Advanced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Surgery or conserative treatment?
I am asking for comments/thoughts/stories, not medical advise.
Surgery or conserative treatment?
I am asking for comments/thoughts/stories, not medical advise.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Thread starter SusanHawk
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I had it done on both wrists, this past Feb/March....very happy with it and I'm (mostly) so far as good as new. Surgery took only 7-10 mins on each wrist. No, I didn't look. Healing went well. Have to keep it dry untl the stitches come out in a week. Still have some strength weakeness but I guess that will come back in time. I think a palm reader will have a hard time now predicting my future. I have a little extra line on both palms that will look quite natural once the stitch marks dissapate. LOL I don't regret for a second getting the surgery.
Connie
New Member
I had the surgery several years ago on one hand. All went well, with no numbness or pain remaining. The scar is so insugnificant that I cannot remember which hand was operated on. LOL The dr. said that I'd also need the surgery on the other hand in the next year or two after the first surgery, but that hasn't happened.
Good luck to you.
Good luck to you.
A former employer of mine needed the surgery - She did well after the surgery. The funny thing was.....before the surgery, her handwriting was atrocious, after the surgery, her handwriting was atrocius, however, during the recovery time, when she was wearing a cast to keep everything stable.....She had perfect, beautiful handwriting.
My husband had both done several years back (both hands would go numb) and has never had a problem since.
Had both hands done 15 years ago and have had no problems since.
Go for it. You will be happy.
PS Dont have both hands done at once.
Golferdude
Go for it. You will be happy.
PS Dont have both hands done at once.
Golferdude
Susan, also I wanted to add that some folks told me they have tried chiropractic care and accupuncture and say that it's worked for them. Mine was way too advanced to try either of those. BTW: Good luck in whatever you decide to do. It's wonderful not waking up in the night from 'dead' hands....
TOTO
New Member
FAT in the TUNNEL!
Just that simple! A build up of fat in the carpal tunnel creates pressure on the nerves that go through the carpal tunnel in the wrists, and that pressure creates the havoc on those nerves.
A very long time ago, our dear friend at FTDA, Hazel Hunter suffered from Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Her forte was in the fact that, she was the HEAD ARBITRATOR of all DISPUTES between FTDA florists.
Hazel had the surgery and finally had the relief from her pain. Regrettably, it was her long bout with cancer which she succumbed to in the end, and after having fought her long and very valiant battle.
I loved Hazel, and as she always told me: "John, you New Yorkers are a trip, but at least with you New Yorkers, I always know where I stand!"
God Bless Hazel as she has long since passed on now, but her memory lives in my mind forever. I had the privilege of being able to send 24 White Balloons to her cemetery funeral service through another dear florist friend of mine. I requested that they be launched at the appropriate time at her graveside service.
My good friend, Tony Thonnerieux, past president of FTDA, followed my instructions to the letter, and Hazel's loved ones were left with a warm feeling over how we FTDA REAL FLORISTS all loved her.
The card was simple: Thanks to Hazel and her family for all she has given to our FTD Association over her many years of service which made all of our lives that much better throughout all of our years!
Bottom line: The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated on a temporary basis by massage therapy or even acupuncture.
However, the only long term relief is in the form of minor surgery where the FAT surrounding the carpal tunnel nerve bundle is sucked out, thus relieving the pressure and pain which surrounds it.
As others have stated, and since the procedure is so simple, they can't even remember where the scar is, let alone where the entry point was made.
The only drawback is in your healing time and temporary lack of mobility. That's where the LOVE TEST comes in.
If you have a partner who truly loves you, he will be able to assist you in the most basic of personal hygiene necessities.
I vividly remember the removal of my pilonidal cyst. The daily protocol was to remove the gauze packing from the hole where the infection had been surgically removed. After that, the area was repacked with betadine soaked gauze, and the next day, the same thing needed to be done again until eventually, the hole healed itself up from the inside out.
That's when you know your partner (My Lovely Linda) really loves you! OMG! lol
Just that simple! A build up of fat in the carpal tunnel creates pressure on the nerves that go through the carpal tunnel in the wrists, and that pressure creates the havoc on those nerves.
A very long time ago, our dear friend at FTDA, Hazel Hunter suffered from Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Her forte was in the fact that, she was the HEAD ARBITRATOR of all DISPUTES between FTDA florists.
Hazel had the surgery and finally had the relief from her pain. Regrettably, it was her long bout with cancer which she succumbed to in the end, and after having fought her long and very valiant battle.
