Carpal Tunnel Surgery feedback

Symptoms & Treatments
1

I am now one month after my carpal tunnel surgery, so I thought I would give an update of how things went for me.

I had moderate to severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands; despite being right hand, my worst hand was my left, this is consistent with my arthritis always being slightly worse on the left side of my body,

My symptoms, as well as numbness and tingling, included loss of heat/cold sensation in my left fingertips, shooting and burning pain in both hands, arms and shoulders. The pain would mostly appear if I tried to sit still with my hands up (as in sitting at a desk or to drove a car), and every night at about 12pm, when I would hang one hand over the side of the bed, then after 20 mins I would be woken up by the other hand, and I would alternate position and grab another 20 min nap - repeat till 6am. There was also loss of range of motion in all my arm joints and even my neck.

A steroid injection initially worked, but it came back and the next time the steroid injection failed.

I had Ultrasound guided carpal tunnel release in both hands at the same time, on a Friday. Tiny nick in each wrist, no stitches. Local anaesthetic only. Steroid injection in each wrist to reduce post-surgery inflammation.

“Boxing glove” type bandages with steristrips and small dressings underneath stayed on for 24 hours. Minimal pain until these were taken off. Had a family member with me Friday to Monday, by Monday I was doing most things with my hands, including driving a car. Note that wiping one’s bottom, and cutting things with a knife are just the wrong angle and hurt (and still does a little), so I was glad I had lots of pre-made meals.

Results in terms of the nerve are subjectively very good - the range of movement in my neck and shoulders was immediately better / fixed, and in my hands improved within 2 days and back to normal in a week. The nerve pain was immediately fixed and has not returned. There is some remnant numbness and tingling in my left fingers, with very minor altered sensation in my right fingertips. I was warned this might happen as the severity of my nerve conduction studies indicated there may be damage to the myelin sheath, not just compression. I understand this is likely to repair itself slowly over the next year or so, as is minor “pillar pain” which is and ache I sometimes get in the base of my palms when I use them.

Overall, I am extraordinarily pleased with the surgery, and the recovery time,

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2

That’s simply fantastic news. And I bet it has made an awful lot things feel so much better!

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Thanks so much @Poo_therapy. You are absolutely right, it has made a real difference to how I feel about everything else too!

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4

How awesome! Clearly there have been improvements in technique since I had mine ten years ago. It must be a relief for you, Jenn.

Thanks for the update!

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5

great news…how long were you off your meds?

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I was off my meds for one month, but that was for another reason and I did the surgery at that time. My vague recollection is that they hand surgeon and Rheumy only suggested 2 weeks

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7

I found out mine is not carpel tunnel as believed. It is thumb arthritis and having a mri on thumb on Tuesday to see what exactly is going on within the thumb. Meanwhile staying the course with anti-inflammatories till we know exactly what is being affective.

8

Lucky you didn’t undergo an needless carpal tunnel release operation then.

9

Very glad that you found this out before going down the surgical path.

I had a thumb stabilization surgery about ten years ago. There actually wasn’t arthritis in the basal joint, but the joint became very hypermobile. I actually think I know the original source of why THAT thumb needed the surgery. To start with, I do have hypermobile joints. But about 25 years ago I was riding a mountain bike up a steep trail, and got pissed at the bike. I got off and threw it down (yes, I threw a temper tantrum) and caught that thumb and pulled it back too far. I now realize that was probably why that thumb ultimately needed surgery.

Regardless, the surgery for arthritis in that joint is super similar. Feel free to touch base about it.

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Yikes! How’s the bike? :smile:

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11

i will. As much as i hate surgeries I have to be able to do some things myself like get dressed!
Rhumey wants to add Arava but i am
hesitant for one joint. Heard some not to kind things about it.
ortho wants to do steroid shot and prp so we will
see who wins

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12

It clearly wasn’t mine. That was part of the problem.

I am not built for high altitude. Or maybe I am but the adjustment period is not pretty

13

I had good overall experiences with with leflunomide. I had a small rough stretch with GI issues when I first started and once I was over that it was good for me for years. But I agree, for one joint it seems a bit odd. The steroid shot and PRP actually sounds a lot better. I also did OT for my hand for a stretch but discovered that the moment that I stopped doing OT everything went straight to crap again. I’m not going to say it was an easy surgery and recovery. But in the long run it was definitely worthwhile. I was wearing a brace on my hand for quite an extended period of time

14

how long were you on Arava? he does not want to
switch biologics just tweak what we are doing

15

Often such tweaking by adding in a cDMARD like arava (leflunomide) is not a bad idea. It can boost the workings of your biologic rather than do much on its own, if that makes sense.

Just something else to ponder.

16

Good question. I think it was probably six years or so if not more.

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well the mri showed a large amount of inflammation and erosion on the right thumb. No tears or anything…operational solution is fusion but need to try the conservative approach with the steroid shots, etc. going to speak with the rheumy next week about the next step since we now know what I am dealing with. Probably will try the tweak but ortho does not know if that will help totally for it is a significant percentage of issues within the thumb.

18

You may also want to find out about a splint or get an ot referral for a custom splint.

Over the counter the push metagrip thumb brace is a somewhat expensive brace, but I really liked it. My hand surgeon actually had a sample one that he gave me