Aug 29 2007
Avent Isis – Link With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
I now start to believe the locked wrist that I suffered for 14 months a couple of years ago was linked to the usage of Avent Isis.
I refused to believe in that, when I was still a heavy user, while I was still breastfeeding Ian.
It started to develop when Ian was nearly 2 months old. I suffered so much, couldn’t even lift up an empty plate, lost the chance of bonding with my son, as I couldn’t carry him since he was a baby.
I’ve seen many doctors and finally decided to leave it. After I stopped BFG, it somewhat healed by itself. But I still didn’t associate AI with it, though MIL always suggests that.
I only started to believe in it, in the recent trips. After giving birth to Isabel, as my sister bought me the electronic pump Medela PIS, I’ve been using that even for overseas trips. Only for the last 3 (Redang, Beijing, BKK) I decided not to bring the pump and not to transport milk home, so I brought my old AI.
On the last day of Redang, I started to feel my right wrist’s pain. But I had a solid 1 week break before I used AI again in BJ. Between BJ and BKK, I had less than a week at home ground. BJ – felt the pain already, and in BKK – terrible pain.
It can’t be linked to carrying babies wrongly, as commented by one of the doctors previously. I don’t have my baby with me!
It can’t be linked to washing clothes, as I have a maid now and I don’t do laundry! (Ya, one lady doc concluded that before – can’t believe it!)
After all, maybe the uncertified doctor – my MIL, is right about the usage of AI. Whilst it gives good yields, need to use in caution.
I’ve decided for the rest of the trips this year, I will stick to my PIS, though it is a pain paying for the batteries (12 x AA sized). I can’t use the adaptors due to different voltage as it doesn’t covert. 
Try rechargeable batteries?The initial investment (batteries and charger) is a little steep but pays for itself in the long run. Can also use for kids toys (am still waiting for the day they make all the toys run on solar power), not to mention being environmentally friendly.
i also had these horrible wrists pains, so bad i went to get steroids injected to the wrists. But the doctor said that it is because of hormones changes and the tendon in our wrist got inflamed etc. anyway, it’s fine now.
never thought that it was due to the pump though…
EMYYL: 20 biji of rechargeable batteries? Usually the charger is for 4 at a time, would take me ages to fully charge them…
May consider, thanks for the advice.
Busy Bee: Doc told me the same too, but don’t really believe in that now — I didn’t get it in the first 14 months, and on the 15th months I got it? What kind of hormone change this that?
Have you consider laser pain therapy? It’s an alternative to drugs that actually works.
See http://www.clpt.ca for more information about laser pain therapy. Perhaps there is a local clinic near you that might be able to help.
Chris: Thanks for sharing the laser pain therapy!
[...] Some time ago, I wrote about my speculation on the linkage between Avent Isis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. [...]
[...] ISIS manual BP gave this Mom locked wrist *ouch* — over pumping could cause [...]