carpal tunnel surgery...

[91nordic29]

has anyone here had to have it? please, fellas, dont feel the need to explain WHY you had to have the surgery;) . i really do need some first hand info.
thanks and here goes nothin'.

[welk2party]

I personally have not had the surgery. My mother had it done on bother her wrists about 15 years ago. She regretted doing it. She ended up with more pain than she started. Having said that, I am sure the procedures have dramatically improved since then.

[91nordic29]

my dad had onwe wrist done 10 yrs ago and wouldnt go back for the other. doc says they have come a long way with it though.

[LASERRAY]

How long has the surgery for this ailment been available? I don't seem to remember carpal tunnel syndrome being a popular diagnosis until the 90's.:confused:

[Havasu Cig]

That's good to hear RioDog. I have it bad in both wrist and have avoided surgery because of the horror stories. I can barley ride my Harley because my hands go numb every five minutes.
I might have to research this some more.

[HotRod Sprint]

I would seriously go see a Chiropractor before even considering this surgery. There are several that I have talked to about this, and most have said they can effectively manipulate the arms and hands to make this condition go away.
Rod
91, the company I work for has close to 200 customers that are Chiro's, if you want I can talk to some and give you some referrals.
Rod

[Nokomis]

My father had both done last year 3 months apart, says he's sorry he put up with if for so long. Absolutely no regrets.

[moneypit]

I would have to say that the majority of the patients that come to see me that have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel sydrome have been incorrectly diagnosed. Chronic tendonitis and Lunate subluxation (carpal bone) are the usual causes. There are many options prior to the surgery. I will also say that many of my patients that have had the surgery regret it and it ususally comes back. However there have been many who have done well with the surgery.
My advice is eliminate what causes it or minimize it. Its prodominately from overuse.. Typing, cashiers, etc....Many doctors give medication along with wrist splint that only make it worse. (the splint that is)
Once a person has exhauseted all types of therapies and has undergone nerve conduction velocity tests, I recommend the surgery and I would have it done by a neurosurgeon and not an orthopedic surgeon. Again after the surery the patient needs to minimize what caused it in the first place.

[rivercrazy]

I also have potential symptoms of CTS. Any repeated manual labor type jobs makes my hands go numb and if I keep going, my hands are sore for days. Riding my motorcycle also makes my hands go numb within 15-20 minutes.
Does this sound like CTS? Beyond not doing physical labor that causes these symptoms to occur (not a feasible scenario), is there anything that can be done short of surgery?

[moneypit]

Yes, I use a softy tissue technique called "active release". Its a relatively knew technique that dissolvest the adhesions that may have formed. It also help reduce the swelling around the tendons, neres and ligaments that usually cause the problem. Believe it or not when I have patients use Ice or submerge their hands and wrist in ice water for 10 minutes or so on a daily basis (2-3 times a day) this helps reduce the inflammation. Its also good to learn how to properly tape or wrap your wrists to reduce the load.. Wrist splints only make it worse and usually get in the way (just my thoughts)
Its hard to find a practitioner who does Active Release because its so knew. Also many people will be sent to physical therapy for this problem. Usually they only go in 2-3 times a week. This problem needs to be treated daily, even at home on the weekends. I have a sports rehabilitation center. I treat many professional athletes. These athletes get treatment daily like they would in the training room. Health care doesnt allow for it. Patients need to take an active role in their therapy or it will never get better.
If I can help let me know..
sportsdc@pacbell.net

[Havasu Cig]

Originally posted by rivercrazy
I also have potential symptoms of CTS. Any repeated manual labor type jobs makes my hands go numb and if I keep going, my hands are sore for days. Riding my motorcycle also makes my hands go numb within 15-20 minutes.
Does this sound like CTS? Beyond not doing physical labor that causes these symptoms to occur (not a feasible scenario), is there anything that can be done short of surgery?
I have had pain for years in my wrist, and my hands go numb as well. I went in for a nerve conductivity test and they diagnosed it as carpel tunnel.
Mine are so bad that if you tap on the inside of my wrist where it meets the hand it cause fairly significant pain. it feels like electrical shocks going into my hand.
I hav a Chiroprator that i go to every two weeks for my back and neck, but he has offered no solutions for my carpel tunnel. IMO the Chiropractors I have dealt with are very good for certain things, but most are very anti surgery. Maybe with good reason to a point, but sometimes that is the only option.
I am eventually going to have to have back surgery because of three herniated discs, and my Chiropractor is opposed. I told him as long as he can keep the pain to a reasonable level I will not have surgery, but his mentality is almost to the point where he does not believe in surgery at all. Good guy, but I weigh everything he says against other opinions as well.

[78Eliminator]

Originally posted by riodog
I've had both wrists done and they turned out great- no more NUMB hands. After the first one, Beast of 73 signed me out of the hospital and I drove home. Went handgun shooting that next weekend. The second one went just as well. A lot depends on the DR. and whether it's done the regular way or arthroscopically. Mine were done the reg way . No recurring problems. First done in 95 and the second done in 97.
Rio:D
Rio, can you PM me the name of your surgeon? I have dropped one too many big gulps.......
Also, if I am laying in bed with my hands behind my head watching tv, they go numb. The only time they don't go numb in bed, is if they are by my sides......

[rivercrazy]

Hey MoneyPit. Where is your office located?

[full throttle]

Hotrodsprint is right. I had it 10+ years ago, and my buddy who is a chiropractor, got rid of it. Take the time to talk to a few doc's, then decide. I had surgury on my arm 3-wks ago to repair 2 tendons I tore. That was enough for me for a while. Guess I'll have to twist the tops off a little slower:mad: