Carpal Tunnel and Weight Loss

If you have insurance, I would highly recommend starting physical therapy right away. I'm shocked that whatever doctor diagnosed you didn't send you there right away.

Your physical therapist can "prescribe" a proper fitting brace just like a medication and send a request for approval to your insurance company, if they approve it, the copay will be a lot less than trying to obtain a custom one.

All in all, you shouldn't be doing anything that causes pressure on the nerve in your carpal tunnel, so no more push ups or weights unless your physical therapist clears you. (you might be able to lift some weights with a proper brace on.)

If you need to get some kind of physical activity, then use cardio until then. I have a wrist and thumb injury and it's been a very long journey to finally be able to even do yoga again, I understand your frustration.

I had what I thought was carpel tunnel or tendinitis. I work with leather and use my hands alot and it was getting more and more painful, hands would go numb every night-but I couldn't afford to go to a doctor...recently (like one week ago) i read that diet can cause inflamation, so I tried cutting all grains and sugar out of my diet and miraculously my wrists are almost 100 percent better. Now, I do t know if it was actually tendonitis or carpel tunnel that I had, but it's worth a shot. Swimming has also helped me alot. Soaking in the jacuzzi especially good luck!

I had the surgery for my carpal tunnel. My friend is a doctor, and he said that it's the easiest surgery that can possibly be done (the longest part is stitching it back up since you essentially just snip one tendon). The surgery was incredibly short, and I could write that day. My wrist was sore for a few days, but not bad. I'd just do the surgery.

If that is not an option (sounds like cost is the issue), try to identify what is causing the problem. I sleep with my wrists curled, so I wore a brace at night. If you can alleviate the cause, you likely will be able to reduce the pain during other times of the day and not need the braces while working out. And there are always things you can do that don't required using your wrists to workout. Running, jumping jacks, planks, squats, etc. If your hands are going numb while lifting weights, be sure you aren't bending your wrists while doing the exercises. If you are using machines it may be holding your wrist in an unnatural position, so you might want to look into free weights. If you are already using free weights, watch videos on form for exercises and specifically look at the wrist positions.

Hello. I cope with CTS myself.

Warmth/cold therapy, like through an ice bag or a heating pad, can help give mild temporary relief. Taking omega-3 and also NSAIDs can help give mild temporary relief. Topical analgesics can help give mild temporary relief. Stretching your wrists, moreover a stretch called nerve glides can give mild temporary relief. If you have the money an ultrasound device in my experience, peoples experience vary with this, can give mild-to-moderate temporary relief.

Ultimately though you will have to strengthen the muscles in your arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. That will take a lot of specific exercises and as you strengthen those muscles it will prevent future deterioration and help increase the functionality, sensing, and feel of your condition. But also proper prevention is needed like eliminating agitators, using your wrists/hands less, taking breaks when you do have to use them, keeping them at a rested/comfortable position, and the like.

You need to talk to a doctor and physical therapist of course and surgery may be needed... and nothing replaces the trained help of a physical therapist. I am in a situation similar to yours, not easily able to work because mine is quite bad and the physical therapy has been ongoing for about a year or two now, I have more or less done the physical therapy on my own for the past year because its cheaper and easier to do it on my own after learning what to do.

Do exercises that avoid using your hands or wrists, for example I had to give up pushups in favor of a quasi-plank exercise like this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf14U9PjCvM/TbMd07QoNlI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/uCtpy7Bw3j4/s1600/elbowpushup.jpg

You can modify this at first by going your knees, but keep some padding under your elbows and keep your wrists in a rest position. You can also do this sideways like this: http://www.sleighfamilychiropractic.com/sleighfamilychiropractic/assets/Image/side-plank(1).jpg

Walking is also good... Do whatever you can. You should have a general idea what discomfort can be good, pushing boundaries, and what discomfort/pain is bad as in it is injuring or harming you. Even if it isn't a lot, every little bit adds up, and doing it once or twice is better than not at all. Push yourself and your limits some. I hope this has helped in some way.

I hope you get insurance, to a doctor, physical therapy, and possibly surgery if it is needed. Be welcome to message me to me here, I will try to get back to you if I see it.