Would you give up baking because of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
I was diagnosed with CTS last week and now I wonder how can I keep do what I love and not to lose hand I need, not to go through surgery, etc.
How to bake and not to make more damage than I already did.
What would you do?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Holly F on
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I'm so sorry to hear that. No, I personally wouldn't give it up, but I would probably slow down the quantity of orders I'm taking, and maybe teach classes in lieu of the orders I was giving up. There's a lot of power in using your voice to teach versus your hands - it can open the door to so much more interpretation and creativity on the part of your students. I'm not all that familiar with CTS, would continuing really cause more damage, or would keeping them working delay more weakness in your hands? Regardless of what you decide, good luck to you - and I wish you every happiness.
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Permalink Reply by Tracy Lynn Buttermore on
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I haven't yet, but mine is in early stage, I sleep with wrist braces on when its at its worse. That seems to help. I wish you all the best.
@Holly F you made some excellent points and ideas of making the most of a situation.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Underdahl on
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I have it in both wrists and have had it for a long time. I have not had the surgery, that scares me more! I can't pipe a cake anymore with consistency, so I don't. For fondant I use different wrists braces. There are a lot of different braces to keep the wrists stable, from the simple wrap kind to the kind with the metal on the palm side. If I take care and use the wrap kind while kneading and rolling it keeps my wrists stable and pain free. So NO, I haven't given it up, just learned how to cope. Good Luck!!!
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Permalink Reply by Patricia Soto on
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So sorry to hear that. I have often thought about this same question. I think I would try to keep baking . I would use a brace when decorating. I would do lots of PT. I also have a 15 year old grand daughter I am training to be my right hand (LOL). I dont know what I would do if I had to stop. Good Luck and may you bake and decorate for many many years...
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Permalink Reply by Linda Wolff on
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I had to quit several years ago because of that. I got it from squeezing the icing bag. It was awful! I couldn't sleep at night and my hand was limp as a dish rag...so I quit. My wrist finally recovered after ten years and I started making cakes for the family again and limited myself to doing just a very few. Then I decided to mess around with the fondant and gum paste this last year and for some reason it doesn't have the affect on my wrist like the piping bag did. That is why I don't have a lot of butter cream cakes in my pictures-just a few.
The wrist strap that has the metal insert was the best for me, and I would highly recommend it, especially at night time. It is washable, and don't go cheap on yourself. Get one of the better ones. Whenever you are not decorating, keep that wrist band on. I truly hope the best for you! Take care!
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Permalink Reply by jeri c on
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I had Carpal Tunnel surgery about 10 years ago and my hands work just fine after having it. Only missed a few months of decorating with it... I have had several surgeries over the years... mostly from my 25 years of coaching softball... back surgery... 2 rotater cuff surgeries reconstruction... and 2 total joint replacements on both of my knees.... I have arthritis also... and none of it has kept me from cakes. I just had my second knee done 4 weeks ago and am making flowers this week for a lady for cupcakes for a wedding next week. I am doing her cake top and her sister is making the cupcakes and I am doing the flowers for her... I guess what I am saying is when you love something it's hard to not do it anymore. I am hoping my body holds up for several more years! My advice is to have the surgery and get the tunnel opened up you will be amazed at the difference it makes! Good Luck!
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Permalink Reply by Majka Hianik on
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Thank you very much for you advices and best wishes. I decided to give up cakes for some time but continue to bake cupcakes. Baking is my passion and I feel kind of addicted. :)
However, I will take it easy because of my regular administrative job where I used my hands all day long as well.
I will buy me wrist brace, I know it is necessary. It just feels weird, being in your late 20 and already having this type of problems. Thanks again.
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You can also spread your fingers apart as far as you can and really streatch the hands out. That opens it up too. Best of luck whichever way you go!
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Permalink Reply by Theresa Happe on
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Nope. You stop living when you give in. Go to a doctor and take care of it. If you love cake decorating and you quit, you will be letting it rob you of much more than manual dexterity.
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I've never had the operation, but know several people who have had it and they have said you really lose no mobility or dexterity once it's done. In fact they have told me it was the best thing they could have ever done! If I ever have it creep up on me again, I definitely would go that route. For now, though, I am having too much fun learning everything I can about fondant and gum paste. I don't know why I never explored that medium years ago.
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Permalink Reply by Dorothea Savage Holley on
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i had CTS. hands were numb and painful all the time. i had the surgery best thing i ever did. hands are perfect now. i am careful about compressing the nurve and wear suport golves. i used the gloves before surgery and a brace at night it helped some. you may want to try that first. i put surgery off for several years tell i could not handle the discomfort and i was lossing feeling in my thumb. good luck. my prayers are with you.
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Permalink Reply by JEANNETTE SANKER on
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HI MAJKA I AM SORRY YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS I MYSELF HAVE SUFFERED FROM CTS AND LOWER BACK AND KNEE PAIN SO SOME THINGS HAVE DONE THAT WORKED FOR ME ARE EXERCISES BEFORE AND AFTER BAKING ALSO I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT MAKING LARGE CAKES ARE NOT FOR ME SO MID-SMALL CAKES, CUPCAKES, AND COOKIE ARE WHAT I DO NOW. AND IF LARGE CAKES ARE NEED I PREP AND BAKE 1 DAY COAT AND FROST ON DAY 2 AND DECORATE ON DAY 3 LOL I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE ALOT BUT HTIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET IT DONE WITHOUT CAUSING MYSLEF PAIN HOPE THIS HELPS.
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