Carpal Tunnel During Pregnancy

on November 16, 2009 at 12:00 PM

hands I'm on the computer for work...and I'm typing this right now. When I'm deep in thought and pounding at the keys, I'm not thinking about the pain, but when I stop, it does hurt. A lot.

It's carpal tunnel...one of the products of swelling or edema during pregnancy.

Yes, anyone can get it from typing, but I have it from being pregnant. The swelling in my wrists presses on the nerve, and then affects my hands. My middle three fingers on my right hand are numb.

It's a dull pain all day. The numbness is always there, but it's worse during the night. Laying in my side, either one, makes my hand on the bottom go numb and the pins and needles creates an even more intense ache. I have to position the hand on top just so in order for it to be comfortable. This means I can't cuddle with my husband -- my hand feels best if it's at my side. How sad, right? He can cuddle with me though.

So what can I do for relief?

Have the babies.

I'm nearing the end of my twin pregnancy, so that will come soon enough. But for women experiencing this early on, some doctors say wrist or hand braces may help.

Are you experiencing carpal tunnel during pregnancy? What has worked for you to alleviate the pain?

Edema: Swelling During Pregnancy

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Carpal Tunnel Late in Pregnancy

About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: pregnancy health, pregnancy symptoms

Comments (7)

kendra1417

on Nov 16, 2009 at 1:33 PM

I had carpal tunnel before I got pregnant and it has just gotten worse. I have general applied heat to it and that has alieviated some of the pain but most of the time I just try to grin and bear it.

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Wheepingchree

on Nov 16, 2009 at 1:42 PM

I am having the same problem..it's awful & frustrating! Hopefully my baby will come soon...

C.S.I.B

on Nov 16, 2009 at 8:48 PM

This past month I have been feeling the same way... only 19 more days and this will be done..I hope!

pharo

on Nov 17, 2009 at 11:03 AM

I had it with my first, and hope I don't get it with this one. The pain was so bad I couldn't sleep, and nothing helped. I tried the braces and all the other suggestions but nothing made it any better. It was about two weeks after she was born that it was completely gone.

Pollymom

on Nov 17, 2009 at 3:32 PM

I had very slight carpal tunnel with my first baby. It went away after a couple of months in the very first part of my pregnancy.

With my second pregnancy, the last month was a killer. I had such horrible numbness when I slept, my arms fell asleep unless I was pretty much sitting upright. I actually slept on the couch because of it. And it slowly went away after having my baby.

Oh the things we go through to bring babies into the world....LOL