As the title suggests, this post isn't for everyone and every case has it's own circumstances. I got carpal tunnel about two years ago and it was pretty fast onset. It wasn't surprising, given I worked from home at the time and also play RuneScape (online MMORPG that's pretty time intensive, that primarily uses the mouse with a lot of accurate clicking and mouse movements with fast reaction times).

It didn't get much worse than after the initial onset but it was severe enough to continue to bother me. I bought a wrist brace and wore while sleeping and all the time at the computer, but even then after enough time my fingers would get that tingly numb pain feeling and stiffen up in all the expected ways.

I got annoyed enough that I started researching solutions, but one that caught my eye recently was that mouse wrist rests exacerbated the problem by putting pressure on the wrist and doing nothing to help your arms angle...

Arms angle...

Crap

I connected the dots and turns out the rapid onset was exactly correlated with getting my new desk. My desk is next to my girlfriends, and my old crappy IKEA desk was sagging and on the way out and I knew it was the same height as my girlfriends desk. I take one look at the desk I got two years ago to replace it, a nicer real wood desk I got lucky enough to pick from someone looking to throw it out, and...

The desk was a single inch taller.

I tried adjusting my chair, but my chair was at it's max height. Started researching the chair itself and if there was any way to squeeze out legit just one extra inch so I could lower my armrest compared to the seat and have a proper relaxed right angle arm.

Turns out, all it took was going from the default 2" wheels the chair came from to 3" wheels. I had no idea it would work and I doubted it would when I put them on, but since then I haven't had a flareup and that was a few weeks ago now.

TLDR, if you use your computer a lot and either work from home or play high intensity video games, don't neglect the proper balance between your height, your chairs height, the desk's height, and how it all relates to your arms posture.

My carpel tunnel is so bad I can only feel tingles in my thumb, index and middle finger. Especially trying to pinch is difficult and I drop things all the time. When did you start considering surgery? Was it worth it?

I'm having surgery on my rt. hand next Friday. I live alone, so I'm starting to stress about not being able to do some things for myself for the first couple of weeks. I'm actually more stressed about that than I am about the surgery. My surgeon said not to lift anything heavier than a fork for the first two weeks. That basically means I can't use my hand.

Reading posts here reminded me of things I won't be able to do for myself for awhile. My main concerns are my pets. I have a cat and a dog. I'll need to change the litter box weekly (I don't mean daily scooping; that won't be an issue), and I'll have to take my dog out on a leash in the backyard. (I have major remodeling starting next week - terrible timing, I know - and I know the workers won't keep my gate closed so she can't get out.)

I've asked on the Medicare sub if Medicare will cover someone to visit me at least every other day for a couple of weeks. Waiting for an answer on that.

What are some actual gadgets you've found helpful after surgery? I have an opener for pop top cans, and a tray thing that holds bottles and jars so I can open them one-handed. I'm ordering a button hook/zipper pull, and the plastic cast covers for showering. I have plenty of ice packs in the freezer. I won't be able to fasten my bras, so I ordered some bralettes that you just pull over your head. What else can you think of that would be helpful?

Today, and the past few days I've been gaming pretty hard. Earlier I started to get some tingles through the wrist but just tried to rest for a bit. About to go to bed and I realize my middle finger and ring ringer on my left hand is pretty tingly and numb. Really just the nails. Am I fucked? Any home exercise or muscle rub thing I can do? 27F. Could it just... Go away with sleep?

Can they do them both at once? Is it twice as expensive if you need them both done?

I hate the idea of taking all that unpaid time off work for a surgery I only need in order to go to work. I was doing ok on a split shift but got told it could only be temporary and I'd have to work my normal schedule eventually.

I am getting carpal tunnel surgery on my left wrist and one for my thumb. (Aug 8)

On the right hand they are doing carpal tunnel el surgery and cubit tunnel surgery. (Aug 14)

Is there anything I need to know such as:

Items to have for recovery (comfort and necessary stuff to function).

What do they usually prescribe for pain during recovery?

How long is the recovery time?

Is there anything I shouldn’t do other than lifting heavy things and walking my almost 90 pound dogs? (My partner can do this for me while I’m recovering.)

Thank you!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor or a medical professional. This is a personal, anecdotal protocol I developed through 6 months of trial-and-error research to fix my own chronic trigger finger. This is meant for information only—please consult with your own physician before trying any physical or chemical protocol.

I’ve been dealing with a 6-month chronic trigger finger injury, and I learned all of this the hard way through trial and error and a ton of research. Doctors usually have 15 minutes, and they often don't have the time to break down the level of discipline required to actually heal this, which is why they push for cortisone shots so quickly. I wanted to share my success with you guys so you don't have to spend 5 months trying to figure this out on your own.

