Oh geez! Sorry to hear that. I had Carpel Tunnel a few years ago, but after I had the surgery, no more pain!
Can't answer your tool questions really, but I use the Lep's and I love them. I think any kind of repetative motion will aggravate your situation though.
Are you wearing a wrist brace? That might help for now.

Sorry to hear it Nice. My last job before we moved was dealing cards in a casino and I have a sneaking suspicion that my wrist pain isn't going to permanently go away anytime soon.
We had a book at work that had hand and wrist exercises specifically to treat/prevent carpal tunnel. All the dealers did these stretches for about 10-15 mins before our shift and it really seemed to help a lot. Can't remember the name exactly, but it was something simple like "Stretches to Combat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome".
The stretches are very gentle and slow and seem like they shouldn't work, but they do. Maybe you could try something like that to make the pain more bearable until winter?

Hope you find something to make you feel better soon!

Cindy

I think mapei has some nice nippers for tile, that aren't as big and bulky as the regular ones, but I don't know about mosaic nippers, maybe a glass saw?

So sorry to hear about your Carpel Tunnel. I also used no name red nippers first and bought the Lep..a few months ago. If you have the same red ones, they are pretty heavy just to hold. Find the Lep..much lighter and easier to use with a better spring-back. I get a better cut too but that may because I am using cheap replacement wheels on the others?

Sorry about your carpal tunnel!! I have the no names, but hope to get the Leps soon. Anybody I know that had the surgery said it helped a lot.

Maria

You need a POWER NIPPER!

Here is a link that might be useful: This'll get you back on track!

I have both nippers and honestly to me they both seem to take the same amount of pressure. I had to quit playing guitar for the very same reason. I know thats not what you wanted to hear!!!! I hope the surgery works for you. Definitely try those exercises Zone is talking about!!

oh geez,...so sorry to hear this. it's what I'm dealing with and if possible..try to avoid surgery as a first fix.
ask for the nerve conductive study and find out to what degree you have a loss of feeling.
that's a starting point....
it was at that point for me, with the appointment that kept me in town and I had to give up my chance to go to Canada to see Calamity and Klinger.
new doctor and she made the appointment for me and it fell right in the middle of the dates they got to have that weekday fest.

there are subtle excercises and there's also shots of cortizone that can all be plans of attack, before any surgery is even discussed.

I'm still not sure what's to become of my hands..they give me terrible flare-ups sometimes. especially after I've been working outside and dragging plants around.
the nipping of dishes does hurt..the next day and I don't even think about knitting or crocheting for now.
Peroxicam is an anti inflamatory med, along with acedaminaphin..(sp)....
they work great together and do make days bearable.
the big deal is to keep your wrists straight.
a simple wrist support can keep you in business for any of the things you're doing, if you don't overdo it.
wear them to bed when they hurt or you get the 'electrical shocks' up your arms...(not too sensual but neither is the pain)lol

you have my most sincere condolences on this one.

Becky .(*_*).

I didn't have any problems with my surgery. It was outpatient. When I woke up, my hand was really wrapped up big. I had to leave it that way for a couple of days. When I took off all the wrap, it was just a TINY scar, maybe 1/4". You really have to look hard to see it now.
Sure beats waking up in the middle of the night feeling like someone had just beaten your hand with a baseball bat.(Know what I mean?)
I'd do it again in a NY second!!

Hey NT very sorry to read about your diagnosis. Here's my 2 cents.

If you do want to check out some inexpensive arm braces-they're more like gloves- check out the Wilson Caking Baking catalog. (Found in the cake making section of any craft store.) They have wrist supports and advertise for people with arthritis. Decorating cakes is just as taxing on the same part of the arm as using nippers. They are not as stiff as other supports so you can still move your wrists, fingers etc. freely, but it does help keep the strain on that part of your arm down to a minimum and they are for BOTH hands. I use them on occasion under my weeding gloves when in the garden since I don't make cakes as often anymore.

THere are more expensive ones that offer more support found in the pharmacy. (walmart too) They are also very limiting in what actions you can perform adn this is obviously what their fuction is supposed to be, but I could never get anything done with those on. Cortisone can help but if you contiue with the same actions, it will just come back and you can only have so many shots in one area. Surgery can also be helpful, but again if you do repetitive motion it can come back. The exercises are the greates prevention and can offer relief. I think the changes in nippers and even the electric nipper are great options! I want that power nipper!

