Any Gyro Hand Exercisers For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Available In Bangkok?

[bluesmanwarrior]

I need one of these, badly. Deeply regretting not bringing mine with me from the US, because carpal tunnel syndrome seems to be rearing its ugly head. If I can acquire one of the gizmos here in town, I can likely avoid having surgery. It would seem the years of playing guitar hours a day has finally caught up with me. So worried I will lose what I love so much.

I will keep scouring the web in the meanwhile, but if anybody knows anything, please let me know.

[sinbin]

Even with surgery there's no guarantee your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will be cured. I had mine done twice, both hands. Never worked and had to retire early. Never tried the Gyro Exerciser, but I think if you squeezed a soft ball you'd get the same effect. I couldn't do that as it would make my CTS more intense. Anyway, your exerciser is available on Ebay. http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3a6d6158c9

Edited December 22, 2011 by sinbin

[richardjm65]

I too have had CTS, though mine was concentrated in the thumb and the surgeon who performed the op gave it an alternative description of "trigger thumb". My surgery was about 50% effective. The surgeon suggested that the use of devices such as the one you've mentioned and similar items might not be particularly beneficial as the problem was more with the inflamed tendon within a sheath, rather than muscular.

That said, I try to keep my hands supple by opening/closing/stretching movements and simulating playing scales on a keyboard, but with a moderate pressure. Additionally, I take an anti-inflammatory called "Difelene" (diclofenac sodium), as a tablet, in a 50mg dose twice a day. It helps with other inflammatory pains too. I also use "Difelene" (diclofenac diethylammonium) as a tube-packed ointment, and this is a translucent gel which is massaged into the affected area, but is without the heat (and smell) produced by various other medications usually employed for muscle soreness. I find this very helpful, though I'd recommend using it 2 or 3 times a day. Both are cheap and available over the counter at good pharmacies in Thailand. I'd suggest trying the tabs and gel for, say, a month, before resorting to possibly only partially useful surgery.

If you try this, and find it useful, I hope you're able to continue playing. I take it you're a blues fan? As an ex-engineer I found the loss of digital dexterity depressing, but with work and those meds, I lost some of the clumsiness.

[bluesmanwarrior]

Thanks for the input, but only looking for cash options here in Bangkok. Online ordering not an option at this time, or I would have gone that route rather than ask here.

Also, the thing about these gizmos, their function transcends the usefulness of other hand exercisers. Not only does it give unprecedented muscular workout for that area, the ones I have owned in the past have produced a sort of resonance, for lack of a better word. The after-effect is one of pronounced warmth or chi flow into the stagnant area of the wrist. Very tangible healing results. I have used so many tools for exercise of that area, plus all the yoga/chi gung/martial arts exercises I have learned - it is hard to describe just how effective it is in comparison. I do find that the metal or jade hand exercise balls helped greatly with finger stiffness/arthritis, but nothing compares to the benefit of the gyro exerciser for the wrist problems. I should have packed both with my guitar. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

I will try the anti-inflammatory. Thank you for the recommendation.

Thanks again for input folks.