Question for those who have had carpal tunnel surgery

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inkjunkie

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In 2012 I had carpal tunnel surgery done on both wrists. The surgeon, Dr Horn, who is very highly respected amongst all of the different doctors I see, told me that thanks to me having very thick pads of skin in my wrists and the palms of my hands that depending on how much scar tissue forms that he may have to go back into my wrists again. Both of my wrists have become very tender. Starting to nave very little feeling in the tips of my left fingers. Went and had an EMG done on my left arm....Dr. Horns office called me, told me that they need to see me. Seen my primary care doc today for my monthly "fix" and he told me that I need to have the carpal tunnel release surgery done again on my left side...anybody else have to have the surgery done a second time?
 
I had both my hands done back in 2002, and I've been fine. I haven't heard of needing a second surgery. The fix is supposed to be permanent? But everybody is different.
 
were the symptoms tingly fingers and hands 'falling asleep"at night, then the feeling of pin pricks? I've lived with that for 10 years now.
 
I had Carpal tunnel in 2012. The doctor recommended grape seed extract. Took a few months to work. Have been good ever since. Kim
 
I was diagnosed with that in my left wrist. The symptom was a numb spot on my thumb about 1.7 inches long and about .7inches at the widest point. It just appeared one day, never having any previous signs or warnings. I thought it must be a pinched nerve so I went to a chiropractor. Hyup, carpal tunnel he said, and it will take 7 treatments to cure. Doc, I said cure it today or I won't be back. I mean in my mind it's still just a pinched nerve. Well the one treatment did nothing, and I never went back. He said if I left it untreated it would just get worse and eventually lead to surgery.
Well, you can probably guess what I did.
It's gone today.
Hallelujah.

Inkie, I feel bad for you. You seem to get more than a fair share of crap thrown at you. Some people might say you're oppressed. I have met a few people like that. I haven't met one like me; not saying they ain't out there, just that I haven't met one.... yet.

Here's some inspiration;
Moses was old and full of years, when he went up on the mountain to be with his ancestors. There was no dimness in his eyesight and no feebleness in him. He was 120 years old, and his allotment of time was up. God went with him, and a short time later returned to the Israelite camp, saying to Joshua; " My servant Moses is dead". Then God passed the torch of leadership over to Joshua.
Today our allotment of time is 70 years, 80 if by reason of good health.
Good health is more or less a crapshoot. Some of the healthiest men in history, just get sick and die. My own dear atheist Father smoked 73 of his 83 years, and altho his eyesight was dimming, he was not on any meds when he croaked. So it seems like that there is no pattern as to who gets good health and who doesn't.
Or is there?
 
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I knew a guy who had right done twice, 9 or 10 years between. He was a painter.
 
I was treated for it during physio.
And i changed jobs. The pace in that shop was too much and the use of air tools really took its toll. Got to the point when i was driving my hands would go numb. A brace and a change to less air tool use all but cured it.
Even now, workin at home i work at my pace and it still hasnt returned.
 
There's a new type of surgery that's less evasive and heals faster.... pretty much just reams out the tunnel.
 
Headed to imaging clinic right now. My left hand is practically useless. I can't even crumple a piece of paper without severe pain.It's worse at night.Has been tingling for a couple months now.Dr gave me some steroid pills the other day. They helped a lot. Hope your outcome is positive Ink. I like others know how it it.
 
I had mine done in '09. Due again but will put it off until I can afford it.

were the symptoms tingly fingers and hands 'falling asleep"at night, then the feeling of pin pricks? I've lived with that for 10 years now.

All, be aware, it's not that your hands go to sleep. The carpal tunnel nerve affect thumb, index, and middle fingers.

The ulnar nerve (aka funny bone nerve in your elbow) controls pinkie and ring. If those are going numb, you're probably in for a real ***** of a surgery.
 
were the symptoms tingly fingers and hands 'falling asleep"at night, then the feeling of pin pricks? I've lived with that for 10 years now.

Yes, but see below....
I had mine done in '09. Due again but will put it off until I can afford it.



All, be aware, it's not that your hands go to sleep. The carpal tunnel nerve affect thumb, index, and middle fingers.

The ulnar nerve (aka funny bone nerve in your elbow) controls pinkie and ring. If those are going numb, you're probably in for a real ***** of a surgery.

This is very true. It is the median nerve that is dealt with during carpal tunnel surgery.
Slideshow: Visual Guide to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This is my hand after the surgery...the first time....
hand.jpg


A guy I worked with needed the ulnar nerve surgery. Pretty sure he was cut from above the elbow to just about mid forearm. My rehab was a month or so. His was closer to 9 or 10 months. And he hurt like a sumovabeech....

I may be wrong here...but one of the tests for carpal tunnel is to see if you can touch your thumb and pinky together. I could, after the surgery. I can not anymore. But I have pseudo gout in my hands, which may be part of the reason.
 
Thing that I am sort of concerned with is getting knocked out repetitively again. In 2012 I was under 4 times....and felt really "off" for a while. Enough that my doc checked me for blood clots, if I remember correctly they are often a side effect of getting put under. Looking at carpal tunnel on both sides....the 3 level lumbar fusion....and my shoulder doc is talking about going in and flushing out my shoulder joint.
 
A guy I worked with needed the ulnar nerve surgery. Pretty sure he was cut from above the elbow to just about mid forearm. My rehab was a month or so. His was closer to 9 or 10 months. And he hurt like a sumovabeech....

