Carpal tunnel in both hands

Thank you...

Had surgery on both hands (not at the same time!) about eight years ago. Simple procedure with minimal pain. What a relief!

Hello labradorlinda33, I haven't read the whole thread but hope your pain eases soon and you find the op was worth it. I've heard many success stories

Hello everyone, I had my surgery yesterday. He said it was bad so I'm glad I had it done.
I am good at dealing with pain and have medication that is helping but today it is painful!!!
It's more painful than my hip replacement was 😔...
Sorry for the moan.
I hope you are all coping in the heat...x

Thank you everyone for your comments. I'm not 'dithering' today. I will go ahead.
I was wondering about how I will manage to put my bra on....( like you do)...I looked in M and S at the sports bra but some of them looked fierce!!
I do have a DH to help...
How anyone could manage having both done at the same time... Very brave ...
Anyway, thanks again...

I went on holiday the day after my first carpal tunnel op. You only have sedation for the op and the scar only requires it most 2 stitches. I had no difficulty in using my hand normally when dressing, undressing, in fact it was back to normal life the day after, except for a sling for 2 days and not being able to use the swimming pool and spa facilities.

The first op was 7 years ago. At the end of last year I had my other wrist done. No operation, just a 'procedure, a needle was thread into my wrist and down half an inch to the carpal muscle, it was snipped, the needle was withdrawn. A bit of lint and plaster was put over the 'wound', rather like after a blood test, no sedation, just local anaesthetic, within 15 minutes I was on my way home, and life went straight back to normal.

11 days after your op/procedure, everything will be back to normal and you will already have forgotten you even had the op. Enjoy your holiday.

Labradorlinda33 I had my stitches removed 2 weeks after surgery. I was unable to get my hands wet up until that point, going away would not have been possible.
I had both hands operated on at the same time. Doing anything at all was tricky but I managed to look after myself, I live alone. I ate toast, peanut butter and bananas for a few days, I couldn’t open the ready meals that I had bought in advance. The washing up piled up for a few days until I could stack the dishwasher. After a couple of days I managed to sit in the bath and had to let myself dry naturally without a towel. It was certainly a challenge but I was pleased to get it all over with so quickly.

I had mine done many years ago but I had both operated on the same day which was a mistake .I couldn’t go to the toilet myself etc.But it was very successful.

Hello again, I am due to have surgery on 19th June on my left (dominant) hand.
We're going to France 11 days later and am now wondering if I should postpone it until I get back...
I'm just thinking about showering, dressing, toilet etc which could be awkward initially because of the surgery.
I'm also expecting a date for my hip surgery, late July/August so I was hoping to get hand sorted before my hip...
I'm dithering.... Advice/ experiences very welcome..TIA..

Hello everyone, thank you so much for your advice and experiences. I saw the hand consultant yesterday and am now waiting for a date for surgery.
I'm pleased as it is getting worse...

I had the surgery in 2020 and 2021 - the second time was unpleasant because the consultant - who thought he was God - did t give me sufficient local anaesthetic, despite me saying my hand wasn't properly numb. Bastard. However, aside from that, both surgeries were successful and I've had not recurrence.

I've had it in both hands TWICE - first ops were done by GP in their surgeey - lasted about a year then came back - 2nd op on each hand was at the hospital with incision further up the wrist - both successful though I have been left with a little numbness in both palms but no pain at all. I was advised I could have both done together or seperately I opted for the latter as I don't know how you'd do anything with both hands out of action!

I was a potter for almost 40 years and had carpal tunnel in both hands. I never had the operation. After a little research and speaking with other potters, I tried vitamin B6 100 mg. It gave me over 10 years pain-free relief. You have to take one every day, but it is water soluble so it doesn’t accumulate In your body. Give it a shot. It might just help you too.

Monica, that's very interesting.. I've been suffering with bladder spasms for a while now and have been prescribed medication. It does seem to be helping.
Reading about Cervical Myelopathy, it mentions, apart from the problems with tingling in fingers etc, about problems with bladder function.
I'm going to write down questions to ask the Consultant when I see him on Monday.
Thanks for that..