Here is the operational loop that got me back on track.

Stage 1: The Anatomy (How the Tendon Actually Works)

Most people have no idea how their fingers move, but you have to understand the machine you're working with.

• The Cable: There are no muscles in your fingers. The muscles that control your grip are in your forearm, connecting to your fingertips via thick, high-tensile cables called tendons.
• The Sheath (A1 Pulley): When you bend your finger, the tendon needs to stay flush against the bone. It runs through tight tunnels called pulleys. The most critical one is the A1 Pulley, located in your palm at the base crease of your finger.
• The Chronic Friction: Overuse causes the tendon to become chronically inflamed, creating a swollen bump called a nodule. When you curl your finger, your forearm muscles pull the tendon, dragging that nodule through the tight A1 tunnel. The "click" you feel is the nodule getting caught and then violently popping through the tunnel when you open your hand.

Stage 2: The Reality Check (Chronic vs. Locking)

• The Chronic Phase (Dull ache, slight clicking): Your nodule is inflamed but can still pass through the sheath. This guide is engineered to kill the inflammation so the nodule shrinks and glides smoothly again.
• The Lock Stage: If the nodule gets too large and gets physically jammed outside the A1 tunnel, your finger will lock down, and you’ll have to manually pry it open. If you are locking, this loop won't be enough on its own. You aren't automatically doomed to a shot, but you need a doctor to track your progress while you apply this discipline.

Stage 3: The Night Shift (Splinting)

• The Gear: Buy a straight, rigid finger splint on Amazon. You must wear this every single night for 6 weeks from your last click.
• The Fit: Fasten the wrist strap firmly so it doesn't slip off, but keep the top finger straps loose. If you feel throbbing or pressure pain, it is too tight and will restrict blood flow.
• The Sleep Setup: Lay flat on your back with blankets flat (no lumps) and arms straight at your sides. If back-sleeping is hard, use melatonin for the first few nights until you adjust to the splint.

Stage 4: The Morning Reset & Chemical Stack

• The Warm Soak (5 Minutes): Upon waking, don't remove the splint in bed. Walk to the sink, fill it with comfortably warm water, and submerge your hand to remove the splint. The overnight immobilization makes your synovial fluid thicken; the warmth thins it back out.
• No Fists: Wiggle your fingers underwater to distribute the fluid. Do NOT make a full fist. Forcing a closed fist drags the nodule through the sheath immediately, causing friction.
• The Chemical Stack: Eat a meal with 10–15g of healthy fats (nuts, peanut butter, eggs).
  • 5,000 IU Vitamin D3: Vitamin D is fat-soluble and won't absorb without that fat.
  • 400mg Magnesium Glycinate: This helps rebuild collagen fibers. If you can't swallow the big pills, buy the powder at the grocery store and mix it into a drink like strong lemonade.
  • The Collagen Factor: Your natural collagen gets jumbled and misaligned from hand atrophy (lack of use). Controlled, light activity is required to introduce tension, which helps the fibers align correctly as they heal.
  • Ibuprofen Protocol: Provided you have no medical issues or medication conflicts, take 400mg of Ibuprofen 3 times a day, spaced 6 hours apart. You MUST take this WITH FOOD to protect your stomach lining. Do not do this for more than 2 weeks.

Stage 5: Day-to-Day Mechanics & Gaming

• The Ice Massage: If you have throbbing pain, use an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel. Move it in gentle circles—don't rub hard. Take it on and off the skin, and wipe away melting water. Stop immediately if you feel burning or tingling that lasts more than 20 seconds. Limit to 5–10 minutes, at least 2 hours apart, max 4 times a day.
• The Off-Hand Warning: Be careful with your good hand. If you dump 100% of your load onto it because your other hand is hurt, you're going to cause a secondary injury. Balance your movements.
• Gaming & Tension:
  • Dynamic Tension: Movement force (like typing/clicking).
  • Static Tension: Holding force (like death-gripping a controller).
  • The Rule: No gaming for 72 hours after your last click, unless it's extremely light. Afterward, use a mouse with a light fingertip grip. Avoid controllers entirely, as the static tension will ruin your progress. If you feel sharp pain, stop—that’s friction.

Stage 6: The Evening Contrast Bath (72-Hour Protocol)

Do not start this until 72 hours have passed since your last click, because the rapid temperature changes can cause inflammation early on. Once you clear that window, do this once daily:

NOT FREEZING, LUKEWARM, OR PAINFUL HEAT!!

1. 3 Minutes HOT
2. 1 Minute COLD
3. 3 Minutes HOT
4. 1 Minute COLD
5. **3 Minutes HOT (**While in the 3rd hot cycle, lie in bed and prop your hand up. Perform a super light massage down the tendon. You'd be surprised how light you need to be; do not press hard, just encourage fluid movement.)
6. 1 Minute COLD: Always end on cold to seal the blood vessels.

