Re: OT...anyone had surgery for carpal tunnel?

[Guest guest]

Sheila;

I had Open Carpal Tunnel Release surgery in November 1995. I

had laprascopic DS surgery on July 9, 2001.

Although I won't compare the lifestyle outcomes of the two,

they're worlds apart.

The pain/discomfort difference between the two is like night and

day. Prior to my DS, the Carpal Tunnel Release was the biggest

surgery I'd ever had.

My hand was weak for a few months later but once the healing

had finished, it was as though the problem had never even

existed. I can't find a scar if I examined my hand for quite a while.

Good luck.

gobo

> Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel

release

> surgery?

> If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I need

to

> have

> it done and soon to avoid permanent nerve damage but I am

scared to

> have it

> done but can't deny that the thought of relief from the constant

pain

> is a

> welcome thought. Any info would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Sheila (TX)

[Guest guest]

Sheila;

I had Open Carpal Tunnel Release surgery in November 1995. I

had laprascopic DS surgery on July 9, 2001.

Although I won't compare the lifestyle outcomes of the two,

they're worlds apart.

The pain/discomfort difference between the two is like night and

day. Prior to my DS, the Carpal Tunnel Release was the biggest

surgery I'd ever had.

My hand was weak for a few months later but once the healing

had finished, it was as though the problem had never even

existed. I can't find a scar if I examined my hand for quite a while.

Good luck.

gobo

> Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel

release

> surgery?

> If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I need

to

> have

> it done and soon to avoid permanent nerve damage but I am

scared to

> have it

> done but can't deny that the thought of relief from the constant

pain

> is a

> welcome thought. Any info would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Sheila (TX)

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

I had both hands done open about 14 years ago but it seems like not

that long ago. Those two surgeries, done at the same time, were the best

thing I ever did. If you want to write me I will be happy to answer your

questions though I am sure you will want info from as many people as you

can.

Janice in Texas

rfinch@...

July 26th with Dr. Baltasar!

OT...anyone had surgery for carpal tunnel?

> Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release

> surgery?

> If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I need to

> have

> it done and soon to avoid permanent nerve damage but I am scared to

> have it

> done but can't deny that the thought of relief from the constant pain

> is a

> welcome thought. Any info would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Sheila (TX)

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

At 01:530 +0000 7/19/01, Sheila wrote:

>Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release

>surgery?

> If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I need to

>h

I had my the release surgery on my right hand in 1992, and on my left

in 1993. Due to the subsequent return of symptoms to both hands in

1994, I was retired from my job as a word processor with a bank trust

department with 25% disability.

The disability was entirely due to the bank's utter refusal to alter

my working conditions at all. If I needed wrist support, a better

chairs, etc., etc., I had to provide them. I did, to the best of my

financial ability, but it wasn't enough.

If your dr. says you need this surgery, get it! I wish I had quit my

job after my 2nd surgery rather than going through it two times and

still having numbness and sudden releases with both hands. At least

the pain isn't as bad, though.

Best of luck,

stella

[Guest guest]

sheila,

i had my right hand done 2 years ago - i was

experiencing a great deal of numbness and pain in my

wrist - the surgery has been a success - i've had

absolutely no problem since.

jo ann/ocean springs, ms

--- Sheila wrote:

> Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal

> tunnel release

> surgery?

> If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor

> tells me I need to

> have

> it done and soon to avoid permanent nerve damage but

> I am scared to

> have it

> done but can't deny that the thought of relief from

> the constant pain

> is a

> welcome thought. Any info would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Sheila (TX)

>

>

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

I'm an elementary art teacher and when both hands went bad 10 years ago I

tried to tough it out, at first with cortisone shots and then with splints.

When my Dr. told me I was going to suffer permanent nerve damage I decided

to undergo the operations, since my hands are my livelihood. It had gotten

to the point that steering a car (and I was commuting 100 miles a day) was

agony. To be honest, I don't know if the procedures were endoscopic or open;

I was under general anesthesia and the incisions seem to have been fairly

small. I decided to have 2 separate surgeries done because I didn't want to

be totally (and that means in the bathroom, too) dependent on my husband. I

elected to have my right (dominant) hand done first; by the time I got used

to fending for myself with my left hand (about 3 weeks in all between

surgeries), the second surgery and recuperation was a piece of cake! My

timing was terrible, though. AFTER I had both hands done I developed trigger

finger (another kind of stricture problem); my dr. said if it had been

apparent before the carpal surgery, they could have done the work all at the

same time. As it was, I underwent one more procedure, on both hands, and the

recuperation was barely a distraction. It's been 10 years, my hands are

still going strong, knock wood!

Marcia

> OT...anyone had surgery for carpal tunnel?

>

>

> Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release

> surgery?

> If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I need to

> have

> it done and soon to avoid permanent nerve damage but I am scared to

> have it

> done but can't deny that the thought of relief from the constant pain

> is a

> welcome thought. Any info would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Sheila (TX)

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for responding gobo, Janice, Stella, Jo Ann, & Marcia =o)

Stella I am so sorry that you continue to have problems even after

surgery and that your employer was not cooperative in your recovery.