I had carpal tunnel following a broken wrist. When I saw the surgeon he said it had come on so fast he didn't want to wait as he thought I could lose the use of three fingers permanently. No space on the fracture clinic surgery list so he saw me on Friday and I was operated on the following Wednesday on a general surgery list. Had the stitches out Christmas Eve and fortunately it all seems to be fine except for the odd twinge if I put pressure on the scar area. I wouldn't have rushed to have surgery but as I had no previous problems I had to believe the surgeon when he said it was the result of the accident and a very poor outlook if I waited. Thank heavens that we have the NHS for emergencies although I am still on waiting lists for other problems

Surgery on both hands simultaneously (yes two doctors) with local anaesthetic. My pain had been severe in both hands and arms especially at night. The pain went straight away. Quite difficult for a couple of weeks as I lived alone, but I am so pleased that I got this done just weeks before lockdown. That is my experience.

labradorlinda33

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me. The tingling, numbness and pain seemed to come on quite suddenly and I now wear splints when I go to bed which do help .I'll see what the consultant says on Monday ...

If the carpal tunnel came on quite suddenly, a contributing feature may be that you have problems with your upper spine as well.

The carpal tunnel problem in my right arm developed over 30 years. That in my left arm very dramatically. So much so that my doctor thought I might have had a stroke, although that has now been proven otherwise.

When I finally had the nerve conduction tests, the specialist asked me if before the sudden onset I had been doing something where my hands were folded in towards the wrist. I had been, and as a result I was told the cause was damage to the top of my spine, nothing exceptional, just the ordinary wear and tear of life.

After my last procedure, I saw a spinal specialist who confirmed that the remaining numbness and pain in both arms and hands were not carpal tunnel symptoms but symptoms of cervical spondylosis. patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/neck-pain/cervical-spondylosis. Usually this causes people pain in their neck, but it can also cause pain down the arms and numbness in the fingers and most people over 60 have it to some degree or another, even if it is symptomless.

Macadia, what lifestyle changes did you make?

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me. The tingling, numbness and pain seemed to come on quite suddenly and I now wear splints when I go to bed which do help .I'll see what the consultant says on Monday ...

There is little or no operation to it these days. I have had both hands done in the last few years.

The first one was done under local anaesthetic and sedation and has left a half inch scar, just about visibleon my right wrisst.

The second 'operation' was done in December, using a new piece of equipment just being introduced. No sedation, just local anaesthetic, a long needle like instrumnt was inserted in my arm guided down an inch or two to the carpal tunnel, snip, snip and it was done. meanwhile I was chatting away to the nurse. Up and on my way home 15 minutes later, no incision, no recovery time needed, I just got on with the days activities, no scar and instant relief.

I had both hands operated on for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome nearly 40 years ago, and then 2 operations for Trigger Finger about 30 years ago. Before that I had had various injections into the thumbs and later the fingers with no improvement. The operations sorted both out with no side effects. Now, at 70, my wrists and hands are weaker than normal, but that has only been over the last 5 years. I think it is definitely worth it; the operations must be better now too! Good luck

Had both hands done years and years ago in the 90s Never had a moment trouble since My eldest daughter also had both done and no further problems
It’s magical all the pins and needles and pain gone in a flash

I had both hands operated on as day cases , not both on the same day !
I was warned that I had let it go on too long so I only had improvement in less pain , but I still have the numbness in my finger tips
It won’t go away , so I always tell anyone who asks … get the surgery sooner rather than later

I wouldnt have surgery. It sometimes goes away on its own with some lifestyle changes. My DD had it, one side, all the way to her shoulder. It disabled her for a year but it's completely gone now. I had it in both hands - very painful. I changed my lifestyle and it healed after about six months.

I have not heard of anyone being damaged from surgery but you should look at success rates.

I had both hands done at separate times about 25 years ago. Very successful outcome and no further problems. I opted for a nerve block and I didn’t feel a thing after the injection quickly took effect.

Good luck with your surgery.