Carpal Tunnel Arthritis

I was recently diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Arthritis. I type alot at my job not knowing that my being overweight has also contributed to this problem. You learn something new every day. I have been suffering from this pain for about two years and just brushed it off as having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. My doctor told me that alot of my problems that I'm having is weight related and that having the surgery will eliminate it all.

Krista.............well it may not eliminate it ALL but it's amazing how much better you will be. Also weighing less has certainly allowed me to control my arthritis pain better with fewer meds and a much better attitude and tolerance. I had never heard of carpal tunnel "arthritis" but had carpal tunnel surgeries several years ago. I'm 60 and have had degenerative joint disease since my early 30s. I've also been overweight about that long, as well. Post wls, I now weigh 165 and am loving it! Good luck to you in your journey......................Judy

My mom was just diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Arthritis last week. She used to have jobs where she typed a lot, now she is at home on disability and still uses her hands a lot (drawing, knitting, quilting, writing, etc.) and she noticed about a year ago that every now and then her hands would tingle a bit. It just came and went, nothing major. Well the last month or two it's been more constant and present so we finally talked her in to seeing her doctor *****ferred her to a specialist and he said that she has a moderate case of carpal tunnel arthritis and it can be cured with surgery. It's an outpatient procedure that takes like 10 mins or something. She would like to have it healed holisticlly first before going into surgery - she has enough health problems. Any ideas? Trisha

I had the surgery on one of my wrists back in 1990. However, I still have the tingling and numbness 15 years later it comes and goes. The pain is better and so is the swelling. If your mom does not want to have the surgery tell her that putting her hands above her head will relieve the tingles she is feeling in her wrist and if she will make a pouch and put dry rice in it. All she has to do is heat the rice up in a microwave and wrap it around her wrist until it cools off. This will help. I do recommend her to have the surgery thou. It is a breeze. Tammy

Oh in regard to your dr saying losing weight will help it, I don't necessarily agree with that because the people I've known in the past that had carpal tunnel were thin. I don't think weight has anything to do with it but I'm not an expert. I do however believe that losing weight and having this surgery makes so many things better in our life - physically and emotionally. So going forward with this surgery will improve your health, most definitely, but carpal tunnel seems to be common in thin and overweight people. So I don't know. Trisha

I first had trouble with Carpal Tunnel in 89, two weeks into a job at a meat packing plant. They insisted at the time I was high risk for it because at that time I had been driving a semi for 10 yrs. I had surgery and it help a lot, but I continued to have wrist and forearm problems. In 2001 had surgery on left hand, same story. Now I have RA so I have to wonder about the connection there. But until 2000 I never weighed over 170# 5'4" not much fat, I unloaded most of my loads myself. I've never heard of a connection of weight with carpal tunnel either. I've talked to a lot of people with carpal tunnel, some the surgery takes care of all their problems and some not. Good Luck and I hope it all gets better. Nut

Kristia Hello I suffer from CTS very bad as well got it several yrs ago when I worked in a factory. I was over weight some then. I have lost all that weight now and I still suffer bad from CTS it has been bother me so bad for the past month I have lost lots of sleep from itcause wakeing up in middle of night hurting very bad and have not found nothing that helps.I am going to DR today but its for something else but gonna tell him about it to see what he can do I can not afford to take off for operation cause in DEC I got to have a hernia repair operation. I'm a singal mom with a HC child and I need the use of my hands with her.Hope things are better for yo with your CTS Take Care Huggs Beth

Beth: Thanks for responding. I hope all is well with you and your daughter. Right now my wrist pain comes and goes. My main concern right now is the aching pain and swelling in my feet and legs. I go to the doctor on October 25th and will be asking to be tested for diabetes and heart disease. I am still overweight and my weight has climbed to where my 26/28 size clothes are tight. I am now wearing 30/32's in shirts, pants and underwear. It sickens me to be this big, it's hard to look in the mirror at myself naked and with clothes on. Please pray for me, and pray that I will get to have the surgery.