I may be wrong here...but one of the tests for carpal tunnel is to see if you can touch your thumb and pinky together.

That is the surgery I got, on both sides. And yeah, is a bad way to spend a year. In my case, two.

That's not a test for Carpal Tunnel that I ever heard of.

My Grandpa had his carpal tunnel done in the '90's. They cut a big zig-zag across the palm of his hand and butterflied it open, and he was awake and watched. He said that when they did the release, the nerve went from white to pink immediately.
 
Thing that I am sort of concerned with is getting knocked out repetitively again. In 2012 I was under 4 times....and felt really "off" for a while. Enough that my doc checked me for blood clots, if I remember correctly they are often a side effect of getting put under. Looking at carpal tunnel on both sides....the 3 level lumbar fusion....and my shoulder doc is talking about going in and flushing out my shoulder joint.


My biggest fear. Almost lost our Daughter during Childbirth because Anathesioligist screwed up.
 
On thing that can cause the same symptoms of Carpal Tunnel is using a solvent like paint thinner to wash your hands.

It soaks into the skin & over time, you get the same symptoms.

I was looking into the surgery for carpal tunnel over 25 years ago, then a lady medic mentions the solvents & hand washing scenario. When I worked at the airport, paint thinner was always in the parts washer, so after super grimy jobs, great place to get it off.

Once I stopped doing that, my symptoms cleared up within 6 weeks & of course, no surgery needed.
 
Mines not a huge inconvenience, I'm no longer losing sleep over it as I have worn a brace (looks like a bowling brace) to bed for a long time. That took care of it waking me up at night. I'll just live with it with those stories! Tried grape seed extract with no results. May try it again for another 3 months .
 
In 2012 I had carpal tunnel surgery done on both wrists. The surgeon, Dr Horn, who is very highly respected amongst all of the different doctors I see, told me that thanks to me having very thick pads of skin in my wrists and the palms of my hands that depending on how much scar tissue forms that he may have to go back into my wrists again. Both of my wrists have become very tender. Starting to nave very little feeling in the tips of my left fingers. Went and had an EMG done on my left arm....Dr. Horns office called me, told me that they need to see me. Seen my primary care doc today for my monthly "fix" and he told me that I need to have the carpal tunnel release surgery done again on my left side...anybody else have to have the surgery done a second time?

Is the tingling the little, ring and middle finger?
 
Is the tingling the little, ring and middle finger?

Thumb, pointer & middle. One thing that helps ease the wrist pain some is compression. I used to sleep with wrist wraps that I got from my therapist.
216lo02nSjL.jpg
I did some internet hunting using the name on the wraps and found them on Amazon. Bought a pair, they look very similar to he old ones but are no where near as durable. After sleeping with them for a week they started to bunch up, right in the palm of my hand which just made things hurt even more.

I have covers on some of my camera lenses. Anymore I have so little feeling in my fingers I can no longer turn the zoom ring with the cover on as they are a bit slippery. One thing when you struggle to thread a 4-40 screw and nut together, but anymore I have a hard time with even half inch coarse thread stuff. My wife gets very nervous when I am carrying a cup or a plate as I have dropped several of them.
What is real fun is taking some of my pills. I actually asked the pharmacy for a specific brand of one pill as the ones they were given me were smaller than low dose aspirin. I just could not pick them up.
 
Thumb, pointer & middle. One thing that helps ease the wrist pain some is compression. I used to sleep with wrist wraps that I got from my therapist. View attachment 1715376167 I did some internet hunting using the name on the wraps and found them on Amazon. Bought a pair, they look very similar to he old ones but are no where near as durable. After sleeping with them for a week they started to bunch up, right in the palm of my hand which just made things hurt even more.

I have covers on some of my camera lenses. Anymore I have so little feeling in my fingers I can no longer turn the zoom ring with the cover on as they are a bit slippery. One thing when you struggle to thread a 4-40 screw and nut together, but anymore I have a hard time with even half inch coarse thread stuff. My wife gets very nervous when I am carrying a cup or a plate as I have dropped several of them.
What is real fun is taking some of my pills. I actually asked the pharmacy for a specific brand of one pill as the ones they were given me were smaller than low dose aspirin. I just could not pick them up.


I’m not a doctor so what I am saying here is in laymen terms. My hand surgeon broke down the difference for me. If the symptoms involve mainly the thumb, pointer and middle fingers the culprit 9 out of 10 times is the Carpel Tunnel. Little, ring and middle fingers the Ulner Nerve. Symptoms involving all the fingers, numbness in the hand, pain in the wrist it’s probably the Carpel Tunnel.

Since I had the surgery in both hands and displayed symptoms in the little, ring and middle fingers he focused on the Ulner Nerve impingement. Surgery involved incision the lower wrist and Elbow. The nerve travels through the elbow area and can become impinged by the bone. Also the nerve can be impinged around muscle. Impingement in the elbow can involve trimming of some bone. That requires a lengthy recovery. In my case the nerve was bound by the muscle in my arm. I have twos scars, one at the lower wrist about 2inches and the other at the elbow.

I also had bone on bone rubbing at the thumb joint. He repaired that as well. As a side note, the elbow was very sensitive for about 6 months after the surgery. I was getting out of my truck on a windy day.the door started to close andI blocked it using my elbow. Needless to say that was not a good idea.
 
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