Bumpdate with Dr. Mick: Carpal Tunnel Update
Hey everyone! Welcome back to this week’s Bumpdate. As many of you know, I always try to keep it real with what’s going on during this pregnancy—because let’s face it, growing a human is a humbling experience! This week, I want to update you on my journey with pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome.
Over the past few months, I’ve been managing classic carpal tunnel symptoms—numbness, tingling, and weakness in my hands—especially at night and after a long day of treating patients. I started with all the conservative therapies: massage, chiropractic care, splinting at night. While those helped temporarily, the symptoms kept returning with more intensity.
So, after a lot of thought (and talking with my OB), I decided to move forward with cortisone injections.
What Are Cortisone Shots?
Cortisone shots are a powerful anti-inflammatory treatment. When injected into the carpal tunnel (the narrow passageway in the wrist where the median nerve runs), cortisone can reduce swelling and relieve pressure on the nerve—giving much-needed relief from pain, numbness, and weakness.
For pregnant patients, cortisone injections are often considered when conservative treatments haven’t done the trick. They’re generally safe during pregnancy and can provide relief during those critical weeks (or months) before delivery when daily function really matters.
My Recovery Experience
I won’t sugarcoat it—the first few days after the injections weren’t exactly a trip to the spa. I had some soreness at the injection sites, numbness across both of my palms and my hands felt like 2 blocks of lead– which led me to take a full 24 hours off from treating patients to let my body rest. I slowly eased back into hands-on care, listening to my body every step of the way.
By day 10, the results were pretty incredible. I had full strength back in my hands, no more tingling waking me up at night, and—yes, this is a big one—I could finally use a stapler again and squeeze toothpaste onto my toothbrush without help from my husband (shoutout to Cody for being the best!) 😂.
It’s been such a relief to have my hands back, and I’m feeling a lot more like myself in the office again.
And Now for the Baby Bumpdate…
Baby Boy is doing GREAT! His heartbeat is strong, he’s got all four limbs (always nice to confirm that on ultrasound!), and he’s currently weighing in at 3lb 6oz, which puts him in the 66th percentile for weight. He’s growing beautifully and staying very active in there—his kicks and punches are getting stronger every day!
Thanks so much for following along with me. I’m always grateful for the support and love from my coworkers and patients. If you’re dealing with pregnancy-related carpal tunnel (or any other fun third-trimester symptoms), don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m right there with you!
Until next time,
Dr. Mick (and Baby Arthur)
