently it’s my under active thyroid that has caused it. Has anybody else had this problem?

[shaws Administrator]

CTS is very painful indeed but if you've now been diagnosed as being hypo, I think if you're given thyroid hormones and it is increased that your symptoms should reduce and resolve. Like quite a number of our symptoms. I think few doctors are unaware of symptoms but only look at the TSH and T4.

Before you decide - but I do understand the crippling pain you have at present, ask for your Free T3 and Free T4 to be checked if either is too low you may need T3 added to your dose of thyroid hormones to help reduce pain/or resolve carpal tunnel.

I am not medically qualified but quite a number do develop carpal tunnel which is alleviated as dose is increased. Read the following:

hotzehwc.com/2011/08/oh-my-...

Also there are many clinical symptoms - all of which resolve when optimally prescribed but doctors are apt to prescribe for 'extras' for the complaints without understanding they are interconnected to hypo. I think they should also add T3 to your T4 as it is the Active hormone.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Read58 in reply to shaws]

Not sure any level of meds can resolve it. I’ve got a weird deformity on the palm of my hand, fingers have bent over, plus shooting pain etc. My doc said wait for op until fingers have completed bent over into palm. Yuck!

[Georgie68 in reply to Read58]

You need to have a nerve test and get a diagnosis, it took me around 4weeks from seeing GP to diagnosis and am now on list for op. Change your doctor 😡

[penny in reply to Read58]

Have you got Dupuytren’s? This can be treated with Scarwork by a trained therapist. Sometimes there is no alternative to surgery but in my opinion it is an absolute last resort. A friend was advised to have some of her toes amputated as they turned under her feet and made walking painful. As a trainee Scarworker I treated her feet, where there was scar tissue from previous surgery, and after two treatments of approx. 30 minutes the toes straightened. She could have had devastating surgery which would have impacted on the her for the rest of her life.

[Marz in reply to penny]

Wow !

[penny in reply to Marz]

You are right, it can be amazing. Thankfully Scarwork is getting more recognition in the medical profession and some of my collegues are using it to treat scars left are breast cancer surgery. I straightened a set, broken finger in less than 10 seconds; nothing amazing about me, just the techniques.

[Marz in reply to penny]

Very impressive. Great work ...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Read58]

I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and know how painful it is but I was very fortunate to find a doctor who knew about CTS, and I was referred to the Physiotherapist who was a genius in relieving the pain and I followed her exercises. My CTS went and I was able to go back to work but I also changed to a special keyboard I was using and that, too, made an enormous difference.

I haven't had a recurrence since (and I was diagnosed about 30 years ago) and was recommended to have an op to 'release' but am thankful I found another doctor who thought 'out of the box'.

Read the following which I think is most important for anyone who has CTS. Unfortunately if something goes wrong after op there's no comeback.

Mine was alleviated without surgery and have had no problems since.

mycarpaltunnel.com/what-is-...

This is an excerpt from the above:-

~"Patients on the other hand find out that the surgeon has to cut through many layers of fascia and muscle tissue to get to the Transverse Carpal Ligament if they are doing an open procedure. These are the biggest and strongest muscles of the hand. The Ligament and the muscle tissue all heal back together with scar tissue. The scar tissue can complicate recovery dramatically. Sometimes scar tissue makes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms worse post-surgery, because the scar tissue will create permanent pressure on the nerve that was not there before.

We all take our hands for granted until we lose use of them for a couple of weeks. Life is hard without having both hands available for the essential tasks of life."

Cursor down page till you come to:-

So, what is the Best Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief?

dancing-heart

[bantam12]

Yes mine was severe and I had the surgery, surgeon said I shouldn't have left it so long as it made the op more difficult, I would strongly advise you don't get both done at the same time because you won't be able to do anything for a while !!

[Hidden]

I had the right hand done but that was before my thyroid was diagnosed.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I also have Dupytrens in both hands as well.

[Georgie68 in reply to Hidden]

What is that and is it thyroid connected?

[Hidden in reply to Georgie68]

Yes, it’s where either your fingers curl over towards the palms of your hands or you get callouses forming on the palms. I have one hand of each!!

[Marz]

Low B12 also involved - do you know your level ?

[Read58]

Yes. i’ve got it too. Only realised recently that it may have been caused by Thyroid problems.

[m7-cola]

Yes. I have had it.

[Ria8]

Hi Georgie68, I know someone who suffered with this for years after the birth of her son. She came across an ointment and it helped and she has never looked back.

[dancing-heart]

I first had CT during pregnancy of my first child but it resolved itself - that was 23 years ago! 4 years ago diagnosed hypothyroid after a serious prolonged case of Thyroiditis. /De Quervains.

I’m on Levo, weirdly over a year ago started to get symptoms like CT coming back but much worse. GP tests say levels are ok but they constantly refuse to do T3.

Endo wanted me to be referred for hand op without any further investigation and warned me it would get much worse if I didn’t. Not one for diving into invasive ops unnecessarily it took ages to push GP to do something. I’ve just had nerve tests and it was inconclusive. Consultant says there are a percentage of peops that it does not diagnose CT for certain but he couldn’t see any nerve damage! I have embarked upon B12, B6, Myo-inositol,Selenium and Omegas 3,6,9. I had a great deal of improvement and less pain and my wrists and the seemingly permanent tingly /burning hands are far less bothersome, although I do still have the sensations on and sharp cramping pain on odd days.

My GP said the only true way of diagnosing CT is with the nerve tests. I think you have to be certain in your own mind that you’d be happy going for the op because no op is without risk. One physio I know was not that positive about it when I mentioned about me having the op.

Think I’ll search for more other possible solutions for now. I have a “thing” in my mind about the Levo causing it. I never had joint pain, clicking or joint instability before taking Levo

Now I have a lengthy list of weird happenings with joints around the body.. wrists included. Thoughts anyone...?

[whatever_]

Hi I had surgery on my right hand for carpal tunnel last Monday after nerve conduction tests I have to have the left hand done in a few weeks not really an invasive op it took around 20 minutes and I was awake for it but be aware you loose all strength in your hands while it is healing i was diagnosed auto immune hypo around two years ago feeling the same achy clicky joints but once my Levo was optimal no more pain and good weight loss.

[posthinking01]

Hi there - i have had the same on and off for over 40 years invariably it is due to low Vitamin B6 - I take a product by Nutri Advanced called Methyl Complex product number 5709 - works for me every time.

[janveron1]

Yes - had this getting worse since last June. I have given up with NHS - worse than useless!!! Fortunately have little used private insurance now working for me. I am desperate because it is my right hand!! Gardening demands on way!!!

Janveron1

[Hidden]

Hi i have a under active thyroide and i have 1 op on 1 wrist for carpal tunnel but no one said it was any thing todo with my thyroide . I need both wrist done but would only do 1 at a time .i ended up just having 1 done. I decided the other wasnt too bad .