I am less worried about the

surgical procedure than finding a good surgeon. I don't know if I

need to go to a hand specialist or if a general or orthopedic surgeon

would be okay too. I have some things to stress over similar to what

I had to deal with in with my DS surgery...(1) making sure I get the

right surgeon...(2) choosing between open and orthoscopic surgery. I

never imagined I have to deal with these types of decisions again so

soon!

The injection I got Tuesday has started working and the anti

inflamatory medication may be helping. I am sick of wearing arm

braces! My employer gave me 7 weeks paid medical leave for my DS and

I don't think they'll be too thrilled about me needing more time off

for this. Decisions, decisions!

Thanks again,

Sheila

P.S. To all my listmates, please don't think I don't care about you

if I don't respond to a posting...I am having great difficulty typing

or using a mouse. I am reading as much as I can but the handwork it

takes to access my mail is even difficult. My thoughts are with you

all even if I am unable to send the words to say it.

> >Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release

> >surgery?

> > If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I

need to

> >h

>

> I had my the release surgery on my right hand in 1992, and on my

left

> in 1993. Due to the subsequent return of symptoms to both hands in

> 1994, I was retired from my job as a word processor with a bank

trust

> department with 25% disability.

>

> The disability was entirely due to the bank's utter refusal to

alter

> my working conditions at all. If I needed wrist support, a better

> chairs, etc., etc., I had to provide them. I did, to the best of my

> financial ability, but it wasn't enough.

>

> If your dr. says you need this surgery, get it! I wish I had quit

my

> job after my 2nd surgery rather than going through it two times and

> still having numbness and sudden releases with both hands. At least

> the pain isn't as bad, though.

>

> Best of luck,

> stella

[Guest guest]

Thanks for responding gobo, Janice, Stella, Jo Ann, & Marcia =o)

Stella I am so sorry that you continue to have problems even after

surgery and that your employer was not cooperative in your recovery.

I am less worried about the

surgical procedure than finding a good surgeon. I don't know if I

need to go to a hand specialist or if a general or orthopedic surgeon

would be okay too. I have some things to stress over similar to what

I had to deal with in with my DS surgery...(1) making sure I get the

right surgeon...(2) choosing between open and orthoscopic surgery. I

never imagined I have to deal with these types of decisions again so

soon!

The injection I got Tuesday has started working and the anti

inflamatory medication may be helping. I am sick of wearing arm

braces! My employer gave me 7 weeks paid medical leave for my DS and

I don't think they'll be too thrilled about me needing more time off

for this. Decisions, decisions!

Thanks again,

Sheila

P.S. To all my listmates, please don't think I don't care about you

if I don't respond to a posting...I am having great difficulty typing

or using a mouse. I am reading as much as I can but the handwork it

takes to access my mail is even difficult. My thoughts are with you

all even if I am unable to send the words to say it.

> >Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release

> >surgery?

> > If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I

need to

> >h

>

> I had my the release surgery on my right hand in 1992, and on my

left

> in 1993. Due to the subsequent return of symptoms to both hands in

> 1994, I was retired from my job as a word processor with a bank

trust

> department with 25% disability.

>

> The disability was entirely due to the bank's utter refusal to

alter

> my working conditions at all. If I needed wrist support, a better

> chairs, etc., etc., I had to provide them. I did, to the best of my

> financial ability, but it wasn't enough.

>

> If your dr. says you need this surgery, get it! I wish I had quit

my

> job after my 2nd surgery rather than going through it two times and

> still having numbness and sudden releases with both hands. At least

> the pain isn't as bad, though.

>

> Best of luck,

> stella

[Guest guest]

I had bad carpal tunnel..

but instead of getting the release, I went to an acupuncturist. I no

longer have the burning numbnesses and sudden releases/dropping

things/etc. I may have been lucky.. but it did work, & even though

insurance didn't cover it, I felt it was totally worth it. Might be

worth a look-see. Best of Luck, Sheila.. CT bites.

Hugs,

Liane

> >Has anyone on the list had open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release

> >surgery?

> > If so ....what is your opinion of it? My doctor tells me I need

to

> >h

>

> I had my the release surgery on my right hand in 1992, and on my

left

> in 1993. Due to the subsequent return of symptoms to both hands in

> 1994, I was retired from my job as a word processor with a bank

trust

> department with 25% disability.

>

> The disability was entirely due to the bank's utter refusal to alter

> my working conditions at all. If I needed wrist support, a better

> chairs, etc., etc., I had to provide them. I did, to the best of my

> financial ability, but it wasn't enough.

>

> If your dr. says you need this surgery, get it! I wish I had quit my

> job after my 2nd surgery rather than going through it two times and

> still having numbness and sudden releases with both hands. At least

> the pain isn't as bad, though.

>

> Best of luck,

> stella