{"id":8155,"date":"2023-10-14T22:17:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T15:17:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8155"},"modified":"2023-10-14T22:17:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T15:17:58","slug":"how-to-find-relief-for-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8155","title":{"rendered":"How To Find Relief for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome During Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">I<\/span> knew that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/exercises-for-back-pain-in-pregnancy\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/exercises-for-back-pain-in-pregnancy\/\">back pain<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lancastergeneralhealth.org\/health-hub-home\/motherhood\/your-pregnancy\/how-to-prevent-and-treat-heartburn-during-pregnancy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.lancastergeneralhealth.org\/health-hub-home\/motherhood\/your-pregnancy\/how-to-prevent-and-treat-heartburn-during-pregnancy\">heartburn<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/10-unexpected-changes-to-body-during-pregnancy\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/10-unexpected-changes-to-body-during-pregnancy\/\">mood swings<\/a> were all par for the course when you&#8217;re pregnant. But one physical side effect I was not expecting? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-stretches\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-stretches\/\">Carpal tunnel syndrome<\/a> during pregnancy.<\/div>\n<p>Starting just shy of the halfway mark in my pregnancy, I started waking up with tingling hands. I thought I must just be sleeping in funny positions. Then, I started getting pain on the inner side of my wrist, under my thumb. I joked that I was getting \u201cphone thumb,\u201d and figured I must be scrolling more than usual.<\/p>\n<p>Then I learned that your joints get all sorts of jacked up during pregnancy, in large part due to the <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/body\/24305-relaxin\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/body\/24305-relaxin\">increasing flow of the hormone relaxin<\/a>, which relaxes your joints\u2014and eventually your cervix\u2014in preparation for labor. I ran my \u201cphone thumb\u201d by a relative who is an OB\/GYN (lucky me) to ask her if it might be relaxin-related, and to my surprise, she asked me if I was waking up with tingling hands! It turns out that both tingling and wrist pain are symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, which can occur during pregnancy\u2014and doesn\u2019t have anything to do with relaxin.<\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<hr\/>\n<div class=\"experts-in-article noskim py-[24px] px-[40px]\">\n<p>Experts In This Article<\/p>\n<ul class=\"!ml-[18px]\">\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sarah-whitworth-otr-otd-cht-82188865\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sarah-whitworth-otr-otd-cht-82188865\/\">Sarah Whitworth, OTR, OTD, CHT<\/a>, occupational therapist, certified hand therapist, and owner of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/\">FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Center<\/a> in Sherman, TX <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/woodstock\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/woodstock\">Tori Russell, MS, OTR\/L, CHT<\/a>, occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers in Woodstock, GA. <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<h2>What is carpal tunnel syndrome?<\/h2>\n<p>As the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/orthoinfo.aaos.org\/en\/diseases--conditions\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/orthoinfo.aaos.org\/en\/diseases--conditions\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome\">American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons explains<\/a>, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist that the median nerve, which is responsible for much of the feeling in the hands and plays a role in controlling thumb movements, passes through as it stretches all the way from the neck down the arm to the hands. The tendons responsible for bending the fingers also go through the carpal tunnel. That\u2019s a lot of important traffic for about an inch of space!<\/p>\n<p>Given all that activity in the carpal tunnel, when the nerves and tendons don\u2019t have enough room to go about their business, your hand function gets royally messed up. Carpal tunnel syndrome specifically occurs when too much pressure is exerted on the median nerve. Pressure on the nerve leads to tingling, numbness, pain, and loss of hand strength.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy\/\" current-title=\"Experiencing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome While Pregnant? Here\u2019s How To Find Relief From This Surprising Pregnancy Symptom\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-04-14\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-during-pregnancy\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cTypically, it is caused by direct sustained pressure,\u201d says Tori Russell, occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/woodstock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/woodstock\">FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers in Woodstock, Georgia<\/a>. \u201cCommon examples include pressing down on a mouse pad or table for long periods of time, forced prolonged wrist flexion or extension such as riding a bike and pressing palms on the handlebars, sleeping with wrists flexed, or swelling for any reason such as post-op, pregnancy, arthritis, tendonitis, or injury.