My Carpal Tunnel Journey: Doctor Visits and What Helped

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Introduction

Over the past two and a half years, I’ve visited multiple doctors to better understand and manage my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Each appointment brought new suggestions.. some helpful, others not so much. In this post, I’m sharing my experiences with these visits, the advice I received, what treatments worked for me, and what I wish I had done differently. I hope it helps others who are navigating their own carpal tunnel journey.

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My First Doctor Visit: Getting a Diagnosis

When the pain in my wrist became unbearable, I booked an appointment with a hand specialist. After discussing my symptoms, the doctor suspected Carpal Tunnel Syndrome but wanted to rule out other conditions such as arthritis. He ordered an X-ray and then outlined a simple treatment plan.

Here’s what was recommended during that first visit:

• Wrist braces to wear at night to keep my wrists in a neutral position

• Gentle stretching exercises to reduce tension and improve flexibility in my wrist and forearm

• Physical therapy as a backup plan if the pain didn’t improve

I immediately started wearing the wrist braces at night and incorporated the stretches into my daily routine. 

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Follow-Up Visit: Adjusting the Treatment Plan

A month later, I returned for a follow-up. Unfortunately, the wrist braces seemed to be making things worse. The pain was still present, and I hadn’t noticed much improvement.

Here’s what the doctor advised during the follow-up:

• Recommended that I stop using the wrist braces since they seemed to be worsening my pain.
• Emphasized continuing the stretching exercises and also recommended I try physical therapy for more targeted help.
• Suggested that if things didn’t improve further, we could explore corticosteroid injections or, as a last resort, Carpal Tunnel release surgery.

This advice led me to give physical therapy a serious try.    

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Seeking a Second Opinion: A New Perspective

After about a year with minimal improvement, I decided to get a second opinion. So I approached a second hand specialist. The new specialist reviewed my history and offered a fresh approach to treatment.

Here’s what the second doctor suggested:

• A new round of physical therapy, with a focus not just on the wrist, but also on neck and posture alignment

• Trying over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen

• Again, keeping the door open for injections or surgery if symptoms didn’t improve

While these changes didn’t eliminate the pain, they helped me manage it a bit better.

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What I Learned (and What I Wish I Knew Sooner)

Looking back, one of my biggest regrets is giving up on wrist braces too quickly. I should have tried different wrist braces instead of abandoning them altogether after the first visit. The first ones I tried didn’t work for me, but that didn’t mean no braces would work. Later, I discovered memory foam wrist braces that were more comfortable and actually helped reduce my symptoms.

If I could go back, I would have explored more options instead of abandoning a treatment method based on one bad experience.

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Looking Ahead: Lessons and What’s Next

Although my pain hasn’t completely disappeared, I’ve learned how to manage it better through:

• Consistent stretching

• Frequent breaks

• A more ergonomic workspace setup

• And listening to my body

In future posts, I’ll dive deeper into the strategies and tools that helped me most, including:

• Activities that make my symptoms worse, so you know what to avoid

• Stretching exercises I’ve found most effective

• My workspace setup

• Products that helped me along the way

If you’re living with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I hope these upcoming posts give you some relief, confidence, and support on your own journey.

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Stay Connected

If you or someone you care about is dealing with wrist pain or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I invite you to follow this blog. I’ll continue sharing personal insights, helpful tips, product reviews, and wellness ideas to help manage symptoms naturally.

Have a question or your own experience to share? Feel free to leave a comment... I’d love to hear from you.

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Warm regards,
The Carpal Guy