I do feel for you. It is so aggravaiting waking up with that tingle in your hands and arms and not finding a comfortable position. Then trying to do stuff (which is when the doc told me to wear supports) and finding out the supports were more of a hassle than a help. It's all so frustrating. I hope you can find some relief soon!

Here is a link that might be useful: wrist supports

Oh how frustrating for you. I have been very lucky; I had the beginning symptoms several years ago and was dreading surgery. My aunt told me to start taking Vitamin B-6 and after I did, it sounds crazy but the symptoms went away. About the Lepponits, I just can't use anything else.

Well bless your heart. Sure hope you find a solution.

NT, so sorry to hear that this has affected you. You seem so young to have to face surgery.

I have both of the nippers. I think the spring in the Neps helps but if I nip a lot of glass in one day I can feel it in my arm and chest muscles. I have learned to try to hold them down at waist height to ease some of the stress.

Gosh, I hope you find some solutions that work for you.

Oh and Nicethyme, if you do try the B6, the limit per day is 100 mg.

I really feel for you nicethyme my mom has had carpal tunnel for years and she neded up having to quit her job because of it. I hope that those docs can help you.

Sorry Nice,I have a very crooked finger that get's stiff since I started mosaic' but just can't quit...my waking up at night is sciataca night and day pain never stop's almost went to hospital last nite for pain and I can take a lot so I sympathize with you.good luck give it a little rest and see if it ease's up some.Not sure if diffirent tools would make that much difference tho.

NT, another thought - maybe you need to take up the Riana method and just smash your glass.

You know, D3BB and NT - I actually thought of that - back to the hammer/cover/smash.

Hey NT, sorry about the CTS. It's funny, just today I read a blurb in a natural health magazine about B6 helping CTS. I couldn't remember what I read where until I saw the mention of it above. Here's what it says:

VITAMIN B6: Eases Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is considered a repetitive motion disorder, most often affecting the wrists...The repetitive motion stresses biochemicals that depend on vitamin B6 and sometimes other B vitamins. Supplements can often correct CTS in about 90 days. Extra vitamin B6 plus magnesium has been shown to ease anxiety associated with premenstrual syndrome. (That last bit is a bonus :) Ronnie)
(It continues...)Tips: Take 100-200 mg daily for three months, reducing the dose to 50-100 mg thereafter. Always take vitamin B6 with a multivitamin or B-complex supplement. Although it is more expensive than pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal phosphate is the most active form of vitamin B6 and you may be able to use a lower dose with it.

Hope this helps!

I am here to weigh in on the vitamin B. I am a nurse and have always been a crafter and gardener. about a year ago my hands were so bad I was contemplating surgery. I now take a vit B tablet daily. If I really overdo I will have a problem, but as long as I remember to take my vit B I am very functional. I get ;azy about taking pills and sometimes forget, but after a few days, I get a painful reminder to start the vit B again. Nothing special just a reg vit B tablet, it helps!

Well there you go, NT - this forum is helpful not only w/mosaics, but health problems too. Get started on that Vit. B TODAY.

Geez..I thought my scar was kinda cool....

O.K. ladies any tips for sciatca do you think the b6 will help that too.i am at a point where they could cut my leg off and I wouldn't care.Any advice would be appreciated Thanks Annie

Annie, I'm so sorry for your pain... I had that with pg number 1 and I can't imagine how you are tolerating it. I knew mine would go away with the birth. Big Hugs to you.

I really appreciate the advice all around, but testing continues and may have something to do with my B12 levels so I am reluctant to start supplements just yet. See, I have something a little strange happening - when my arm goes numb so too does the side of my face, so it is still possible that it may be a nerve in my neck. I'm self diagnosing ct because nipping glass all day is sure to bring it on strong... Neurologist office caught fire last week so everything is being rescheduled... we'll see???
But that power nipper could really be THE BOMB hey? LOL

NICE - sorry to hear that you're having this problem.....but OMG....you must also be feeling the LOVE from the forum gals!! What a great bunch of gals!

My brother is also suffering from this....so I already sent him an email about the vitamin B thing....thanks for that info - ronnie and wackyweeder!

Nice,if I could get pg at this age I would if I though it would go away afterwards!Just joking Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!Not a chance!

