Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and boating.

R

Radiowaves

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Over the last few years, both hands began to tingle, fingers get numb, some pain, feeling like electric shocks and a bunch of other symptoms. Constant waking up at night also is a problem.

I went for a nerve test which confirmed that I have CTS and very advanced with nerve damage.
I then go to a hand specialist in Huntington and he explained all details from soup to nuts. But much of the information I got off the internet.

As part of my profession I do a lot of typing, I was a programmer for about 25 years and now a manager of an Application Development staff and have to write lots of specifications for my developers / programmers. So I assumed I got CTS from this, but not always the case, my doctor explained that this was old school thought. He had me go through all activities that would cause a tight grip in the center of my hand. I told him I like to garden and am always digging, tilling etc. Then I said the magic sentence, I have been boating for about 11/12 years, and my doctor knew all about the types of hand activities needed like pulling on lines.

I reflected back over the years and realized that my hands would hurt more on a Monday after boating than at the end of a work week. I am still not sure how I got this, but I am having surgery on one of my hands in two weeks then the other in a month or so.

I thought I would mention this to my fellow boaters just in case there is some correlation.
 
Dern. Awfully sorry to hear of your CTS. That's a pesky ailment. Did your doc talk about hand strength post-surgery? My understanding is that releasing the carpal tunnel changes the geometry inside your hand/wrist a little. I don't know if it would necessarily affect strength (from leverage angle of the tendons inside the wrist), though.

V/R
 
Wow, the ads on this site even read your text words on this site!
I was reading this thread and look at the ad that popped up at the top of screen!
I think NSA is watching us!

carpal_zpsee78f8f8.jpg
 
Ya..It's a bit scary isn't it...Almost like there is no privacy anymore...

I would guess that you did a Google search for Carpel Tunnel?..
 
Brad
I had it in both hands and a couple of years ago & had some real issues.
I got the surgery for my right hand and had some shots for the left.
Both are perfect now
 
I did buy an online video and was sent the DVD from the Carpal Tunnel Institute (. Org) ( I got the same message while doing a search, “stop and read before surgery”) It is like Yoga for the hands. I also had the hand braces prescribed for the night. Yeah right…. try and take a leak with that on while half asleep.

I have tried a lot before deciding on surgery. I should have addressed this upon having the first symptoms about 5 o 6 years ago, maybe the video and braces would have helped. I am not blaming this on typing or boating alone. People get stuff… the body begins to have issues after 50. But it made sense when the doctor described how pulling hard on the lines wrapping them around my hands to pull the boat over in a storm etc. Pushing a snow-blower for two or three hours in snow deeper than rated for also was a cause of agony the next day.
 
Sure its your hands and not your neck?? Did you see a Neuro Surgeon and get an MRI of your neck?? Google, Spinal Stenosis in the neck or think its called cervical.

I had almost the exact same symptoms as you. First it started with tingling in the fingers on one hand and a bit in the other hand, few months later shocks. I too saw hand guys, GP, etc, all morons. Gonna call you now, If I don't get you I suggest you call me back. Before you do any surgery, get an MRI of your neck to be sure.
 
On the Privacy thing, big article in Newsday today or yesterday, Google being sued, its not the NSA, its business :)

Here is how it works with google:
I email Dave (private email), I am looking at a new widget, model # xyx. Now I emailed Dave and I have a google account, google now solicits me, but also Dave now and Dave does not have a google email. This is what the suit is all about
 
Wife's chiropractor says he can cure CTS without surgery.
 
Chiropractors think they can solve everything without surgery because they are not real doctors!

I did not google cts. I just read thread. So it somehow saw carpal in title and read it.

I read thread on shaft vibration and got a ad for Viagra.........just kidding!
 
quote:
Originally posted by j-d

Wife's chiropractor says he can cure CTS without surgery.

Click to expand...


Some of them will tell you they can cure cancer too.
Many years ago my mother was going to one for years for her asthma. I don't think it ever helped her, but she was convinced that the guy would eventually cure her and kept believing that till the day she died.
I won't say that they've never helped me, but I don't know how effective they really are. I do know that every one I've ever been to over the years has tried to sign me up to a never ending plan.
I have a back that goes out on me a couple of times a year. I'm having a bit of a problem right now. Mostly I can get through it with a couple of days of back stretches and taking it a little easy physically.
Last year I spent 3 days unable to get off of the floor without help. Couldn't stop the pain.
It came on all of a sudden in the driveway as I stepped out of my car. No rhyme or reason. My kids had to come out to get me and help me in to the house.
Went to a licensed massage therapist (not a rub and tug specialist) on a recommendation, and that helped better and quicker than any Chiropractor I've ever gone to in the past.
Lucky break? Who knows?
Went through some physical therapy a few years back. The PT thought that Chiropractors were the worst. Then again he had a horse in the race.
Ultimately, I would put more faith in a real MD for serious stuff, and leave the rest of them for minor things.
 
Let me get this right. Tugging on lines causes CTS. Nothing implied. I mean, working lines can be strenuous. It's interesting to hear this report and I hope the cure is not all that complicated or serious. But I have to ask, women have this also?
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

Let me get this right. Tugging on lines causes CTS. Nothing implied. I mean, working lines can be strenuous. It's interesting to hear this report and I hope the cure is not all that complicated or serious. But I have to ask, women have this also?

Click to expand...


Yes it was originally found that more woman were getting CTS because of typing. For men it was just aging and arthritis because of hard work. But now with new modern studies, CTS is caused by a wide range of activities that put pressure on the tendon that crosses the carpel tunnel where the nerves travel through. Tugging on boat lines in my humble opinion is a bit of a stretch, but when the doctors questioned all my activities, three were suspect. Lots of typing because of my profession, digging and weeding using a pole weeding tool, and grabbing and pulling boat lines very often. Who knows, but I do have this PIA condition. Doing one hand first by surgery and will see if it works. Continuing to exercise the other hand using the prescribed method.
 
I have a mechanic friend that has it. He never types, but has been turning wrenches for his whole life.
 
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=110493
 
I had CT surgery back in the 90s. The surgery on the left hand required a brace for three weeks after surgery and then therapy for a month. The surgery on my right hand was done on a Friday. I got a call at work from the surgeon (THAT never happens!) on Monday asking me how I felt. I was fine. He asked me to have the school nurse remove the bandages and the steel brace; I was teaching in Bethpage Middle School at that time. When the brace and badages were removed, my hand felt fine. It seems he had read about a new tool online and I was his first patient on whom he used it! Result: no brace and no therapy needed for that hand, just a large bandaid. The surgeries were no big deal. Chiropractic doesn't work to prevent the need for surgery. Braces only postpone the surgery; they don't prevent it. My CT problems are gone,period. Now if that only worked for my lower back... Stay well, my friend. Hy
 
Hy, glad it worked out for you. The surgery procedure is a bit different today. Very small incision and they stretch the skin to where they need to operate with micro tools like endoscopic. No braces, one follow-up and stitches out in about 10 days. I think they are going to give me what they call a therapy session to show exercises to help in the nerve regeneration.
 
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