Carpel Tunnel Surgery

Duck wrote:
I have been putting off carpel tunnel surgery for over one year by using a brace at night but lately it has been getting a little worse. Has anybody had this procedure done and how was the recovery?
Don

DON'T put it off any longer. BEST thing I ever did. I waited too long though. the recovery was pretty easy for me. The only thing was getting up off a chair or the couch. I didn't realize how much I used my arms to get up. Regarding shoes, get slip ons.

do it. You won't be sorry. if you wait too long, permanent nerve damage can result.

They are a little better but I still have some pain left hand swells a lot pain in fingers hands go dead asleep at night. I am hesitant to go back in and complain but I may have to. First one late 2010 next one march 2011

rkentzel wrote:
Hope yours goes better than mine. They removed a lot of tissue as I had severe Carpal tunnel both hands. The pain the first hand was horrible I should have taken pain pills sooner. Second time took the pain pills sooner learned from the first. I sure as heck would not do both at the same time. Six months later had emg still have it not doing it again.

How are your hands now after the surgery?
Don

Hope yours goes better than mine. They removed a lot of tissue as I had severe Carpal tunnel both hands. The pain the first hand was horrible I should have taken pain pills sooner. Second time took the pain pills sooner learned from the first. I sure as heck would not do both at the same time. Six months later had emg still have it not doing it again.

my daughter is an OT and said it takes a very skilled surgeon to do a good job on hands, and that she would only consider a specialist with lots of practice and good referrals. Lots of nerves, ligaments, bones in a hand.. It is a very complex place to have some one possibly make a slip.

Had both sides done (one at a time)in 1983 by a plastic surgeon. Never had a minutes pain to this day. Supposedly the techniques have changed considerably in 31 years but I'm not so sure for the good. I know of several people who have had it done in the past 5 years or so and have had problems.

The following site, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19499849, has some interesting information using ALP and GLA acid on carpel tunnel before agreeing to have the surgery.
Don

I had it done on one hand and my SIL also had his on both hands. My only suggestion is; If you live in a cold part of the country don't do it in the winter. Cold really bothered for about 6 mo. I don't like to wear gloves normally but I did that year.

My husband had problems with both hands, saw the specialist, did the tests, said he had to have surgery on both hands. I asked what would happen if he didn't. He said they will only get worse and eventually he wouldn't be able to stand the pain.

Cardio wouldn't clear him for surgery. Family doc prescribed braces. He wore them day/night for 6 months. Hands no longer hurt, no pain in wrist and hasn't had to wear the braces now for years. He has never since had any symptoms. In his case, even though the doc said otherwise, surgery was not the answer.

DAle

scbwr wrote:
I'm having it done a week from Tuesday. Doctor told me that the bandage stays on for 24 hours. Then, wear wrist brace for one week, and avoid vibrations and heavy work for 4-6 weeks. The doctor is one of the best in Cleveland and uses the small incision. I searched for doctors that only do surgery on hands and arms. It's a good idea to research and find a top notch doctor and know what can be corrected and not. Any permanent nerve damage will not be corrected by the procedure, but typical symptons such as hand/arm "falling asleep" at night and pain should improve with the surgery.

Good luck! I'm writing this reply at 4 in the morning due to the typical nighttime effects of carpal tunnel...waiting for it to calm down, and back to bed I'll go.

Keep us informed as to how the surgery went.
Don