Can’t win for losing
Looks like I will be having surgery soon. We are at my mom’s and my carpal tunnel is HORRIBLE! As I am typing, my hand is completely numb. Guess I will have to find another source of income as I really don’t have enough vacation time for a 6 week absence. I hate being so dependent on income to survive. This is another wake up call for all of us to try to live our lives debt free. My grandparents had it right. Why do we always assume we have to have even a house payment? They didn’t. They paid cash for everything and didn’t spend money on anything they didn’t need. We should all be the same. I love you both still!
Tags: debt-freeRelated Stories
POSTED IN: budget, family, financial matters
6 opinions for Can’t win for losing
Melissa
May 17, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I have horrible carpal tunnel as well. An old nurse practicioner told me to take ibuprofen when it flares up. It was so bad when I went to him that I would have preferred having my hand cut off with no anesthetic to the pain I was having.
One dose of ibuprofen in the evening and one the next morning was all it took. Of course, the dose he recommended was 1000 mg, which is tough on your liver. I haven’t had a major flare-up in over 5 years, though.
Oh, and as for surgery…a former co-worker had surgery and swears that it didn’t help at all. YMMV
Karen
May 17, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Sorry you’re in so much pain. Check out these links for natural remedies. Looks like B6 is commonly suggested.
http://www.mothernature.com/library/bookshelf/books/47/27.cfm
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/carpaltunnelsyndrome/a/carpal_tunnel.htm
Online Health Fitness
May 18, 2008 at 3:01 am
You try to Japanese mint oil (a lot of therapists will sell this). Apply to the wrist in the morning and cover with a warm wet compress for 5 minutes to loosen the area, and apply to the wrist and cover with a cold wet compress in the evening to alleviate inflammation
JayMonster
May 19, 2008 at 10:09 am
I am also of the mind that Surgery for this particular problem is not (usually) the best solution, and have rarely heard of anybody that was better off for it.
Something like Melissa’s suggestion worked for me (and my wife) at different times. A Microsoft Natural Keyboard also did wonders. Fix the ergonomics of your situation, otherwise surgery or not, the problem will return (or worsen).
As to the grandparent’s (and others), yes it was nice at the time to do what you had to, and even now it is usually a good idea avoid debt as much as possible, but there is also interest rate and time risk involved. It is not just as simple as “stay 100% debt free” unless you have the means to do so without having to wait too much. (Just my couple of copper pennies)
kellys
May 20, 2008 at 8:08 am
I would love to avoid surgery and am willing to try all the home remedies. Thank you for the ideas. I will have to see what works.
Melissa, I already take too much Ibuprofen. Much less now that I have new shoes, but I am trying to let my liver recover. I do take Ibuprofen for the carpal tunnel.
Right now, I am trying to save up enough PTO for my surgery option. Otherwise, I would have to take 6 weeks off without pay. If I could afford that, I wouldn’t work outside the home.
Karen
May 20, 2008 at 8:12 am
I would definitely check into the B6. B vitamins are very important to our health. My mom felt so horrible that she thought she was going to die. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her so my dad did some research and discovered that it could be a B12 deficiency. Upon their prompting, she was tested for it and now gets monthly B12 injections b/c her body doesn’t absorb it naturally. Her health gradually got better. It’s really amazing how it effects our bodies.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: