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Thread: Carpal Tunnel Surgery

  1. #1
    Member Camelogue's Avatar
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    Carpal Tunnel Surgery

    It has been suggested that I need this surgery. (I have had many awful symptoms for about a year)

    I thought there might be a fair number of geezers on here who have had similar problems. (no particular reference to Big Bro Steve here)

    Any successes? Any problems with the surgery? anybody choose not to have surgery?

  2. #2
    Although I have nothing constructive to add, I am hoping that you can find a lasting solution without surgery if possible.

    Of course, best-of-luck to you.
    G.A.S -aholic

  3. #3
    Member LASERCD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Camelogue View Post
    It has been suggested that I need this surgery. (I have had many awful symptoms for about a year)

    I thought there might be a fair number of geezers on here who have had similar problems. (no particular reference to Big Bro Steve here)

    Any successes? Any problems with the surgery? anybody choose not to have surgery?
    My wife was a pediatric dentist. She had carpal tunnel surgery on both right and left arms. Very mixed results. She did get some pain relief but also lost quite a bit of dexterity.

  4. #4
    Member Casey's Avatar
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    Hopefully your doctor has been following this for a while & trying "conservative" therapy. When you start to experience muscle atrophy you must have surgery. If you don't, the affected muscles become weaker and you won't get any strength back regardless of what you choose to do at a later date.

    The problem is when a band of fibrous tissue that surrounds the wrist, (very much like a watch band) starts to squeeze all of the tissues that pass underneath it on the palmar side of the wrist. Sometimes rest and an occasional injection of steroid reduces the swelling and you're good-to-go. However, if there is no response, or the aforementioned atrophy starts, you need surgery. Many times folks wait a bit too long before pulling the trigger and they don't get the results they were hoping for.

    I hope everything turns out for the best.

    Casey, MD (free medical advice, anytime)
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  5. #5
    Last October I started having issues with my right hand. Due to huge amounts of repetitive motion, I thought the problem was CTS. It started with my thumb, and by January had extreme effect on index finger and middle. I went first to an Orthopedist several times, then a Arthritis specialist, and last a Neurologist for testing. Six weeks ago, my hand was completely almost completely crippled by Arthritic pain and symptoms, so I returned to the Orthopedist for evaluation for surgery. At that time, he noticed a lump in my neck under my right jaw. He recommended I see a GP right away and have it evaluated.
    After extensive blood testing, the GP recommended a cancer specialist. Long story short, I did not go that appointment scheduled 3 weeks later due to extreme Pulmonary distress sending me to the emergency room twice. The lumps (by then, several) turned out to be Stage 3 B Lymphoma. It took 2 1/2 weeks later, along with two procedures (outpatient) before I had to again cancel a long awaited appointment and visit the emergency room again with extreme pulmonary distress and was admitted to the hospital later that day.
    My father had two types of cancer, Lymphoma and Leukemia. My father smoked much of his life and was also a printer (hazardous chemicals used). I've kept a relatively clean lifestyle, and always swore I would never go through the chemo and radiation treatments. The emergency room doctor gave me a CAT Scan, and stated I have Lymphoma in my neck and extensively throughout my torso. A wife and five children took away my selfish decision. Nine days later, I was released from the hospital after my first round of radiation and chemo. I currently am scheduled for for 5 more rounds (outpatient) over the next 5 months. My pulmonary distress has ceased, yet my hand symptoms have worsened to the point that I must take an opioid pain killer daily.
    Two of my doctors believe the rapid deterioration to my hand may actually have been caused by the Lymphoma causing my hand to swell and retain fluid. I have been treating it with warm water soaks and moving it, which help temporarily.

    Bottom line is, I never had regular check ups. I should have had a GP and done that yearly. If the hand issue IS related to the cancer, it may heal over time, but there will likely be some amount of limitation due to the extreme onset af arthritis.
    BTW, I did have cortisone shots twice when seeing the orthopedist. It provided some relief, but it will take far more than that to return to usability, if that is even possible. I simply pray that God in his mercy will allow me to one day gain greater use of it without the constant pain.

  6. #6
    Member Casey's Avatar
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    Hang in there, Jubal. You have lots of friends & supporters here. (But you didn't need me to tell you that.)

    I'll close with a quote I heard last night: Be here now. Love your family and love the opportunity today brings.

    I'll be thinking of you.
    I've got a bike you can ride it if you like

  7. #7
    Anyone else entered this thread with the idea that it refers to some obscure zeuhl/kraut record? (best of luck to you)

  8. #8
    Thank you for your kind words, Casey.
    Camelogue, I do hope you are able to solve the issues you are having. You will probably have to have a nerve study (Neurologist) done before insurance will cover surgery. My orthopedist wouldn't consider me for surgery until I went through two separate nerve studies and a sonogram (unable to do MRI due to shrapnel in my body) study. He stated that while he has had many patients improve from surgery, it is best to determine if less invasive treatments can provide the effectiveness needed.

  9. #9
    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    As far as why people might get it, I have two cousins who are both nurses and both have had carpal tunnel syndrome. I think it's from the repetitive heavy listing with the hands near waist height - puts a lot of strain on the wrists. I can ask them if they had surgery and how it went.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Jubal View Post
    Last October I started having issues with my right hand. [...]
    Best of luck, dude.