Stage 7: Milestones

• The 14-Day Cross-Friction: If you make it 14 days with zero clicks and no sharp pain, you can address scar tissue. After a warm soak or the final hot cycle, use your opposite thumb to apply light pressure and rub horizontally (side-to-side) across the A1 pulley for 30–60 seconds max. Don't dig in, don't rub up and down, and stop if it hurts.
• The Week 4 Workout: If you hit Week 4 with no clicks and minimal aching, start light. Use 5 lb dumbbells for very controlled wrist/forearm exercises to rebuild strength. Never stretch your fingers backward—stretching an unaligned tendon is a great way to re-injure yourself.

Been trying to handle my double crush syndrome mostly conservatively (Braces, physical therapy, massage therapy). I've had some luck with symptom reduction, but it is slow going, and sometimes I will get flares up that feel like setbacks, but I hear that is mostly normal in recovery.

My question is that has anyone found any alternative treatments that they have had luck with? I've had some luck with ashwagandha, but now I'm trying DMSO and red light therapy seeing what happens.

Best of luck with anyone going through the same thing! Almost coming up from a year since diagnosis.

Has anyone gotten a tendon cut or loosened or something to correct curled up fingers? How did it work for you?

I cut my knuckle years ago and ever since then my ring finger & pinky finger on my right hand is now permanently curled. I can straighten them using my other hand but they curl back immediately after I let go.

My mom says I’ll regret getting surgery but these fingers are so annoying. I have trouble holding & grabbing everything with that hand.

Not sure if this belongs here but Reddit seems to believe I should share it here.

Looking for some home remedies I can attempt. My right hand Thumb, Index, Middle, Ringfinger, palm and wrist gets this unbearably painful "Cold numbness" that feels like my hand is in a frozen vice. This feeling comes and goes constantly, be it writing, driving, sleeping, or at work which I am a Pest Control Technician so I'm constantly using my hands. My left hand is starting to be the same but it's just not "cold" feeling yet.

My wife wakes me up asking why I'm sitting upright but I haven't even woken up yet. My body subconsciously is letting my hands dangle down to try to get the pain to stop. Sometimes this works for a bit and sometimes nothing works. I have 2 braces for my right hand but they seem to do very little so I haven't gotten one for my left hand yet. I do wear 1 every night just in case it is doing "Something".

But this is getting to the point where my hands are so weak I have to have my wife open things for me when it used to be the other way around. Now I a lot of the time I can't even tell if I'm holding something small like a screw or change, and have to guess if I'm grasping it or not.

Sorry if this post seems all over the place, I just kind of decided to post it randomly and all of my thoughts just kinda poured out.

A week ago, I developed a stiff pain in my index finger, which over the past week has spread to my thumb and wrist. The pain seems to fluctuate and move by the hour. Sometimes I feel very slight tingling, and have had occasional shocking sensations in my entire right arm (up to the shoulder sometimes, for whatever reason).

The pain isn't horrible (it sometimes vanishes completely), and I can still use my hands mostly like normal (can still grip stuff and move my fingers around), but I'm worried. I woke up this morning, and the sides of my ring and index fingers feel a bit numb. My appointment to get a general check-up is July 17, but I'm scared the symptoms will progress in that time.

Drawing and video games are my two major hobbies, so the anxiety over possibly needing to take a long break from them might be exacerbating my symptoms. I'm not sure if it's all in my head or if there's a step I should be taking to get seen quickly. I've started wearing a brace at night, adjusting my desk setup, and taking regular stretch breaks, but I fear that might not be enough to hold off any more damage before my check-up.

My doctor has me out to get an EMG test for numbness in my fingers. She said it can be a painful procedure, so I’m expecting it to not be fun, but what does the process look like? Can I drive myself? How bad is it really? Kinda scared tbh

Hey everyone. I was given a marcaine (long-acting) injection during the surgery. My hand is still numb, with some sensation in the thumb and forefinger. Waiting for surgeon or nurse to call me back. I'm worried. I thought the local anaesthetic would've worn off by now? Anyone else have experience with marcaine during your surgery?

2 EMG’s, 1 neck mri. Pointless splinting putting a bandaid on a bullet wound since November. 10 months later now with it all and still jacking around with appointments. Get told symptoms aren’t carpal tunnel but literally get tingling when holding a controller or tapping on the median nerve. dumbass hand surgeons refusing to do ultra sounds, Getting to the point now where I really don’t give a damn anymore. Zero plans to permanently give up a hobby. Hands can fall off for all I care.