Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[Sherlock Bones]

That's Carpal Tunnel - classic symptoms.

 

My thumbs always hurt first, and the most, and the carpal nerve supplies only the thumb and the forefinger and middle finger so the tingling you're getting there is absolutely spot on for carpal tunnel. Now the carpal has been done on my left wrist i get the pins and needles and numbness only in the ring finger and little finger, which is the nerve from the ulna.

 

I'd go back and demand a specialist - I'm not kidding when i say if you don't get treatment you could end up not being treatable... then you can't do a thing, I got to the point of dropping milkbottles but I do know a lady who can't now be treated and she cannot lift a thing, nothing at all, even a cup of tea.

[cindere528]

I've had the Carpal Tunnel op in both my hands.

 

The first time I had it was when I was pregnant, 29 years ago. It lasted for a couple of years and I had the op on my right hand when my son was about 2 years old. That op was performed by an Orthopaedic Surgeon. I had to spend one night in hospital and had to have my hand elevated the whole night. I was then discharged but had to keep my hand in a sling for a few weeks. The operation was a complete success and I had no further trouble.

 

Then, a few years ago, I got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my left hand when I was going through the menopause (apparently it's quite common). This time, the operation was done by a Plastic Surgeon under local anaesthetic. I went into hospital as a "day" patient and didn't even occupy a bed. I was discharged the same afternoon, but my hand was bandaged up like a boxing glove & I had to keep it in a sling for a week or so. I also had to go to my doctor's surgery a few times to have the dressing changed. Again, the op was a total success and I've had no further trouble. I was off work for 3 weeks but during that time, I had no problem walking my dog (although I only had one dog at that time).

 

Fast forward to a couple of years ago and my mother, who was then about 85, got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and went to have the operation. This time, it was done as an outpatient, in a clinic almost like a dentist's surgery. I was actually in the room with her whilst it was being done and was talking to her the whole time. She didn't even have a dressing on the wound and was told to go home and use the hand straight away, even knitting the same night if she wanted to!

 

Surgery has advanced in leaps & bounds in recent years and I would say, if you need it doing, go & get it done, because Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can cause irreversible damage if not treated.

 

Good luck

[Spins4me]

That's Carpal Tunnel - classic symptoms.

 

I'd go back and demand a specialist - I'm not kidding when i say if you don't get treatment you could end up not being treatable... then you can't do a thing, I got to the point of dropping milkbottles but I do know a lady who can't now be treated and she cannot lift a thing, nothing at all, even a cup of tea.

 

I do find it difficult to hold heavy things and can't open jars etc

 

Oh POOOOO!

 

Thanks for the tip re getting some treatment though and thanks everyone for information and support.

 

for those still suffering!

[Sherlock Bones]

the good thing is, when you've actually got it diagnosed (and like i said earlier, i had to insist... ) it is completely treatable. I just happen to have more going on than just carpal, but once you've got it sorted there's no stopping ya!

[alexis]

Arthritis of the small bones at the base of the thumb joint where the thumb joins the wrist (scaphoid in particular) can cause the tendons and/or the tendon sheaths in the carpal tunnel to become inflamed (tendonitis/tenosynovitis) which then puts pressure on the median nerve which gives carpal tunnel syndome so your GP is not talking rubbish at all!

Studies have shown that in 1 in 3 people carpal tunnel does get better without any treatment at all. If mild cases are treated early with splints/rest etc then usually surgery can be avoided. Some people only get mild symptoms intermittently and some people start with symptoms which just worsen, it varies a lot.

A Cochrane review found the following

"Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist, leading to mild to severe pain and pins and needles in the hand. Other Cochrane reviews show benefit from nerve decompression surgery and steroids. This review of other non-surgical treatments found some evidence of short-term benefit from oral steroids, splinting/hand braces, ultrasound, yoga and carpal bone mobilisation (movement of the bones and tissues in the wrist), and insulin and steroid injections for people who also had diabetes. Evidence on ergonomic keyboards and vitamin B6 is unclear, while trials so far have not shown benefit from diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, magnets, laser acupuncture, exercise or chiropractic"

 

It is not an easy thing to reliably diagnose and many drs cannot agree on universal diagnostic criteria based on symptoms. Nerve conduction studies can be done to try and give a definite diagnosis but again these aren't always accurate and can give false negative as well as false positive results.

 

Surgery is not always successful and recovery can take months.

[Spins4me]

Arthritis of the small bones at the base of the thumb joint where the thumb joins the wrist (scaphoid in particular) can cause the tendons and/or the tendon sheaths in the carpal tunnel to become inflamed (tendonitis/tenosynovitis) which then puts pressure on the median nerve which gives carpal tunnel syndome so your GP is not talking rubbish at all!

Surgery is not always successful and recovery can take months.

 

Thank you, Alexis. I dog train with a recently retired consultant plastic surgeon who had diagnosed carpal tunnel (albeit in our coffee break). I hadn't realised that was her previous job so wasn't seeking an opinion - just mentioned that I had symptoms (well, to be honest I was moaning about it hurting) and this person had a look at my wrist.

 

Unfortunately I don't have much confidence in my GP from previous experience.

Edited September 25, 2008 by Spins4me