Severe Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[Helevitia]

That's what I've been diagnosed with in both wrists. Recommendation is surgery.

Has anybody here had this surgery, and if so, feel like sharing the details? I have a consultation with the surgeon on Thursday.

[Technoid]

Ouch

[Dr Mordrid]

That's what I've been diagnosed with in both wrists. Recommendation is surgery.

Has anybody here had this surgery, and if so, feel like sharing the details? I have a consultation with the surgeon on Thursday.

I'd ask him about doing one side at a time, otherwise who'll be holding the fork & wiping your bum?

Back when I had that super-infection in my hand the 4th and last surgery was a combination of plastic reconstruction and carpal tunnel.

Painful post op: oh hell yes.

Painful physical therapy: doublehell yes, but doing what they tell you and then some to pays off. Bite the bullet & dig deep.

Worth it: yup

Problem is in the 3 years since my surgery #4 a lot of scar tissue has built up in the palm and back down into the carpal tunnel...again. Surgery #5 coming up as soon as I build up the nerve for it. They say I'll have to be cut from the base of the index finger to half way up the forearm, carpal tunnel included.

Wanna trade?

[Mehen]

Time for voice to text doc?

[Sasq]

naa Doc is like chuck norris, he just stares at the keyboard and it does his bidding

[Dr Mordrid]

neh, I just have to make a s**tload of corrections

[Helevitia]

I'd ask him about doing one side at a time, otherwise who'll be holding the fork & wiping your bum?

Back when I had that super-infection in my hand the 4th and last surgery was a combination of plastic reconstruction and carpal tunnel.

Painful post op: oh hell yes.

Painful physical therapy: doublehell yes, but doing what they tell you and then some to pays off. Bite the bullet & dig deep.

Worth it: yup

Problem is in the 3 years since my surgery #4 a lot of scar tissue has built up in the palm and back down into the carpal tunnel...again. Surgery #5 coming up as soon as I build up the nerve for it. They say I'll have to be cut from the base of the index finger to half way up the forearm, carpal tunnel included.

Wanna trade?

I hear they won't do them at the same time for that very reason. I hear it can be painful but it depends on each case. Some people have no pain.

And as for trading... I got the nerve test done to see if it was my spinal canal narrowing (since it has already) or carpal tunnel. I never thought I'd be thankful to have severe carpal tunnel over having my spinal canal narrowing.

[Jammrock]

You could look into deep tissue massage to help. I do massage therapy once a month, and she works on the muscles that connect to the wrists and releives a lot of the tension there. It might be worth trying before they cut you open.

[VJ]

My mother has undergone carpal tunnel surgery some 15 years or so ago. Both wrists were done at the same time, which caused quite some discomfort the first few days (both wrists immobilized). But this was only for a few days.

The healing process was quick (techniques will have improved since), and the problems have completely gone. She has some scars of it, but in all fairness, she has problems with scar-tissue generation. Even despite that the scars are barely visible. So definately worth it!

Jorg

[Helevitia]

Thanks for your mother's feedback. So far, everyone I have talked to that either knows someone or had the surgery themselves has a positive outcome.

[VJ]

For her, it was a necessary operation: she woke up several times a night with both arms asleep (due to the blocked nerve). She also was weary about the surgery, particularly about having both wrists done at the same time, but IIRC the surgeon prefered this.

Glad to hear that all your feedback so far has been positive...

Keep us in the loop!


Jörg

[Helevitia]

Well, the Surgeon had a different view point from the Neurologist. My Neuro is the person that originally diagnosed me. The Surgeon says that it's not that bad and we should try cortisone shots before considering surgery.

So that's what I did, I got a cortisone shot. Apparently it takes 2 days for it to kick in. Maybe it's psychosomatic, but it feels better already I go back in 3 weeks for a follow up.

[ALBPM]

Just rest them as much as you can.....

Good to hear there is another option besides surgery.

[Dr Mordrid]

I've gone through the cortisone shot routine for my shoulder (a residue of pitching baseballs sidearm) and my knee injury which besides crushing sensory nerves caused a massive pes anserine bursitis.

The most common side effect of the injections is cortisone crystallization, AKA a 'cortisone flare', which can be quite painful for a couple of days after the injection. I really hated those

A lesser side effect is a whitening of the skin at the injection sites.

A rare but significant side effect is that with a long series of injections the cortisone can cause a weakening of the tendons and softening of cartilage, complicating the issue.

Then there is always the possibility of infection etc. Not to be underestimated in these days of MRSA.

Cortisone can also cause blood sugar levels to rise in diabetics.

IMO in most cases they are used to postpone the inevitable.

[Helevitia]

Thanks for the support and feedback on all of your issues