What helps with swollen hands

[Oscar B]

What helps when hands are swollen? What are some of the thing you use to reduce the chance of carpel tunnel? I ask this because my hand is about two times as big a usual and sharp pain plus can not hold a thing.

[David Genadek]

What helps when hands are swollen? What are some of the thing you use to reduce the chance of carpel tunnel? I ask this because my hand is about two times as big a usual and sharp pain plus can not hold a thing.

Sounds like you need a trip to the doctor. Here is a link to some info on Carpul Tunnel. At Mayo they seem to view it as more of a symptom of some thing else than a thing in itself. They down play the repetitive motion part of it there. They do not encourage the surgery or the injectons either. I have severe Carpul Tunnel in both hands so I was expecting them to tell me I needed surgery instead they have me doing excercises and made me attend a class on how to use my body better. Big thing they stressed is wear gloves. Rubberized gloves when you do things that you need to grip so you don't have to grip as hard and padded goves when you do things that vibrate. Wearing braces at night has helped me a lot but Mayo made them custom for me. When I was talking to the hand doctor and playing with the model of the hand I said I thought the braces I saw in the store were all wrong and the doctor said yes they are terrible so if you go cheap and get those you need bend the metel plate so it is straight. I also had the brace maker make me a special brace that I use when I am cutting so the round knife doesn't push on the carpal tunnel.

David Genadek

[HorsehairBraider]

I'll second what David says about going to the doctor. Who knows what is causing the swelling but a doctor could give you some ideas.

Also gloves are very helpful. So is stretching, just like he says.

I've got carpal tunnel in both hands and I had to train myself to use my tools differently. I never bend my hand down towards my arm... I keep it in line with my arm, or else I bend my hand backwards. Even when I'm asleep I don't allow my hand to bend down towards my arm. (I think that is part of what those braces do for you.) I don't hold tools in between my thumb and forefinger. I hold them between my first two fingers, and then use my thumb to guide them. It's weird but you get used to it. I can even hold a pencil that way, and write.

I was also told not to get surgery or injections, and by following the doctor's orders I have managed to overcome it to a certain degree. If I started using my hands and arms improperly again no doubt I would swiftly be in pain, but at this time I can do most things and not even notice any discomfort. It took a while to get to that point though.

[Oscar B]

I will see the Dr. next month. Just love the time factor. Thanks for the information.

[TwinOaks]

I'd like to suggest NOT hitting your fingers with a maul. Fingers are not supposed to get between your pounder and the stamp. And nix the idea of cool wavy patterns by trying to transfer fingerprints to the leather with a mallet....it don't work.

Good luck with the doc, I hope you can get straightened out soon.

Mike

[anne newkold]

I have it also, Avoided surgery so far doing the same things as David. The exercises and the Braces at night, or driving long distances, playing on the computer too much...... I started trying to remember to wear them when I am tooling. I think they have helped my tooling some when I wear them because it keeps my wrist in a consistent position. And my elbow off the table. I have not found a way to carve with my swivel knife with them on yet. My braces came from the surgeon also. He did not like the OTC ones either.

I was not ready for the % of loss of use that comes with getting the surgery done.

[rdb]

Some will say do not do the surgery. Some will say do it. My sister had it done, and has her hand almost all the way back. Each person's outcome is different.

As a side not, for quick relief, sometimes the old fashioned remedies can work. Whenever we had things like that in the old days, we resorted to Epsom Salt soaks. Temporary mind you, but relief none the less.

[Rawhide]

Make sure you have the doctor/nurse check your blood pressure. The swelling of the hands sounds like your pressure is elevated. The sharp pains, sound like carpel tunnel. Both of those sound like a trip to the doctor.

Marlon

[chocolateducttape]

I don't know about swelling, but I have to wear a wrist brace on my mallet arm if I'm doing anything extensive. Sore muscles don't bother me too much, but I'm not a fan of sore joints.

[sheathmaker]

Eat a Butterfinger candy bar and drink a chocolate milk shake.....................................it won't make the swelling go down, but you'll feel better while it's swollen. (Just a little Humor to lighten your load)

Paul