Caffine/nicotine?

Bass-desires · #1 03-14-2009, 06:48 PM

Hey all, I have heard from a few folks (and here as well) that the above (stimulants) don't do well for the nerves and that carpal tunnel. Does this include nerves swelling as in carpal tunnel syndrome? I have been having issues with my hands going numb and wondering if I should reduce my coffee intake.

Thanks guys,

dmusic148 · #2 03-14-2009, 06:59 PM

Everyone's different, easy enough to try it and find out for yourself. By the way, the nerves don't swell-it's the bursae surrounding your tendons that do. These end up squeezing the nerves. I've had carpal tunnel surgery(success) and am about to undergo cubital tunnel surgery(hoping for the best) and no diet, exercise, or other regimen ever made any difference at all for me. Best of luck, Dave

Bass-desires · #3 03-14-2009, 07:48 PM

So the carpal tunnel surgery did work. Can you tell me the differences in how you felt before and after? I have seriously considered doing this and would like some real life story.

My hands go numb a lot, even when not playing.

dmusic148 · #4 03-14-2009, 08:07 PM

Well, the first thing you need to do, and I can't say this strongly enough, is find a good doctor who is a specialist in this area, and has good references. He or she will diagnose your condition using a variety of techniques. It may in fact not be your wrist at all-could be a spinal mis-alignment, for example. Only the doctor can tell you for sure.
Before and after? Night and day. Before, my hand(plucking)was sort of numb all the time, with a burning sensation in the wrist and hand. Poor coordination/dexterity, difficult to play well. Playing, or pretty much anything, made it worse. After-almost as good as new, but not perfect, in my case(see below). Short recovery-my doctor used the modern method, very small incision on my wrist-he didn't cut my hand open, this IMO is the way to go. Find a Doc that does it this way. I was back in action in two weeks max. Playing, working, no problem. Also no pain at all, without painkillers. Epic win. If you are in the tri-state(New York) area I highly recommend my Doc, Doctor Brown, at the Hand Center of Connecticut. Great guy.

It may be that I needed the cubital release all along, but the symptoms of it weren't bad at the time(7 years ago)-this may have been an issue all along as well but we didn't know. So I am hoping that that procedure will return me to my former glory, but I'm doing quite well as it is. Just not 100%, especially within the last year or so, and new tests revealed the cubital(elbow)issue. Dave