carpal tunnel syndrome
Jeanwah
Posts: 6,363
Has anyone had carpal tunnel syndrome that was moderate to severe and didn't need surgery? And it healed?
I know this is a common issue and common surgery. I've had it for 4 months and the nerve test showed to be moderate / severe. But my doctor is leaving it up to me whether I want surgery (of course I don't!). But the pain has been so bad this last week that I don't think it'll go away on its own.
I know this is a common issue and common surgery. I've had it for 4 months and the nerve test showed to be moderate / severe. But my doctor is leaving it up to me whether I want surgery (of course I don't!). But the pain has been so bad this last week that I don't think it'll go away on its own.
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
NOTE: You want a neurosurgeon to perform this procedure.
Good luck!
As I said, this was keyhole surgery. I know some surgeons use different methods of surgery and I don't know if this makes a difference.
Naturally, I can't advise you but if I was in constant bad pain, I would consider keyhole surgery.
Edit: forgot to say.... it's not because you have surgery that it will be cured 'forever'. Bad habits need to be looked at too!
1. at initial evaluation take x-rays to make sure nothing else is going on. if negative we issue a wrist brace/cock up splint to be worn 24 hours/day. we also prescribe a steroid pack such as medrol dose pack or short prednisone course.
2. on follow up if not better with that approach we try a course of hand therapy and perhaps a custom splint. during that course if not improving we give more thought to EMG/nerve conduction testing to be done by a neurologist. keep in mind 90% of the population will come back with postive findings on an EMG/NCS. we will also consider ordering labs. and in some cases we order an ergonomic workplace assessment if it is work related. sometimes all it takes is rest and a new keyboard or higher or lower desk or something.
3. upon follow up from this we give the patient the option of having a cortisone injection into the carpal tunnel or they can be referred for a surgical opinion. if they opt for cortisone, following that injection we will have them wear that brace again for 24 hrs a day until follow up in 2-3 weeks.
we see a lot of people who have had failed carpal tunnel surgery, so keep in mind that the surgery is not the cure all. because a procedure is simple does not mean it is always 100% effective, and in some cases can worsen things. we have good success with our treatment algorithm listed above, and the cortisone injections we do are usually very effective in reducing symptoms.
good luck with whatever course of treatment you choose. there are many ways to attack cts, some more aggressive than others, and the way we do it seems to get most people better.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I forgot I had the option of cortizone shots and just called my surgeon's nurse to see if I can come in for one.
My cp is in my left arm and originally developed due to overuse of that hand since my right hand and wrist are nerve damaged with gradual recovery. One would think that the cp would go away with increasing functionality of my other hand, but the pain's come back with a force that is felt in my entire arm. My hand therapist had told me that if I waited too long with a moderate/severe nerve compression, that the cp can get worse. Know anything about that Gimme? I wear a brace at night which helps somewhat. Oh, and I didn't know that surgery isn't always successful. Releasing the nerve doesn't always help?