Carpel tunnel operation

Thankyou everyone for your very helpful advice, my DH has felt encouraged to go ahead with the operation. I think he just needed to hear of some positive results from surgery and it would seem most of you have benefited from it

I'm sorry your husband has had to wait so long
I had my carpal tunnel cooperation under a local. The only pain was when the needle first went into my wrist I had it done after I had my wrist broken playing sports.
It was done quite quickly as the surgeon listed it as urgent so I got called for a cancellation and was seen in a few weeks there were circumstances under why it was deemed to be urgent but not feeling the need to plaster over GN
I have to say there doesn't seem much improvement the only benefit is I won't lose function in my hand

The Bowen therapy does not list carpal tunnel syndrome on the list of conditions helped by its practice, which works on the fascia, the soft tissue covering your muscles and organs.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the median nerve in the wrist being compressed due to increased pressure in the carpal tunnel, a band of muscles that goes across the hand.

Carpal tunnel syndrome leads to muscle wastage in the hand and numbness in the fingers. It is nice to think this can be cured by a bit of massage and a few exercises, but unfortunately it cannot. the only solution is to cut the carpal tunnel to reduce the pressure on the nerve.

In the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome some other treatments; pain killes, splints, steroid injections can bring some relief. However, when radio conductivity tests show, as in my case, that I have severe carpal tunnel problems with signs of visible muscle wastage in both hands then there is only one solution and that is to have the carpal tunnel severed.

It is foolish and a waste of money for anyone to pursue private treatments that cannot help the problem.

I would try to find a Bowen practitioner first - no operation but a few treatments should make a difference and be far cheaper than a private operation. In my view more successful too.
My issue is other health issues - my friends mom had a "simple" operation in her late 80s . early 90s and it caused a stroke. Just check out other ways to solve the problem first

Both hands done in 2016, different times though. Left hand first. I would sleep with braces on my arms wide out to stop pain, numbness, tingling etc. Couldn't bare it any longer and had the surgery.

Agree about the needle to numb! When the surgeon come, with almost a 4 inch needle, I looked and said "where are you going with that?" He smiled and grabbed my wrist! He did ask me politely to stop fighting him! !

Just before the surgery, he touched me and I reacted, "abit more lidocaine please" he said. Other than that all was well. Same chap did the 2nd surgery, and this time for the numbing jab, said "you going to fight me again?" I did pull back I admit , but it's a bloody big needle for my hand!!

I had therapy on the left hand after it had healed and whilst I was talking to the therapist, I told her who did the surgery. Apparently he is very well liked at the hospital and doesn't believe in putting the private patients before the NHS who trained him! This is 8 years ago, his opinions may have changed!!

I went to RJAH.

Issues after, none to start with. What I have now is sometimes and mainly my left hand as it was the worse one (yet I'm right handed) is my thumb can involuntarily move into the palm of my hand, sometimes even my fingers do it and lock, it's a horrid feeling and I can't always release them.

Would I have it again, yes, but hopefully not yet!

I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel abt ten years ago - that is in the elbow rather than the wrist. I was offered surgery but told it may or may not resolve the problem and would be a 6-month recovery period. I chose to wait and see. It improved on its own quite quickly and to this day I am not even aware of it.

I had it done 10 years ago because of poor function and feeling in right hand. It worked for me. I've got full feelings back and good function. It did take me 3 weeks after the operation though before I could move my hand much.

Had both mine done via the NHS in 2020 and 2021. Not fun but problem solved. Get your husband to insist they check his fingertips when ensuring his hand is fully numb.

You could try complaining via PALS; three years is a ludicrously long time to wait. My local Acute Trust sent me to a private hospital both times.

I had mine done on one wrist years ago, and there really was very little improvement. Afterwards I really began to think that I had been misdiagnosed and what I had was really from a lot of piano practice

Yet to have any xrays as I am awaiting referral to an appropriate consultant. I only have the results of the nerve conduction study suggesting, but not proving, anything.

Yes Monica I had already self diagnosed the cervical spurs showing on X-ray as probably contributing.

aggie

I left mine too long , both hands operated with not much change

It may not be just carpal tunnel syndrome you had. Although the operation got rid of the pain in my right wrist, I was left with some residual numbness, which I assumed was because like *aggie( I ha ddhad the problem for a long time before I sought medical assistance.

But before the most recent procedure I had the usual nerve conduction study and this suggested that as well as carpal tunnel syndrome, I also had a problem in the upper part of my spine and that this was the cause of the residual numbness in my fingers, and, indeed, after the second operation, I have the same numbness in my left hand as well, which means this could indeed be the cause of the numbness. I am awaiting referral to a spinal consultant.

This might be your problem, aggie

I had mine done the day Trump became President for the first time, I remember the surgeon telling me that I would never forget this day.
I had the procedur without sedation and only a local anaesthetic. The whole operation was fascinating.

Despite umpteen tests coming back negative, the plastic surgeon was convinced that was the problem. Steroid injections did nothing for it. When the surgeon opened up my hand, he couldn't believe how bad my condition was and how I had borne it for so long. My problem is common in people with R.A, which is why he had a fair idea.

It was like a miracle, no more excruiating pain.

I had it for years , but was busy with family and had pains everywhere, so I just got on with it , I acquired wrist splints which I wore at night
It was my eldest daughter who noticed I could no longer knit and was having difficulty crocheting who dragged me off to the Doctor, tests actually showed that I was probably too far gone to be helped , one wrist was done first , then the other , I don’t have the same pain but have lost a lot of sensation
I always advise anyone to have the op sooner than later

Can I ask how long you had the problem before you got the operation Aggie?

I left mine too long , both hands operated with not much change

My Son IL has recently had both done successfully.

sassenach512

Was the second procedure with the NHS M0nica?

No, it was done privately, but two days later there was an article in one of the national papers talking all about the method I underwent saying that it was likely to be rolled out across the NHS in the next two years because the procedure would save money - no anaethetist needed to adminster sedation, no wound needing stitches and less aftercare.

Both hands done on the NHS years ago. Instant relief, no problem since. At that time I was only on the Day unit a couple of hours.

My Beautician had both hers done recently, she paid private for them as she wanted to fit it in with her job.
She was thrilled with the results.

It's worth a phone call with your local Private Hospital to see how much it would cost.

Was the second procedure with the NHS M0nica?

Ihave had two carpal tunnel ops, one on each wrist. the first six years ago the latest only two months ago.

My first op was keyhole surgery requiring sedation and leaving me with a scar about one inch long. The latest was a new machine using what was essentially a long probe that left a hole no bigger than an injection in my wrist, required only local anaesthetic and I walked from the surgery with my arm back to normal.

Thanks everyone for the encouraging input, it looks like no-one had bad results

My OH is thinking of going private because if left too long the damage can’t be reversed. He had one side done 12 years ago and no regrets now the other side needs doing

My daughter has had both her wrists operated on for carpal tunnel syndrome, with good results.

In the meantime the thing that really did help relieve the pain for her was acupuncture, so your husband could try that if he hasn't already done so?

I had it done years back totally solved the problem never had another problem my eldest daughter had it with no problems and my mum also ( seems to run in the family)
None had it at all after the op. Completely solved