  11. #11
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    After several years of pretty intense computer work (mostly building and populating huge databases, with a shitload of repetitive motions) I developed symptoms of carpal tunnel in my right arm. My interim solution was to switch to mousing with my left hand. Took several weeks to get used to it, to train my left hand, but I eventually became equally proficient left-handed.

    Then I began to experience CT symptoms in my left arm.

    My ultimate solution to this situation was one I'd been contemplating for a few years, and fortunately I was in a position to do it. I retired.

    Problem solved.

  12. #12
    Member Camelogue's Avatar
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    I had an EMG test in which I was told revealed severe nerve blockage in both hands. Also had blood work done which determined I did not have a rheumatoid arthritis marker.

    I have used conservative therapy for almost a year (ice, braces,ibuprofen, mobix, etc) My non dominant hand is actually worse.

    I have appointment with ortho surgeon next week.

    Best to you Jubal, thanks for sharing your story.

    I wish Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was a Zeuhl band!

  13. #13
    Member Casey's Avatar
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    Wish you well. I hope Ortho fits you in soon.
    I've got a bike you can ride it if you like

  14. #14
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Camelogue View Post
    I had an EMG test in which I was told revealed severe nerve blockage in both hands. Also had blood work done which determined I did not have a rheumatoid arthritis marker.

    I have used conservative therapy for almost a year (ice, braces,ibuprofen, mobix, etc)
    So this is not due to repetitive stress injury? No behavioral changes you can make, to get at the CAUSE rather than just addressing the SYMPTOMS?

  15. #15
    Member Casey's Avatar
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    I agree with rcarlberg. There are causes of CTS other than repetitive stress injury. I would suggest you see a Rheumatologist if you haven't already. However, if there is measurable damage to either nerve or muscle, I wouldn't delay surgery, regardless of causality.

    The importance of finding a cause (if one can be found) is that that condition will have to be worked up. For example: sometime people develop a condition wherein they produce an abnormal protein and that protein can deposit in connective tissue and result in CTS. If the abnormal protein is found, the physician must then determine why it's there and what it could do if left untreated.

    Bottom line: get your surgery but make sure you touch base with Rheumatology, either before or after.
    I've got a bike you can ride it if you like

  16. #16
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Fix the cause, or all palliative remedies will be only temporary.

  17. #17
    Member Camelogue's Avatar
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    Cause unknown.

    If you have a heart valve blockage you get it taken care of. Cause could be genetic or lifestyle. If you break your arm you get it remedied, doesn't matter.

    Not usually able to determine direct cause of carpal tunnel.

    Surgery scheduled for 09/15 and 09/22

  18. #18
    Geriatric Anomaly progeezer's Avatar
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    I will be thinking about you, bro" Bob and hoping for relief for you. You want to be able to pick up you new grandchild (curses often come with blessings, regardless of theology).

    I will also be thinking about you, Keith and asking for your faith to see you through this. I have, while we may not have the same theology or world view, always thought of you as one of the PE "good guys".
    "My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"

    President Harry S. Truman

  19. #19
    Member Jerjo's Avatar
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    Last October I started having issues with my right hand...
    Y'know. I kind of bypassed this thread when it started and thus missed this news. Keith, sending positive waves your way. I'm glad your wife and kids overrode your decision. Watch out for those damn opiods. I had to take them when I broke my ankle and got off them as soon as possible.

    Like RC, I had way too many years working on a computer. I did switch hands and became quite proficient at using my left for the mouse. Then I hit an extremely repetitive job and both my hands had trouble, pain on the backs of my hands and a sharp tingle in the tips of my "mouse fingers." I got out of that job and now am back to regular computer use but it still haunts me. I noticed now that when I'm practicing guitar the back of my left hand starts paining me after about 15-20 minutes. This does not please me. So I have two solutions. When I'm working on spreadsheets and have to use my mouse, I'll stick to my right hand. When I'm surfing the web I'll just switch to my laptop and try to use the goddamn worthless pad instead of a mouse. I hate that pad but I'll have to get used to it.
    I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart

  20. #20
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jerjo View Post
    So I have two solutions. When I'm working on spreadsheets and have to use my mouse, I'll stick to my right hand. When I'm surfing the web I'll just switch to my laptop and try to use the goddamn worthless pad instead of a mouse.
    Switching to a trackball at work, and an Apple Magic Mouse at home, helped me.

  21. #21
    This tip was helpful. Tried it myself and saved me.
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  22. #22
    Member Jerjo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by johanlee View Post
    This tip was helpful. Tried it myself and saved me.
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    And we have a winner for this year's most WTF spam!
    I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart

  23. #23
    Member Casey's Avatar
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    I fell for it. When I came back to the PE website I saw that johanlee joined PE this month. Should have seen it coming.
    I've got a bike you can ride it if you like

  24. #24
    Member Camelogue's Avatar
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    I came to work a few weeks ago wearing brace on my left hand, I was greeted with "there goes your sex life"

    Of course I replied "I am right handed."

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