Carpal Tunnel Vanity/+ or - input requested

[Bell Bouy II]

Birthdays

[mass55th]

I had bi-lateral carpal tunnel surgery back in the late 90’s. They would only do one at a time, and did open surgery, not endoscopic. Because my carpal tunnel had been allowed to go for so long, I still have residual carpal tunnel and nerve damage in both hands. I’m left handed, and still have problems with my hands. I’m 71, so I wake up stiff every morning. For a while, upon waking up, I suffered from trigger finger on the middle fingers of both hands. My middle finger would be bent, and at times, when I’d pull it open, it would immediately return to the bent position. It would eventually straighten out by pulling and rubbing the finger. Then, it abruptly stopped, and I have no idea why. Over the past 5-6 months, I have now been experiencing the locking of my left wrist bone. It’s like having a charlie horse in the wrist, and in order to get it to go away, I have to shake my hand repeatedly. My hands still feel stiff and swollen all the time, especially after I’ve been typing or using the mouse with my left hand. My left hand will ache at times after I’ve been using the mouse too long. It sucks to get old. I’ve had to learn to live with the pain and discomfort that my body experiences. I have been taking an anti-inflammatory med once a day for years. I have what the doctor’s call undifferentiated connective tissue disorder. It’s called that as it falls into a grey area because I don’t have enough of the symptoms to be diagnosed with lupus, fibromyalgia,, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. My mother supposedly had Lupus, and my oldest son has to give himself injections as he’s been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Family genes are so much fun.

[nikos1121]

You have the cts of aging. Surgery by someone whos done it athousand times will be like night and day.

[Bell Bouy II]

I used hand tool for 50 years as a utility worker

Is that like good and bad or good or bad,Got me confused.

[EinNYC]

How ya figure havent said how long this has been going on

You are describing a claw like hand with a lot of pain. That's a case that's been simmering for a while. When the bits of numbness and pain first start is the time to hit the PT hard in an attempt to stave off the surgery. If, after a few months of PT, the condition continues, it's time for the surgery. I've had it on both hands, 2 years apart, and it's a nothingburger. For the second one, I was awake and chatting with the anesthesiologist about our respective cats while my orthopedist was cutting and stitching. After the surgery, I diligently did my PT. You have to look three times to see any tiny 3/4" scar, and I have, thank G-d, 100% of my hands back. My PT guy said he's rarely seen such great results. I attribute the great results to (1) not waiting very long at all to get into PT and (2) I seriously believe the PT prepared my hands for a quick recovery, because I was hitting the ground running into surgery. The longer you wait, the less great the results will be. I hope you have a complete healing of your hands.

Next month, I have to have some more minor surgery, this time to correct a trigger thumb. This condition is more prevalent among diabetics, so I'm in the groove. I hope to have the same great results.

[Bell Bouy II]

Thanks for all the info, glad I asked. learned a bit.

[nikos1121]

You may have a comp claim.

[catnipman]

try finding a REALLY skilled Rolfer before undertaking surgery ... you have very little to lose by trying that route first ...

[Bellflower]

https://therapygloves.com/pages/how-to-avoid-cts-surgery

All you need is an infrared light heat light you can buy in many places. Just don’t burn yourself or start a fire. They are hot so handle with extreme caution. Bask your carpal tunnel area in it’s healing, soothing light several times a day. This works for many aches and pains.

Also many years ago I had a very bad knee and carpal tunnel in my hand and wrist. I took 10 to 12 Shakley brand vitamin b complex capsules a day for about a month. Both were healed.