I recently went to the doctor because of pain on my wrist. It has gotten to the point where its hard to hold my baby to nurse her. So I went to my doctor and he recommend I get on steroids that the effect has been to be close to nothing to babies of nursing moms. This is the first time I go to this doctor. Im am terrified to take something and it affect my baby. I have a hard very hard time with the pain, they did x-rays and i go back on thursday. But i never took the medication he gave me. Im simply scared to take it. Has anyone had this problem, or would you take the medicine if you knew it had some percentage that it can do something? I know i might sound paranoid, but i care for her well being, since im nursing her i rather she is fed with no effects or anything for me to worry that it might be going into the milk... please i need advice. Or if someone recommends an internal medicine or family doctor that i can go to for second advice. I live in Coppell. Thanks.
Well ladies you have all been amazing with your responses, i have taken note of everything i can try, because everyday its feeling worse and its mainly my right wrist. Well I went back to the doctor on thursday and he wasnt happy i didnt take my steroids but totally understanding. He told me to take them and assured that the baby would be fine and he suggested I go to a surgeon because he can tell its swollen by touching my wrist. So next steps for me, try some of the suggestions you all gave me and for very last resort would be the surgeon. Ive had this problem before pregnancy, it got worse during pregnancy and worse after pregnancy...
I had it until 4 months after my child was born. I wore wrist braces on both hands. I also lost feeling in the tips of my fingers and that did not come back until about 6 months after. It just went away. Don't give up!
I would get a second opinion before taking steriods as a first cousr of treatment. My carpal tunnel is usually made better by icing my wrists morning and night and wearing wrist braces during the night. If I have a bad flare up, I wear the braces during the day as much as I can. They will aslo support your wrist while nursing. Steriods and surgery are a last resort especially if it is pregnancy related and will probably go away.
I would definitely contact the La Leche League. You can either call a local office, attend a local meeting or simply submit an inquiry on their website. All their volunteers are well trained in the latest on these exact issues. All drugs are given a rating in terms of effect on breastmilk and they can give you good advice (unfortunately, in my experience, most doctors are not educated about, nor supportive of breastfeeding, but that's besides the point). What I did when I was taking a drug (strong antibiotic) was nurse some but pump as well and freeze the pumped milk labeled, then I kind of spread that batch out over the next few months so he only got a tiny bit at a time. Don't know if that was the best thing to do but it made me feel better. The doctor (and LLL too) told me it was safe and I just couldn't bear to pump and dump so that was my solution. You are a great mommy and giving your child a wonderful gift, but you also need to take care of yourself. A happy healthy baby needs a happy healthy mommy. HTH and keep up the good work!
I've been there twice. Here is what I did -
Wear a wrist brace ( a good one with a metal piece inside) and wear it ALL day and night!
Ice your entire lower arm and wrist at night before sleeping
Use pillows to prop your baby when nursing
Get a massage (often tension in the shoulder and upper back contributes to the problem)
Before I started staying at home full time, I was an athletic trainer so I've learned a lot on how to deal with Carpal Tunnel and about the use of steriods for inflammation. I would be wary of a doc who's first line of defense is meds. There are a lot of other things you can do first like icing, stretching the flexor muscles, using the pillows to take the pressure off your wrist while bf, strengthening of those muscles, wrist braces. With that said; there is no one cure for carpal tunnel and sometimes you need to use steriods to kick start the healing process and reduce inflammation. Tell your doctor your concerns and ask for some other ways to help this problem. Tell him you are not comfortable taking the meds while breastfeeding. Don't let him bully you into taking them. Like I said, there are other things you can try first. If you don't like what he says seek a second opinion. You can also check kellymom they always have good info on meds that are safe to take while breastfeeding. Good luck! :)
F.,
You made the right choice.I want to recommend a nutritional shake that will help you with your pain and it's safe for your baby. Let me know if you are interested,call at ###-###-####
S.
I too had problems with my wrist after pregnancy and had to resort to surgery on my left wrist. Mine was not Carpal Tunnel, it was D Querveins Tendonitis (spelled?) It is a condition that mostly affects women during pregnany and many new moms. I had the steroid shots in each wrist 3 times and was breastfeeding at the time as well. The doctor reassured me that it wouldn't pass through my milk. My doctor is a hand surgeon named Dr. Boulas and he is at Presby Bldg 2 in Dallas, ###-###-####, if you need a second opinion. Good luck to you!
There is a great food supplement that can help you and not harmful to the baby. we have moms take the supplement as theri pre natal vitamin and have a healthy baby. Let me know if you would like more information.
Best Wishes,
A.
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F.,
I don't have any personal advice, but I sell supplements so I went to one of the books I use to see if it said anything about carpal tunnel. I can share with you what Dr. Richard Brouse of the book "Build a Better You" had to say. I have heard this doctor has helped many people (he is not in Dallas).
Email me if you want me to read you what he wrote or list the supplements, but basicly if the pain is from a repetitive activity, try to stop the activity. He says to get chiropractic and therapeutic massages and lists 5 supplements that may help you. He says it will take months, and to stop the repetitive activity, but seems hopeful for complete restoration.
I understand that "fear" you are experiencing. Protecting our kids is a strong instinct, but you do want to find a way you can be comfortable taking care of yourself too.
P.
F.,
I had the same thing happen with my first baby (in fact, it's happening now with my third!)--and the very best thing you can do is get a good pair of hand/wrist braces and sleep with them at night. That keeps your wrists from flexing when you sleep, and will help tremendously. You could wear them during the day, too, but it's awfully hard to hold the baby and do what you need to do and wear them. I was able to get past the carpal tunnel with no medication or surgery, just the braces. The pain should subside and go away completely once your baby is weaned, and starts walking, so you don't carry her so much. Hope that helps! By the way, you should be able to get the braces at any drug store, or medical supply store.
C. B
I also developed wrist pain when nursing. Try propping the baby up with pillows, or use a sling, so you are not holding your wrists in the same position for long periods.
Also, I had to take steroids when my kids were about 2 wks old -- both times, as I developed hives as some kind of reaction to hormonal changes due to the pregnancy. I was nursing, and both my OB/GYN and pediatrician said there was no problem.
Good luck, and enjoy that baby.
F.,
I had the same problem after having my baby. It was so bad it kept me up at night, and was very painful. I also breastfed and would rather take the pain before I took anything that might harm my baby. I talked to my chiropractor about his, and they used a decompression machine on me & used a technique called ART(applied Release technique) They also used some ultrasound therapy. This has had amazing results on my arms, and wrist. I highly recommend that you check into this. My Doctor is in Richardson her name is Dr. Kristen Parys Walls ###-###-####. If that is too far for you she may can recommend someone in your area that does the same technique. I got such releif from this!!! Hopefully it could help you too!
Hi!
My friend with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome used nutritional supplement and she is free of Carpal Tunnel. If you like to know what she did send me an email.
W.
I too developed severe carpal tunnel pains in my left wrist due to the way I was holding my baby. He had colic those first 3 months so I was holding him often to calm him. Now one year later my pain is completely gone. I bought a wrist brace to keep my wrist straight as often as I could...I even slept in it for a while. Try holding your baby a different way to where your wrist is not in that same position. It really will get better over time!
