Carpal tunnel surgery?

[Tommy]

I want to hear from folks who have had carpal tunnel surgery. I've had symptoms on and off for fifteen years, and I've decided it may be time to do something about it. I'm not too concerned about the short term effects of the surgery. I want to know about the long term pros and cons. I'm also interested in hearing from anyone who had the procedure done endoscopically.

[EarlsflyinCobra]

I had the right hand done quite a few years ago and have been pleases with the results. I have tried to have the left hand done but something has happened to cancel it every time, which is a bummer. I no longer have to sleep with a brace on the right hand but still use one on the left hand. It is very annoying, (the left hand) as it bothers me a lot when I am holding up reading material or even trying to eat. I did not have the endoscopic type surgery so can't help you there. All I can say is I wish I had not put off having the right hand done for so long and really hope when I get the left hand done it will be as good as the right.

[CobraDan]

Years ago I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in the area of the carpal tunnel and was not really interested in surgery. I messaged the area of the problem and pain when ever I was able to do so and the pain went away. I continued to massage both arms very vigorously and never had a reoccurrence of carpal tunnel pain. I have given this advice to my daughter and many others and I know that my daughter still has the same job of cutting hair but also never had the surgery. I had many people tell me that they had surgery and it might have to be done over again if the carpal tunnel closes back off and starts pinching a nerve causing more pain. Also with my recommendation if it doesn’t work you can always go under the knife. It has been years now and since I have been retired and try very hard not to do anything like work, I no longer massage my wrists, but I also have not had any pain in that area either.

[SP01715]

I had severe carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand (three fingers were completely numb). I had the surgery about 5 years ago with great results. I am now going to have my left hand done because my symptoms are getting worse on that hand. If you are getting numbness in your fingers it can cause permanent damage if you wait and do not have the surgery. I was lucky to re-gain feeling in my fingers after the surgery I had. Recovery is very short as well.

[cscobra]

I've not had the surgery yet, but my time is coming. Technique has been refined greatly over the past few years. When the time comes, I will have a plastic surgeon take care of it. The endoscopic approach is the one that I will take.

[Tommy]

Speaking of endoscopic surgery, my orthopedist says both the conventional surgery and the endoscopic method are equally effective, but there is a slightly higher risk of nicking the nerve endoscopically. This link shows an image of the surgery and makes it easier to understand his rationale.
http://www.umm.edu/graphics/images/en/19250.jpg

The goal in both approaches is to cut the ligament that passes just above the impinged nerve. The endoscopic approach greatly reduces the collateral damage, but does not give as clear a view and approach to the ligament. Does anyone else have a different understanding of this procedure?

[SP01715]

I had conventional surgery, and it is just a small incision in the palm of your hand above the wrist. The incision is very small and heals fairly quickly. I was lifting weights 2 weeks later with some padding on my palm. I have had five surgeries, and this was the easiest by far. My shoulder was the worst.

[ROBERT GWALTNEY]

I was having problems with carpal tunnel and my Doctor told me to give B vitamins (B50 to be exact) a try. I did this and the pain went away and no surgery. Its worth a try

[vatdevil]

Physical therapy worked for me on this and on many other injuries. If you haven't tried it, find a good PT and stick with it. Surgery can never be undone

[cobrashoch]

Had the surgury in my lift hand and elbow (both) at the same time about 3 years ago. No problems since then, and the recovery was about 3 weeks for both. I got lucky and had no perceptible scaring. Don't know your age but I wouldn't puy it off if you really need it. Least evasive surgury I have ever had, and I've had four surgurys.

[Tommy]

Just in case someone else comes here looking for advice, let me note my results. I had the surgery done four days ago. By the time the local anesthetic wore off, I noticed an improvement in my old carpal tunnel symptoms. Specifically, I could keep my hand elevated (as directed by the doctor to minimize swelling) without experiencing the tingling and numbness that used to arise after a minute or less. One day after surgery, my hand was too tender to be of any use, but it didn't hurt otherwise. Two days after surgery I could use it for very light duty (e.g., typing) but nothing heavy. Four days after surgery it feels normal 99% of the time and is good for all but things requiring significant hand strength (e.g., unscrewing the lid on a jar of pickles). I continue to have some symptoms at night in my unaltered hand, but the hand that was operated on is symptom free. I plan to have the other hand done in a month or two.

[mln385]

I had my chiropractor use his laser treatment on mine and it was cured in 3 weeks no surgery!

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by mln385

I had my chiropractor use his laser treatment on mine and it was cured in 3 weeks no surgery!

When you say "cured," do you mean you were able to continue to do the things that initially brought on the carpal tunnel symptoms and the "cure" prevented them from coming back? For example, can you spend an entire day hammering nails into the deck boards on your dock and have no symptoms?

[mln385]

I mean all symptons are gone, it started to get so bad just rotating the tires would effect my right hand.

Went to the Chiro for my back and mentioned my hand and the numbing etc. He told me he could cure it in a few sessions. So for a $5.00 co pay 3 times a week for two weeks what the hell.

It worked ...at least for myself ... it was a gradual improvement week by week.
I am not professing it will work for everyone nor it wont come back just stating what my results have been. It has been roughly 6 months so far and quite frankly if it comes back I will try the laser agan before the surgery route.

[Tommy]

min385,
I asked about your experience for two reasons. First, I could get my symptoms to go away by limiting my activity for a few weeks. I'd feel fine until I went out and worked in my shop all day. Then the symptoms would come back that night. I asked about hammering because of all the things I did, that seemed to cause symptoms more than anything else. .. My second reason is that a close friend had a bad experiece with her chiropractor selling her psuedo-science cures that only seemed to work in his office. I'm not trying to condemn all chiropractors based her one experience, but my Internet search has not revealed any objective scientific evidence that supports the assertion that shining a laser on your wrist will cure carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm glad the laser left you feeling better and I'm glad the vitamin B6 helped another forum member. But the B6 did nothing for me and, like the laser treatment, I can find no objective evidence it works for a large population of patients. .. To each his own.

[mln385]

Yep my symptons would decrease if I refrained fromt the offending activity as well (hammer etc).

As stated I have had no reoccurance since the treatment and my symptons were getting quite severe.
This procedure may not work for everyone's situation I can only attest from my experiences.
Is it long term don't know yet....but I do have full capabilities back in my hand.

[tcrist]

So now you don't drop stuff because you thought you had hold of them. For me the pain was bad enough, but thinking I had hold of something and then have it hit the floor really got to me.

I have had surgery on both wrists, but that was all they knew to do at the time (30+ years ago). If it was me now I would at least look into the laser treatment. Although my wrists are fine now and have been since the surgery's.

One thing Tommy, If you ask your Dr's they probably will tell you it will not work because they do not believe that anything a chiropractor does will work.

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by tcrist

One thing Tommy, If you ask your Dr's they probably will tell you it will not work because they do not believe that anything a chiropractor does will work.

I'll agree and take that a step farther. On several occasions I have had doctors recommend treatment that they were capable of providing, when a better option (that they didn't mention) was available from a different doctor. I'm skeptical of all care providers who recommend treatment that benefits them financially. That's when I get a second opinion from someone who knows he will not benefit from his recommendation. ... Otherwise its like driving into a fast lube joint and asking the serviceman if he thinks you need to change your transmission and differential fluid. Nine times out of ten the answer will be yes regardless of the condition of the fluids.

[SP01715]

I just had my left had operated on 11 days ago. So far so good just like my other hand I had done years ago. I still have numbness in my fingers (because I waited so long before surgery) but I am already sleeping better. Another couple weeks of low activity an I should be good.