Carpel tunnel questions.

[grntuscarora]

I'm an avid knitter and sewer, and an occasional quilter. But in the past few years I have developed carpel tunnel syndrome which is getting worse. My ability to enjoy crafts and create quality items is beginning to deteriorate. Has anyone undergone carpel tunnel surgery, and if so, was it successful? Would you recommend it? How long was the recovery?
I'm not sure our insurance would cover it, but I might be willing to pay anyway, if I was sure it would help in the long term.
Crafting has always given me so much pleasure, I truly don't want to lose this part of my life.

[Staph]

1. My mother had carpal tunnel surgery a few years ago.

She had been in great pain, wearing wrist supports to bed but still waking up with numb or tingling hands or shooting pains. After the surgery, no pain! She had full recovery (able to lift heavy objects again) within a few weeks -- not bad for a 90 year old!

[grntuscarora]

2. Excellent!

I'm happy to hear that--and am especially delighted at the quick recovery time!

Thanks!

[catchnrelease]

3. Get more than one opinion before getting the surgery

Since you are using your hands a lot, you probably do have carpal tunnel, and would need the surgery. But I have known more than one person that thought they had it and found out that the actual problem was in their neck.

One was my dad who was going to get the surgery and saw mom's chiro first and after having adjustments on his neck, the problem in his hands went away. And just this past weekend was talking to a friend about her mother who had also expected to have the surgery but a medical dr gave her a second opinion and did nerve tests on her hands, arms etc and said the problem is not in your hands but in your neck. She also had her neck adjusted instead and problem solved. I've heard other stories the same, but these two I know to be true.

A lot of people are anti chiropractic but if you can find a good one, it might be worth it to get an opinion first, especially if you would have to pay for surgery yourself.

[grntuscarora]

4. Good advice, thanks!

I actually do have neck/back problems, not severe enough to head to the doctor as of yet. It didn't occur to me the numbness/pain in my hands could be connected.

[csziggy]

5. I had to get the surgery on both hands - it helped a lot

I even had to get ulnar nerve realignment - that's the funny bone nerve. If you have problems with the last two fingers on your hands going to sleep, that's the one that is needed.

My hands would go completely to sleep. I thought I had a pinched nerve in my neck - not an unreasonable thought since I've had several concussions and a number of other injuries that could affect the neck. My doctor sent me to a neurologist who didn't even do the full testing. His results showed bi-lateral carpal tunnel syndrome, one of the worst cases he'd ever seen.

I had the right hand done in 2013, the left in 2014. The left also had arthroplasty - they transplanted a piece of tendon into the joint on my left thumb to replace missing cartilage.

The carpal tunnel surgery was not bad and I could stitch pretty quickly after they were done. The ulnar nerve relocation was a little inconvenient - the incision is in an awkward place, right where I tend to put my elbow on my armrest - but it healed fast.

The arthroplasty was a PITA. My thumb had to be kept immobile for 4-6 weeks. It's amazing what you can't do with only one working thumb! I couldn't stitch, couldn't dress myself, couldn't shower properly and so forth. In the long run, I'm glad I did it but if I'd realized what a pain it would be I probably wouldn't have.

I'm back to stitching as much as every and it is such a relief to not have to take breaks to let my hands "wake up." About a month before the first surgery I went to a needlework seminar and kept having to stop and shake my hands to get the feeling back. The teacher was very concerned and kept checking on me.

Insurance covered the surgeries - the first was done the same year as my knee replacements so I'd already paid the maximum out of pocket when we set it up. I did use an out of network doctor - I've been going to the same orthopedic clinic since 1993 when they rebuilt my left shoulder and trust them more than any other place in the South East so I was willing to pay what the insurance wouldn't cover.

Before you go for the surgery, see about getting physical therapy. it might help though my hand surgeon said stitching is pretty good therapy.

Also, make your own cold packs - 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water. If each part is 1 cup and you double bag the solution in gallon ziplocks, the frozen pack stays flexible enough to wrap around your hand or elbow. They stay cold a long, long time, but make two so one is always in the freezer. I found they worked better than the pain pills and would fall asleep with one wrapped around my hand.

Plan on physical therapy after the surgery - the exercises are simple but it does make a difference.

Good luck!

[grntuscarora]

6. Wow. Thanks for that input.

I'm so glad you're doing well now.

My next stop will be my GP to get this ball rolling.

I've put off dealing with this for too long.

[csziggy]

7. Yeah - I'd put it off for years

But when I had my knees replaced and had to use a wheelchair and walker during recovery my hands got really bad.

I do have a slightly numb area in the crease at the base of each palm, but it does not bother me as much as having my hands go dead with no warning!

[Olive Birch]

8. Nothing to fear

I have had both hands done after suffering with excruciating pins and needles, numbness and pain for too long. The surgeries were a breeze - both done in the doc's office with no anesthesia, just novacaine. I made fast and full recoveries in both hands. Ensure you are using a hand surgeon as opposed to a general surgeon. Best of luck!