You play string instruments...and this is hard on the hands. My son is already having troubles.

I would suggest you try the Benfotiamine... Since it came down drastically in price I can now afford it. (SAMe takes up alot of my budget in that respect).

It has been wonderful for me. I have always needed the thiamine. This is working better. I can have "pressure" palsies at times sleeping, and they have gone away. For best results I use 300mg a day. I've tried going back to 150, but over time I get some arm falling asleep at night.

You can try wearing the carpal tunnel braces at night when you are sleeping.
They work for me. When I garden alot, or use tools/sanding etc I get little flare ups and use the braces at night. They keep your hands in a position that does not pinch the nerve, so it can heal etc.

I have problems with salt, MSG etc too.

I had the "cortisone' shot during my pregnancy, on my right hand only. Since I was so impaired I could not function. It worked, and after I delivered I was good enough to go without further surgery thoughts about 3 days after my C-section. If I do any heavy work with rock, garden, or twisting of hands, I will get a flare up.

I think surgery should be a last resort. While it seems more accurate now with the lasers they use, it still can go wrong...and I am basically a surgical chicken!!

Thanks for the info, Mrs D.
Yup, I've had to put the guitars on the 'back burner' for quite a while, now. Altho it is easier to play the classical acoustic one with nylon strings (Classical/Flamenco guitar style doesn't use picks), than the heavier tension of the steel stringed acoustic ones. Even with light tension strings. I don't have, or play electrics, with super-slinky xtra-light strings.
I've taken up the Clawhammer style banjo, lately (past 18+ mos). Lower tension strings and can be tuned down even lower. No picks are used. I'm considering an old time repro model with nylgut strings for even less tension. Any of them are much easier to play than my guitars. My left hand just doesn't have the grip or strength and my right gets numb and I lose/drop the pick.

I'll try the 300 mgs Benfotiamine. I do take 100 mgs of regular B1 (thiamine) daily, tho. Maybe a switch will help.

I do wear a brace every nite on my R wrist while sleeping, but still get the numbness/pain waking me up, and the L is starting to get a bit worse.
Any suggestions on brand (lowest cost, but still good quality) at iherb?
Thanks again,

for the benfotiamine.
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=42

Jaime--- If you were not given these options by your doctor, it is clear to me he does not know about them! Otherwise you'd know them already!
Don't expect doctors to know common sense things, things others have discovered. Most of them stay pretty insulated, in their own little world.

I didn't know there were other options or causes before now, so that's why it has never been mentioned. The cause I said is obvious, and that's the only one talked about so far. I haven't even talked with my GP about it at all yet. It was my neurologist who I talked with and it was he who sent me for the NCS, after all, I see him every month.
It's all new to me, so obviously I don't know what questions to ask...

Jamie read though all of the posts more then once,since I have the issues
with the hands,I am so glad you posted..I miss drumming,a great stress reliever. Then start writing down your questions and speak up..I had a
messed up sugery on my feet. Since then I really try to find other options,
but thats me. Mrs.d gave you such good options before jumping into
aanything drastic..Good luck Sue