Carpal Tunnel? Update post 14!!!! Help?

[Laura's Babies]

I have it and it comes and goes and has for many years. I wear the brace as much as I can for a few days or overnight and that usually takes care of it.

[Toby's my baby]

I've dealt with it. I broke my arm 3 years ago riding horse, and after it was healed, my hand was numb most of the time, and very cold. I had an EMG and a nerve test, and my nerves were actually dieing, FAST. So, I went in the very next day for carpal tunnel surgery. The surgery did NOT make my hand not numb anymore, or stop it from being cold, it just made is so the nerves weren't dieing. I had another problem though, my bones or something was pinching my nerves. I endured 5 more EMG's (electromyogram) and nerve tests. Finally I had another surgery where they put tubes around my nerves, and that has solved the numbness problem, but I still have great pain when I need to write/ take notes/ etc.

The EMG's are not fun, usually when you have the little prickly needle thing, you also get the one where they shove needles into your muscle, move it around, and then shove it in deeper, THEN moving it 3 inches and doing it over again .. . all the way up to your arm pit. .

I would have the surgery again though, because it stopped the death of my nerves, it was an outpatient surgery, and, the recovery time is very fast. I was in a wrap for about a week, and was able to do mostly everything on my own.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

[Trinityagain]

Well I can say it was not terrible, but it is also not something I would recommend doing just for the fun of it. The right hand is the problem, he did the shocks in both hands to have something to compare...big surprise...I have carpal tunnel in BOTH wrists, the left one is just starting...so I guess the next step is talking to my surgeon and go from there...yippee.....

[4 Dog Mother]

My dad is 89 and just had it done to my wrists but a month apart. He is doing fine. I have been told I need it but they were checking for something else when they found it and it doesn't both me so I will wait to have anything done.

[Trinityagain]

Another question for those who have had the surgery: what was the recovery time? I am trying to wait until I am off for the winter break (I work at a University) but I don't know that I can go another 2 months with this. I can't hold a pen or anything without my hand going all numb and tingly......

[Toby's my baby]

The recovery time is very short. I could still write I think if I recall right, with the cast on, and I only had my cast for about a week and a half. After the cast came off I could pretty much do anything.

[Trinityagain]

I met with the surgeon this morning. I am scheduled for surgery Friday November 16. I will be taking the 16-23 off from job number 1, and the 2 weekends in the middle off from job number 2. My question for those who have had the surgery: does that seem like enough time?