Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - the Bane of the Active Artist - Blog

Aye yi yi!

(reposted from my HappyArt.com blog)

I’ve been avoiding thinking too much about the growing numbness and weakness in my right hand during these past two months where I’ve been ramping back up as a production artist, but a visit with a doctor friend who has an orthopedic surgeon for a husband has confirmed my suspicions. They say my symptoms are perfect for carpel tunnel. Zoiks!

Raise your hand if you've experienced this!

Of course I’ll go see a specialist and pay for a complete evaluation – but in the mean time I’ve begun looking for treatments and exercises online to help me alleviate this condition and perhaps even nip it in the bud.

Now I know I’m not the only artist out there with this little difficulty so allow me to share what I’ve learned so far in case any of my readers are bumping into this issue themselves.

My symptoms do not involve any pain

I had always expected pain to be a part of this, but nope. Instead in my right hand there is:

a general sporadic loss of strength
a weird tingling and
sometimes a numbness.

The Good News

Happily there are exercises I can try to maybe undo some of what I’ve done so far and help me avoid any potential surgery altogether. Here’s a German drummer who’s created a short video showing us how to stretch for tendonitis and carpel tunnel:

Maybe that dude will help you too!
Here’s a page of slightly different exercises http://cts-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.com/CTS_exercises.htm

And another quick vid:

I do a lot of intense hand work and two years ago also found myself suffering from carpel tunnel and tendonitis. I was quite terrified that I wouldn't be able to work at all; it was quite bad. I went to a chiropractor first, and this has worked for me. Not only can your spine get out of alignment, affecting the ennervation of your hands, but the elbow and wrist joints get out of alignment as well.

The type of work I do - a lot of gripping - was causing my wrist to "flatten," spreading the radius and ulna away from each other and reducing the size of the carpel tunnel (which is actually a small space through which all the blood vessels, nerves, and tendons going to the hand pass). Besides taking regular breaks and changing how I work, I now know how to adjust my own elbows and wrists. I will often tape my wrists with athletic tape, which pulls the radius and ulna closer together and making the tunnel larger. At the very least I will just squeeze the two bones together a few times a day. The tendonitis (basically "tennis elbow") still creeps back occasionally, but my carpel tunnel symptoms subsided and haven't come back. I take MUCH better care of my hands and wrists now!

Chiropractic care won't necessarily work for everyone, but it sure did for me and is something to consider.

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Comments

Karole Bowlds June 24, 2011 at 2:16pm

Just a note.....
all these exercises are the ones that my physical therapist taught me to do before surgury and for my recovery! I make them a part of my daily exercise routine now.
Karole Bowlds June 24, 2011 at 2:07pm

Having been diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel in both hands, (ambidextrous, except for writing) I had the surguries in 2005. Since then, I have been doing the exercises, stretching and other methods to stave off a return. Because I work with hand tools, and my hands, it will come back, but I am taking better care of my hands now, and my day job is no longer in the same field. So am not pulling "double duty" with my hands. I have also found tat cortisone shots help, along with my vigilance and preventative care.
Marti McGinnis June 21, 2011 at 8:14am

I am looking up the trigger points next B+J, you're the second to mention that. And yah - I would just about ANYthing to avoid the surgeon's knife. That's just a symptom treatment anyway - and I clearly need to focus on some lifestyle issues - the ones that got me in this pickle, lol.
Bill and Jon Slade June 21, 2011 at 7:10am

Neuro-muscular massage -deep tissue-trigger points give you the edge to release the pain- this saved me- Not the circle that the orthopedic SURGEON wants to take you on, before cutting & 4 month recovery--I stretch and release and maintain my own problem- the surgury just wasn't for me to consider- I changed angles and habits (grinding glass from a different angle--standing a foothigher etc.) Chiro didn't do it for me but felt great anyways. Hope ya got insurance-- otherwise find a great licensed massage therapist-deep tissue will throw you off the couch-but it works for me. Fair Winds
Marti McGinnis June 19, 2011 at 11:06am

I will def try out your therapies Jan, thanks for sharing!
cappi phillips June 17, 2011 at 12:08pm

Thank you! Thank you!
Jan Raven June 17, 2011 at 10:45am

I do a lot of intense hand work and two years ago also found myself suffering from carpel tunnel and tendonitis. I was quite terrified that I wouldn't be able to work at all; it was quite bad. I went to a chiropractor first, and this has worked for me. Not only can your spine get out of alignment, affecting the ennervation of your hands, but the elbow and wrist joints get out of alignment as well.

The type of work I do - a lot of gripping - was causing my wrist to "flatten," spreading the radius and ulna away from each other and reducing the size of the carpel tunnel (which is actually a small space through which all the blood vessels, nerves, and tendons going to the hand pass). Besides taking regular breaks and changing how I work, I now know how to adjust my own elbows and wrists. I will often tape my wrists with athletic tape, which pulls the radius and ulna closer together and making the tunnel larger. At the very least I will just squeeze the two bones together a few times a day. The tendonitis (basically "tennis elbow") still creeps back occasionally, but my carpel tunnel symptoms subsided and haven't come back. I take MUCH better care of my hands and wrists now!

Chiropractic care won't necessarily work for everyone, but it sure did for me and is something to consider.
Marti McGinnis June 17, 2011 at 6:44am

Awesome Kathryn! Thanks for the positive reinforcement. :)
Kathryn Looby June 16, 2011 at 10:11pm

I have been diganosis with carpal tunnel a few years ago. The doctor stated the only relief I would have was by having surgury. Not an option as I know that it usually comes back after a few years away. I have been doing the streching exercises since then, and though I have a few bad days now and then, most of the pain is gone.
Marti McGinnis June 16, 2011 at 4:14pm

Nice! I will look into it Charlene. :) Thank you!

This reply was deleted.

Blog