Carpal Tunnel - release surgery

[Shadowlady]

Oh Sue, What a refreshing change! That is good to hear! How's the function coming along? Are you able to use it ok?

I'm so glad to hear that you had such a good appointment! I really am!

[naama]

can all of you who have had carpal tunnel problems answer a couple of questions for me? Did your problems start suddenly or was it a gradual thing? is the pain like the pain you get in your hand when you've walked a long way with crutches? I've had severe pain in my left palm since yesterday. The only thing I can think that caused it was that I was using a mouse with my left hand and my wrist was leaning on a slightly raised edge to a surface. Ever since I've had this pain which is worse when I make a fist, move my thumb across my hand or lean on my hand. The absolute worst pain is reaching round to do my bra up!! It is better when I use a wrist splint but the only one I have for my left hand is a 'universal' wrist splint which is supposedly one size fits all but it cuts across the base of my thumb where the thumb hole is so I can't wear it for long. I'm getting quite worried that if it's not improved by Wednesday I'm going to struggle at work. I'm now forced to use my right hand to do any lifting or carrying and that is upsetting my shoulder no end. Couple that with a hip that is giving out every few steps which I definitely can't use my crutches for and I'm struggling a bit! I can deal with the hip pain but the hand and shoulder combination is making things very difficult.

[Sandy L]

naama:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of pressure on the median nerve as it goes under a fascial (ligamentous) layer in the wrist. Using the hand in any position other than a neutral one increases the risk of developing CTS. The dorsiflexed position of the wrist when using crutches would aggravate the problem.

CTS has both pain and deficits in the median nerve distribution. The median nerve supplies the palmar side of the thumb, index, long, and half the ring finger (the side toward the thumb). Pain, however, is often referred up the arm as well as being felt in the part of the hand described. The deficits include weakness, numbness, and tingling or burning sensations.

I haven't had CTS myself, so cannot say with any real knowledge whether it can come on suddenly or creep up on you. Symptoms certainly can appear within a matter of hours and there are two maneuvers we do in the clinic to try to bring them on or aggravate them within seconds to one minute.

[Sez]

When I went to see the nurse last week, I had a chat with her about my wrists and hands. We went through all the symptoms that I could describe, and she thought it sounded like carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm tempted to disagree, because although my symptoms did sound the same, I get the pain all over the hand, from the thumb right through to the side of my hand below the little finger, which isn't consistent with CTS. I also get a lot of pain in the outside of my wrist.
Anyways, she suggested that I have a go at night splinting before I go to the doctors, as she thinks that will relieve some of the pain. My painkillers just aren't touching it, and when I wake up in the mornings, my hands feel swollen, tight and painful (especially that lower part of my thumb that I've been moaning about for months!), although my OH assures me that if there is any actual swelling it is minimal (it's nice having a competent first aider in the house! ). My grip is even worse, and for the last week and a bit, I've needed assistance to get dressed because my fingers are just being so stupid. It seems to get a bit better during the day although the pain seems to come and go in waves.
I'm loosing the point of what I'm actually asking now!
I have some NHS wrist supports, and my OH is buying me some of these)unless someone can suggest some decent supports that include a thumb support) but I don't think they're safe to sleep in? I was always told to remove splints and strapping before going to bed because of the risk of cutting off the circulation.
So what I wanted to know is if anyone can recommend some kind of splints for over-night use?

[Sandy L]

Inclusion of the little finger would suggest either that it is not carpal tunnel syndrome at all, or that it is carpal tunnel syndrome plus something else. The next step would be to compare light touch (wisp of cotton or tissue paper) and pinprick sensitivity on the dorsum of each hand, to see if there are differences there, as well as on the palm. If there is no problem on the back of the hand/fingers, that would argue for a combined median and ulnar nerve problem. If the dorsum is affected, that would raise the possibility of a problem at the neck or behind the collar bone or a vascular problem in the arm.

[Sez]

Thankyou

[aninja]

I would agree with those that say surgery is'nt the only option and would explore every other possibility first. I had the carpal tunnel decrompression surgery about 18 months ago. It took ages to heal, once healed though, initially was very effective, now it is almost as bad as before I had the surgery. It was only about 10 months after the surgery that i started getting tingling again.

Do I want the surgery again, was it worth it, will I even go back to the doctor? I just don't know

aninja
x

[Hayley]

Sez, I would ask your GP about ulnar nerve problems if I were you. I had similar last year and tests were performed including those mentioned above by Sandy proving that the nerve was trapped. I had the op as a day case and it's been no problem ever since. (I have trigger finger now so I'm hopefully getting that sorted next week).

Hayley

[Sez]

I've just had a letter through to say that I'm on the waiting list for an OT hand assessment at the hospital, and I should have my appointment letter through in the next couple of weeks.
Hopefully it won't take too long.

[Hayley]

That's good news Sez, hope it doesn't take too long!

Hayley

[sarahh]

Hi Sez thats good news hun, I hope you don't have to wait too long.

Sarah x

[nat05]

sez,

hope the wait is short. the hand clinic at my local hospital is ace (although am biased as OT is from pain management )
xx

[Ineke1980]

Very good Sez! Hope there is no long wait

[Blaadyblah]

Night Resting splints - my Carpal Tunnel is vastly relieved since I got mine, there's more information in the Wrist Supports topic, but essentially they prevent my hands from curling over and balling into tight dists while I'm sleeping which has taken the strain off, as an added bonus. I got some excersises too which have helped, but I've forgotten some so I'm going to ask again this morning when I see the Hand OT - I'll ask if she can come up with anything wheel rim, critch and stick friendly too.

[Blaadyblah]

New sheet with excersises on arrived this morning, have found a version online, they're called nerve glide excersises and the info sheet is as follows: