Carpal tunnel syndrome and yard work: Seeking a solution

The list of injuries, whether minor or gruesome, you might suffer using outdoor power equipment is extensive. A couple of years ago I wrote about the types of jobs some weekend warriors might want to avoid. (The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provide safety advice for a range of gear.)

But this year I've encountered an injury not caused by a specific event, say cutting myself with a chain saw or getting dinged by a flying rock spewed by my lawn mower. And while it's more of a nagging injury—for right now—than a devastating one, this problem is no less significant.

I'm talking about carpal tunnel syndrome. Years ago I suffered from this injury, caused by pressure on a nerve in the wrist; mine is primarily in my right hand. My physician prescribed the anti-inflammatory drug Relafen (nabumetone), which, combined with a better ergonomic setup at my desk, remedied the matter.

But this year, the carpal tunnel syndrome and its accompanying pain, numbness, and tingling have come back worse than ever. And the yard work I do—using a lawn mower, string trimmer, and blower vac, not to mention shovels, rakes, pruners, and other hand tools—exacerbates the injury. The Black & Decker CMM 1200 cordless electric push mower I've been using seems to put more strain on my wrist than my self-propelled mower does.

I am trying several different grips on the gear and have adjusted the mower handle, but so far these steps haven't eliminated the carpal tunnel. Next steps? I just ordered a pair of work gloves designed to alleviate the symptoms and am also using stretches and massage. I'm also upping my intake of vitamin B6, as recommended by Orly Avitzur, M.D., a medical adviser to Consumers Union.

I'm keeping my tingling fingers crossed that these moves will work, because the next steps might include drugs and even surgery. As noted on ConsumerReportsHealth.org, "If you have severe carpal tunnel syndrome, you may need an operation right away to prevent more permanent nerve damage."

If you've ever suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome—perhaps specifically caused by your yard and garden work—tell us how you've tried to alleviate the problem by leaving a comment below.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook