Carpel tunnel surgery

[jared herbert]

Since we have a rotator cuff thread started I thought I would like some info about my problem. I have experienced increased numbness in both of my hands for the last several years, when driving [holding onto the steering wheel], holding a book, or holding a phone to my ear for any length of time just for examples. I dont really have much pain but my hands ache after I do a lot of hand work. I brought it up to my dr this summer and I ended up getting the electroconductivity test done. It showed what was called "moderate carpel tunnel disease", I saw a surgeon and he recommended that I get the hands fixed to prevent further damage to the muscles in my hands, of which there is already some. Since I had a recent bout with a kidney stone I have my deductable paid for this year so this fall would be a good time to get it done. I would just like some opinions on how long the actual recovery is, how long before you can actually do things from people that have had it done and actually use their hands for physical work. by the way I just turned 60. I need to schedule this around my fall work, I am a farmer, hunting season with my son etc. and the end of the year. I plan on getting both of the hands done at once. Thanks in advance Jared

[Stephen Tashiro]

I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand/wrist after getting a diagnosis similar to yours. I didn't have pain but i had a "hit in the funny bone" feeling along my forearm and the nice shock tests that the neurologist gave me showed a problem. I don't remember the recovery period exactly (this was at least 9 years ago). I don't remember the recovery as being long or difficult. It did relieve the problem, but this includes the fact that I changed my work habits after having the surgery. For me, the problem is caused by doing things with my fingers while my wrist is bent. If you hold a ruler along the back of you hand so it runs straight along the back of your forearm, this gives the correct position for your wrist while you are using your fingers to do something. The more you bend your wrist while using your fingers, the more likely you are to irritate the tendons in the "tunnel". (One of the worst situations is having to reach your hand around something while trying to tighten a nut.)

There are two mounds of flesh at the base of your palm and a valley between them. For almost a year after the operation, the valley disappeared. This didn't bother me in any way and I thought it would be a permanent change. However, the valley eventually came back.

[John Coloccia]

Timely thread. I have an appointment in August to see a specialist for a likely case of cubital tunnel and carpal tunnel problems. I have to mow my lawn today...I'm absolutely dreading it and I can't wait to get this stupid thing fixed.

I'm also curious about any musicians that have had this done. I play guitar and have taken a couple of steps to relieve some of the problem (i.e. switched from .13 gauge strings to .12s on my acoustics, for example) but I'm concerned about the long term prospects.

[Phil Thien]

I visited the Dr. a few months ago with numbness in both palms. It was minor.

He put me on Meloxicam as a first step. That stuff is WONDERFUL. After taking one tablet a morning for two months, not only was the numbless gone after about three to four weeks, but my knees felt better, my back felt great.

Now I'm off and my numbness is gone. But my knees and back hurt more.

My case was obviously minor. I think it was touched off by a lot of recent bicycling I had been doing.

[Jerome Stanek]

both my daughter and daughter in law had it done about a year ago. My daughter had the standard where they made a larger incision and my daughter in law had more like arthroscopic surgery and she healed twice as fast.

[Loren Hedahl]

I had problems with it about 15 years ago. A local acupuncturist said he could help. I was skeptical, but decided to give it a try putting a dollar limit of $500 on what I'd commit.

The needles were put in my ankles and I got almost immediate relief. In the end I went once a week for five weeks and spent half my limit. I haven't been back, but would guess the charges would be considerably more now.

Like was mentioned above, I have changed my work habits. I can tell when I've done enough for the day and don't push it further. The only permanent damage is loss of feeling at the finger tips of my right hand. I normally don't notice it except when doing something like picking coins out of a coin purse.

Whether I'd have been better served to have had surgery, I don't know. I am somewhat reluctant to go under the knife and am satisfied with the results of acupuncture.

[Dave Ogren]

Another way to avoid the knife is by taking Fish Oil. It has to be the good stuff meaning over 70% acid. I have heard of a great number of folks that this method has worked for.

Good Luck,

Dave

[William Roach]

Had both hands done last year, and it was very worth it to me. The pain was bad enough that I had to wear a wrist brace, especially at night. Since the surgery I've had no pain or numbness. I wouldn't recommend doing both at the same time, as it is very debilitating for a while - I couldn't even squeeze a tube of tooth paste for several days. For me, almost no use of the hand after surgery for a couple of weeks, after four to six weeks moderate use, and three months for a full recovery.

As I was waking up at the end of the last surgery, I heard the doctor say "Hmm what's this", not something you really want to hear the doctor say right after surgery. He worked on my hand for a minute longer, and the last thing I heard him say before they wheeled me out was "no extra charge for the splinter". :)

[John alder]

My oldest daughter just had surgery,they say women can tolerate pain better than men,the following email to me might just prove that by the way she has reached middle age.She writes the below.
I have suffered with numbness in my hands for years. finally when my right hand got so bad I could not sleep at night I went and had the surgery. I had the open surgery . It was not a big deal at all. the incision is about one inch long. I left the hospital the same day with an ace bandage over some cushioning on the palm of my hand. the stitches and bandage were removed ten days later. no PT, the surgeon just told me to use pain as my guide in doing things. in other words, when it becomes painful stop. two days after the stitches were removed i was out mowing the lawn! there is still an area in the palm of my hand that is black and blue, and a little sensitivity over the incision, but no more numbness. I would recommend this surgery to anyone who is suffering. i was told that if the blood flow to the nerves was compromised for too long, the muscles in the hand will atrophy and eventually would lose function of the hand. i work with horses and I am a potter, so it was important to me to regain the use of my hands. I took two weeks off from work because I do physical work, but I was able to write and type on the computer three days after the surgery. So find a good surgeon and go for it.!

[Ken Garlock]

Greetings Jared. This last spring my Wife had her carpel tunnel surgery at the Brown Hand Clinic. It took about an hour once you got to the front of the line, Many patients that day....
They wrapped her arm in an Ace bandage and sent her home and told her not to use the arm until after an appointment the following week. At the follow up appointment they removed the bandage and told her to be one her way. NO more appointments, no more bandages, etc.

At this point in time she recommends the Brown procedure. It is simple laparoscopic surgery with a 1/2" incision in the wrist and a the same in the palm heel of the hand. A little camera is inserted to guide the surgeon along with a tiny scalpel to cut the tendon. All the doctors are licensed MDs, it is not a hit and run operation.

Check it out on the Internet.

[Bob Rufener]

A good friend, a retired surgeon whom I golf with, had carpal tunnel surgery on one hand. Within a month, he was back golfing with no more numbness or pain. He is also a very talented wood carver. He is having the other hand done soon.