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Why does carpal tunnel syndrome occur during pregnancy?<\/h2>\n<p>While repeated pressure on my median nerve from my thumb scrolling through Instagram does probably cause some stress in my carpal tunnel, the culprit behind pregnancy carpal tunnel syndrome is generally increased swelling, which is known as \u201cedema,\u201d thanks to the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/7775296\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/7775296\/\">extra blood and water circulating<\/a>\u00a0throughout a pregnant person\u2019s body.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIncreased edema in the carpal tunnel can occur in pregnancy as fluid levels in the body change,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sarah-whitworth-otr-otd-cht-82188865\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sarah-whitworth-otr-otd-cht-82188865\/\">Sarah Whitworth<\/a>, occupational therapist, certified hand therapist, and owner of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.fyzical.com\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\">FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Center<\/a> in Sherman, Texas. All the extra fluids circulating to get nutrients to my fetus and, yes, lube up my joints, means a tiny tunnel just gets put under a lot more pressure than normal.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, pregnant people who \u201cuse forceful or repetitive hand and finger movements\u201d may be more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy, according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/healthy.kaiserpermanente.org\/health-wellness\/health-encyclopedia\/he.pregnancy-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.zt1608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/healthy.kaiserpermanente.org\/health-wellness\/health-encyclopedia\/he.pregnancy-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.zt1608\">Kaiser Permanente<\/a>. So while my repetitive scrolling motions might not bother me normally, the fact that the nerve is being squished by all my extra fluid makes for a perfect carpal tunnel storm. Also, anecdotally, Russell says, \u201cI have also noticed women who are more petite with smaller bone structures experience compression on the carpal tunnel.\u201d I\u2019m 5 foot 1, so my poor pregnant wrists didn\u2019t stand a chance.<\/p>\n<h2>How can you relieve carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms during pregnancy?<\/h2>\n<p>The good news first: If your carpal tunnel syndrome only came on during pregnancy, it will most likely abate shortly after. If it&#8217;s still there about a month after giving birth, Whitworth suggests speaking with your doctor.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, you can do <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-exercises\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-exercises\/\">carpal tunnel exercises<\/a>\u00a0to mobilize your wrists like anyone else with carpal tunnel syndrome would, and there is quite a bit of overlap in treatment in general. However, since the main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy is swelling\u2014not necessarily repetitive motion\u2014treatment and relief looks a little bit different.<\/p>\n<p>Here are Russell\u2019s tips for relieving carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Wear a cock-up splint for bed and tipless edema gloves during the day.<\/li>\n<li>Ice your wrists at night and several times during the day, for about five minutes at a time.<\/li>\n<li>Apply heat, stretch, and move throughout the day.<\/li>\n<li>Pump your arms overhead to help get the edema out of your hands.<\/li>\n<li>Consider hand therapy including fluid therapy, ultrasound, massage, manual stretching, and lymph mobilization.<\/li>\n<li>Invest in some adaptive equipment such as larger handled items or ergonomic workstations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Personally, my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ACE-Americas-Supports-Satisfaction-Guarantee\/dp\/B005YU8TMC\/?th=1\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ACE-Americas-Supports-Satisfaction-Guarantee\/dp\/B005YU8TMC\/?th=1\">ACE wrist splint<\/a> ($22) has been my best friend and I wear it whenever I\u2019m starting to feel some pain. If you\u2019re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy, know that you\u2019re not alone (hi!), and that, most likely, the pain and suffering is temporary\u2014although no one should dare trying to comfort me with this fact when I&#8217;m in pain, and hungry, and tired, right freaking now. Just another joy of pregnancy, am I right?<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I knew that back pain, heartburn, and mood swings were all par for the course when you&#8217;re pregnant. But one physical side effect I was not expecting? Carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy. Starting just shy of the halfway mark in my pregnancy, I started waking up with tingling hands. I thought I must just be &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}