I loved Hazel, and as she always told me: "John, you New Yorkers are a trip, but at least with you New Yorkers, I always know where I stand!"
God Bless Hazel as she has long since passed on now, but her memory lives in my mind forever. I had the privilege of being able to send 24 White Balloons to her cemetery funeral service through another dear florist friend of mine. I requested that they be launched at the appropriate time at her graveside service.
My good friend, Tony Thonnerieux, past president of FTDA, followed my instructions to the letter, and Hazel's loved ones were left with a warm feeling over how we FTDA REAL FLORISTS all loved her.
The card was simple: Thanks to Hazel and her family for all she has given to our FTD Association over her many years of service which made all of our lives that much better throughout all of our years!
Bottom line: The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated on a temporary basis by massage therapy or even acupuncture.
However, the only long term relief is in the form of minor surgery where the FAT surrounding the carpal tunnel nerve bundle is sucked out, thus relieving the pressure and pain which surrounds it.
As others have stated, and since the procedure is so simple, they can't even remember where the scar is, let alone where the entry point was made.
The only drawback is in your healing time and temporary lack of mobility. That's where the LOVE TEST comes in.
If you have a partner who truly loves you, he will be able to assist you in the most basic of personal hygiene necessities.
I vividly remember the removal of my pilonidal cyst. The daily protocol was to remove the gauze packing from the hole where the infection had been surgically removed. After that, the area was repacked with betadine soaked gauze, and the next day, the same thing needed to be done again until eventually, the hole healed itself up from the inside out.
That's when you know your partner (My Lovely Linda) really loves you! OMG! lol
Hubby had it done years ago and has had no problems since, he did neglect to ask the doc how long before he could swing a hammer again before the surgery, was NOT a happy camper that he was off so long.
Wish my arthritis in my hands was so easy to fix.
Trish
Wish my arthritis in my hands was so easy to fix.
Trish
Here's a good site to explain what is involved in Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery
http://orthopedics.about.com/od/carpaltunnel/ss/carpaltunnel_5.htm
http://orthopedics.about.com/od/carpaltunnel/ss/carpaltunnel_5.htm
It is amazing how many people in industry suffer from carpel tunnel.
For those reading this thinking phew, not me...tomorrow when you get to work, observe your movement and wrist action(no funny jokes) as you use your knife, clippers etc.
I am not saying incorrect cutting is the sole cause of carpel tunnel but is the cause for many designers. Your wrist should not move up/down or all around, and definitely not flick when you cut. The cut should come from your whole arm, work from your shoulder, and as you cut your wrist should not move and be straight, your arm should move beside your body,swift movement, it is not a flick of the wrist with your arm tight into the side of your body. This is hard to explain in words but minor adjustments in the way you cut will help fend off the carpel tunnel.
It goes along with working at the right height workbenches, aligning your spine by stepping one foot at a time on a box under your bench to help back pains and standing on rubber work mats.
For those reading this thinking phew, not me...tomorrow when you get to work, observe your movement and wrist action(no funny jokes) as you use your knife, clippers etc.
I am not saying incorrect cutting is the sole cause of carpel tunnel but is the cause for many designers. Your wrist should not move up/down or all around, and definitely not flick when you cut. The cut should come from your whole arm, work from your shoulder, and as you cut your wrist should not move and be straight, your arm should move beside your body,swift movement, it is not a flick of the wrist with your arm tight into the side of your body. This is hard to explain in words but minor adjustments in the way you cut will help fend off the carpel tunnel.
It goes along with working at the right height workbenches, aligning your spine by stepping one foot at a time on a box under your bench to help back pains and standing on rubber work mats.
Thanks to all for your thoughts and kind words. I have been leaning toward the surgery, but wanted a little more input. It is only in my left hand. You would think, Franca, that it may be due repetitive cutting with a knife, but I am right-handed and therefore hold the knife in my right hand. One of the ladies I work with had an interesting thought: repetitive making of bows. Most right-handers twist and make the loops with their right hand, but I am a goof and use my left hand for that. Back when satin bows were the hype, I must have made thousands of them. It make sense. I would also think that years of keyboarding has contributed. Who knows? My doc says some people are just more likely to get it.
Again, thank you everyone!
Again, thank you everyone!
Could be the bows, keyboarding like you said, who knows? I used to have wrist problems when I bartended in my younger days, flicking off beercaps of all things.
I've got the arthritis in my knuckles too, very painful some days.
Good luck with your decision Susan, and all the best.
I've got the arthritis in my knuckles too, very painful some days.
Good luck with your decision Susan, and all the best.
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