Can Anyone Please Help With Some Advise? I Have Had A Carpal Tunnel Decompression.?
In August last year I had a operation called a carpal tunnel decompression which I was told was a simple operation and I would be back to work within 2 weeks?
Since having this operation I still have the carpal pain with pins and needles but also more severe pain in my hand which is creeping up my arm into my shoulder. The added pain I feel in my hand now which started within 2 weeks of the having the operation is like nothing I have had before, it is unbearable :-(
I have also loss the movement in 3 of my fingers which means I drop things, cant pick things up etc…it has left me with a disabled hand :-(
I have asked the hospital about this but they will only address the pain but no one will say why my fingers don’t work anymore.
Please if anyone has any thing they know regarding symptoms I have stated can you please, please advise. I feel like I am banging my head up against a brick wall with regards to the hospital :-(
Please no wise cracks people.
Tagged with: Advise • Anyone • Carpal • Decompression • Have • Help • Please • Some • Tunnel • With
Filed under: Back Decompression
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I am very distressed to read your question as it seems you have had pain and increasing symptoms and disability for 13mths. In my opinion this is completely unacceptable. You don’t say which fingers are now weak, but if it is the first 3, including the thumb, then it appears you may have still severe compression of the median nerve, which was meant to have been decompressed in the first place.
You should go back to your doctor and insist on being referred to another surgeon, or even to another hospital. You need a second opinion on your carpal tunnel decompression soon. This needs to be sorted out properly. You should not be like this and have to put up with it.
Good luck.
London Girl, the first thing that pops out to me is whether or not an EMG test was performed. It might have cleared some of the potential problems that you are now experiencing. Unfortunately the symptoms of carpal tunnel are often taken as the only means of creating this problem. There are others and they include problems at the neck and at the elbow. The test would have helped to clear this up. If the test was done and it showed that you in deed had a carpal tunnel syndrome then what may now be happening is that you could have problems at the neck and or elbow. There is unfortunately another aspect of this that could have happened and there is not much that can be done about it. That is scaring. About two weeks after an operation the scar tissue starts to mature and at this point if one is a person that scars the problems will begin to manifest themselves. One unfortunately cannot tell if there is going to be scaring as it has nothing to do with what goes on the skin. If this has happened it is most difficult to rid yourself of the symptoms. You can try this stretching exercise for the median nerve but if it causes you any problems stop it. I would also ask that you see a physical therapist who would evaluate you from the neck on down as posture is going to play a very important aspect in this. The exercise is very simple but it does stretch the nerve so again be cautious. Stand next to a wall and place the body perpendicular to the wall. Start this movement by doing the side that is not bothered. So line up with the uninvolved side closest to the wall. Extend the arm fully out and place the hand on the wall at shoulder height with the fingers facing backwards. Now slowly start to turn the body until you either feel a slight stretch at the wrist or you have reached a point where the body is now parallel to the wall. If you can make that point turn the head away from the wall adding a little more stretch. Hold that stretch for about 30 seconds and this may take some time to achieve so don’t rush it and then rest the arm for 15 seconds. Do this stretch twice more and then do the involved side. Remember do not enter into any painful areas but stay just short of them! Repeat the same routine exactly and do it 3 times. This should be done at least twice a day and more if possible. Hopefully this will stretch the tissue enough to give you some relief. Also make sure that you are wearing the cock up splint when sleeping each night. As that will definitely help you. Hope this helps!