Annie - at the risk of sounding like an info-mercial :-) I can most DEFINITELY recommend what my doctor put me onto after his own bout of sciatica. Admittedly, I would have been roflmao for days on end 5 years ago, but now I am a believer! (Here's the disclamier: I have no financial interest in this product!) Go to a health food store that carries Nature's Sunshine products and get a bottle of their sciatica formula and follow the label directions until you get relief. I can usually get a flare-up quieted down in 2-3 hours (less if I also use an ice bag at the top of my leg where it joins my hip). For me this has been nothing short of a miracle - I had already turned in my resignation at a job I LOVED because I hurt so badly and working 50-60 hours a week on my feet only made it worse. Went to the doctor for something else and ended up telling him in tears what pain I was in with the sciatica. within 1 day I rescinded my resignation and stayed there another 2 years. Yes, I was a sceptic about homeopathic remedies, but figured that $15 was a worthwhile gamble. Now I keep a bottle literally with me at all times just in case!

(We will now return you to your "normal" programming!!)

HTH,
Pat

without heading over to google..
what are the symptoms of the sciatica? in the legs?..

what's it do and when does it show up?

OH Pat thanks so much I will go first thing on Mon.I've never heard of that ...and I've never trieded the ice bag either only heat..so far nothing has helped and I've has this 30 yrs.I worked lifting baggage ant the airport ticket counter and also working the ramp for 40 yrs even in my 60's and it did alot of wear and tear on my body.Thanks so much!!I'll let you know if it helps me.
Sea....It is a pinched nerve that run's down the back of your hip ,down your leg and all the way to the foot ..a burning,numbing pain that I can't even describe,you can't sleep at night and in my case never goes away only get's a little duller at times.Other times they could cut my leg off and I wouldn't have cared..anyway all I can say is if you don't have it you don't want it!LOL Thanks again annie

Just remembered I meant to also tell you to not sleep on the side with the sciatica...sleep on your other side and put a pillow under your hurting leg to elevate it enough so your leg and hip on that side are in a straight line. Takes a bit of getting used to - I've slept on my right side all my life, but had to learn to go left when sciatica entered the picture. Stretching first thing in the morning also helps keep it at bay somewhat...I usualy stretch up as high as I can reach a few times, then bend over and let my arms and upper body hang limp.

Becky - mine tends to show up in my right leg, usually after a long day at work. I'm an outside sales rep so am in and out of the car 15-20 times a day. If I don't get seated just "right" in between stops, it's starts acting up at the end of the day. usually starts with a sort of numb tingling feeling in my outer hip and then "travels" down my leg....yowie does it hurt!!

Pat

Mine is my left leg too Pat..I know sometimes I sleep on that side and have to rollover a lot too painful too lay on.Sea it's like a knife going up and down your leg all day and nite .Ouch is right!

Hello, everyone. I've been lurking here for quite a long time now, and finally joined several months ago. I haven't posted because I haven't actually done any projects yet. I am slowly but surely gathering materials & tools to try my hand at mosaics. I also really enjoy the Garden Junk forum, & am gathering up the makings of a few glass totems. I will introduce myself at a later date on the conversations side.
What I want to say now, about the Siatica is this: I developed a severe case about 20+ years ago. I did get quite a lot of relief from a Chiropractor. At the time, insurance didn't cover Chiropratic care, and I couldn't afford to continue the treatments for as long as I should have, so I now have permanent damage to one leg, caused by the Sciatica. Now, of course, both Medicare & supplementary insurance policies do cover Chiropractic care, so I am again taking treatments for Arthritis. Another BIG help with pain control is Accupuncture. Don't be afraid to give it a try if you are in a lot of pain ! ! The treatments themselves are not painful, I can honestly say they really don't even cause any discomfort. But they do help me, a lot. Hope those of you suffering from the Sciatica, CTS, & Arthtritis will give it a try. And don't put it off too long ! ! Any relief from pain is a blessing, especially if it can be achieved without pain pills!

Thanks Rustyone but I've been there done that to all of it.Funny when I call medicare they say they don't cover chiropractors so thats why I don't go much either.I'm having nerve testing done in Oct but know I've got permenant damage too since my toes get numb.Thanks tho accupunture did not help me either.Didn't mean to make this a medical forum hope others don't mind me asking for help.I feel we're here to help each other thru good and bad.I know I'm here for anyone who needs me.Annie