Has anyone here ever had Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?
Where was it? Did you need an operation?
Every now and then I would have tingling in my right wrist and used a CTS brace, which worked like a charm. Then if the problem came back, all that was necessary was to hold my hand / wrist in a certain position and the problem went away.
Now I’ve been diagnosed with CTS in both my right and left arms. Has anyone here ever heard of that? If you have personal experience, would you share it with me? The doctor's scheduling nerve tests then operation and I’m a wee bit scared.
Any info would be appreciated,
Helen
Minor case
a
Saw my doctor last week
Aaron,
He’s not sure that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because the pain goes too far up my arm. He thinks the problem is from a nerve impingement in my neck somewhere. I’m not sure he’s going to do the nerve conduction study in my arms, from what I’ve heard it’s very painful – they stick needles in various nerves in your arms and hands than have you move till you feel pain. That sounds more like physical cruelty used in a concentration camp on a prisoner to get him to spill the beans. I get chills down my spine just thinking of it. Burrr.
Thanks for your input,
Helen
Not so bad
Hi Helen,
I had nerve conduction studies for a nerve problem in my elbow. It's not as painful as it might seem. The needles are very thin and short. The study may involve the doctor giving your arm small electric shocks, which doesn't hurt but feels strange, or it may involve their putting needs into muscles and asking you to move those muscles. That latter part can be a little painful, but again it's not too bad. The nerve conduction studies are really the best way to tell whether any nerves are being compressed, and if so where the compression is happening. In any case, best of luck with your condition - hope it starts to get better.
Helen, i've had the test which is fine, just minor electric stuff
the op is quite simple i think. from what i understand CTS is caused by narrowing of the bone that the nerves travel through on the underside of the wrist, just where we wear our watches. its like a tube and all they do is drill the bone out to make more space for the nerves. there are risks, but very few.
i wasnt so lucky as after my neck was broken i've had nerve damage effecting my right arm giving CTS effect from finger tips sometimes all the way to my elbow. a bit like your arm falling asleep. its annoying, but life goes on.
apparently CTS like white finger can be made worse by things like motorcycling, cold climates and vibration. the problem is that if you keep it too warm the nerves swell and you get tingling. you cant win can you.
if your CTS test is ok, try to get the same test from neck to fingers in case its a problem somewhere else.
all the best and hope it works out ok.
Graham
Wear the braces at night
Wow, thanks for your help
Sorry to say it’s not the regular type of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, my CTS is from a pinched nerve in my neck. I’ve been to the ER three times for pain and hospitalized four days due to the complexity. There’s a protruding disk in my neck at c4/5, pinching a nerve. Several years ago I had fusion surgery on c5/6 and c6/7 making a second fusion surgery too dangerous. I’m still waiting for the nerve conduction study, a third CAT scan and an MRI. At the present time the most they can do is treat the pain and inflammation.
Thank you all for your help.
Sincerely,
Helen
Helen, i really feel...
1993 conveniently damaging a nerve in the process not helped by lots of
physiotherapy which just stopped the nerve healing properly. too much stretching
and articulation apparently, hence the reason the good old british police force
put me on the scrap heap of life and retired me. i dont want to make you worry,
but i now have limited mobility in neck, very limited use of my right arm and
shoulder and the CTS effect from finger tips to elbow. i wasnt offered any
surgery and would have refused it if i had been as i've seen too many people
with bad results a few years later. to add insult to injury after years sitting
in cop cars and on bikes all day the disc at the very bottom of my spine is now
totally knackered, but again they wont operate. its not the british way anymore
unless you cant cope with the meds.
it was what it is which we knew anyway and left it at that. take the 27 tablets
a day and do the best you can :(
was fractured during an assault on duty and 4 years later it was whiplashed
being rammed by a drink driver whilst on duty so in 2001 when i went long term
sick they retired me on an injury pension which is very generous. money doesnt
make you better, but it can help buy the things that make you feel better on the
inside(like watches).
causes depression and it is a viscious circle. too many years attending too many
horrific car accidents doesnt help either.
side i have a fabulous understanding wife, 2 lovely adult children(19/17) and 2
fabulous stepsons(12/10) a nice house, and a comfortable lifestyle.
being able to do so much and has pretty bad side effects.
luck with the tests. try to live without the meds if possible as once your on
them you cant get off without a lot of problems, try to live life to the full
while you still can and most of all remember that there are people who know what
your going through.
What a horrific experience...
Graham,
Reading your experience sent chills down my arms and spinal cord. My primary care doctor, an internal specialist with greater diagnostic knowledge than a regular MD, has denied for two year that I had any serious problem with my neck or arms. Neither he nor the two neurological specialists he sent me to did anything more than physical observation examinations - their diagnosis was nothing more than mental anxiety resulting from overwhelming stress.
Finally after two years I took my problem to the ER of the local hospital where my symptoms and pain were taken seriously and a CAT scan revealed a protruding disc impinging a nerve and a few other surprises. I hope you don’t mind me cutting this short – my shoulders and neck hurt. Thank you for taking the time to go into detail for me. I will resume my letter when I’m feeling better.
Best Wishes,
Helen
Helen, Never trust a...
of course).
on the whole pretty useless. i ruptured my lower disc in my back when i was 18
and lived with it for years with only occasional bouts of pain, but as i said
the other day, my job didnt help with cars and bikes for so many hours every
day, however, no one found out about my disc being totally knackered until a
locum 'cleverly'(i think not) took me off a muscle relaxant. after 9 months
of agony and a walking stick my GP came back from maternity leave and organised
an x-ray and put me back on the meds.
piece of welsh slate and sent me to the hospital where a 'wonderful' consultant
said he would arrange an operation at a centre of excellence for orthopaedic
surgery and i'd be totally cured. he sent me for an MRI then 6 months later told
me that they wouldnt be operating and denied ever telling me he did( he also
told my wife that there was nothing wrong with our son when he couldnt put any
weight on his heels and to encourage him to walk without crutches. after she
went to ER a Paediatrician diagnosed severs disease which is a disease
that affects the growth plates in childrens bones causing lots of pain. when she
went back to him with our physio he said 'its severs disease, just like i told
you it was last time'. needless to say he has now retired early.)
but i'm not an idiot and eventually got an appointment with the surgeon, who
actually said that they try to avoid back ops these days as most people
operated on 10 years ago or even less are worse now than they were then.
his advice was that despite the damage the meds do to your stomach lining and
heart its better than having an op. at least he was open and honest about it and
i respect him for it.
stress, which then exacerbates the pain etc etc viscious circle, but you've got
got to have the pain to start with which a lot of doctors dont take into
account. i'm not defending them in any way, but a lot of symptoms of neck damage
is headaches and shoulder stiffness which also occur in stress. they have a very
difficult job and in the main do a very good one, but sometimes the likes of you
and i slip through the net.
even keel. it doesnt matter if they operate or medicate as long as the pain is
bearable and you can function fairly well.
Finally got my doctor's attention
Graham,
After going to the hospital three times in the last two months my doctor wants to participate in my health care. Have a 30 min appointment with him this morning. Wll tell you how it works out.
Regards,
Helen