Carpel Tunnel

[behinger]

I have Carpel Tunnel in both hands and I am considering surgery to correct the problem, but I have heard that the surgery can cause loss of strength in the hands & wrist. Does anyone have any experience with this to help me to decide whether to do the surgery.

The CT is causing problems with gripping and shooting.

 

[IndyGunworks]

easy.... carpel tunnel causes pain, which is bad, there is no reason to go through more pain than you have to just so you can shoot, that would be silly.

i suggest getting a gun with a light trigger pull (ie single action or da/sa) and one that has mild recoil so grip doesnt need to be as tight... or handload the bigger calibers to milder recoil

both problems solved.

 

[CandRFan]

I'm sure you've checked carpal tunnel surgery out with your doctor and at sites like WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-managemen...pal-tunnel-surgery-for-carpal-tunnel-syndrome

Hopefully you've caught it soon enough that perhaps some physical therapy might help? I've not had carpal tunnel, but I did have ulnar nerve transposition to fix cubital tunnel in my left arm. The doctor said that if I had it checked out when I first started feeling the symptoms that I might have been able to avoid the surgery and the misery of 3 months of physical therapy.

I wouldn't mess with nerve problems, man. If it's to the point that you require surgery then get the surgery. I was worried like you are about what would happen after the surgery and everything because I play guitar. I had muscle atrophy in my left hand because the muscles weren't firing and I put it off to long. But I've suffered no loss of strength or sensation. Physical therapy sucked, but I took it very seriously and did everything that was asked of me and my arm is fine.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

I have both cubital tunnel and carpal tunnel in both hands as well as thoracic outlet syndrome and have had it for years. I was a marathon canoe racer and the repeated motion created quite a few problems. Surgery was recommended to me by at least three doctors at St. Vincent and IU med center. I chose not to have the surgery after studying the possible side effects that were possible in my situation. My recent EMG still shows considerable damage but it is better then it used to be. Physical therapy as well as behavior modification has helped me. It also didn't hurt to do a little praying by the way.

Important things that helped me was not sleeping with my hands behind my head and learning proper hand position while using the computer. Gel mouse pads with a wrist pad really help as well.

I have had this for over 30 years and still do the things I love to do without surgery.

 

[ggglobert9]

I had the surgery on both hands over 10 years ago...best thing I have ever done. I worked in a steel mill running heavy equipment and was diagnosed via workmans comp and had greater than 50% loss of feeling and proper function. Can you touch all your fingers individually to your thumbs? If not might want to consider it. The procedure took about 5 minutes after a nerve block and I was up and pretty much back to normal within a few weeks. Feel free to pm me for further if needed.

 

[behinger]

Thanks for the advice/information.

With the pain and numbness I will probably go ahead and have the surgery. I first met with a specialist on this over a year ago, hoping that the stretching and exercise would eliminate the problem, but no such luck.

I meet with the specialist again on Thursday so I will see what he recommends.

 

[mrjarrell]

I had carpal in my right hand a few years back. Injections (2) and a brace took care of the issue. I definitely wanted to avoid surgery and that therapy managed to do it for me. Have you discussed injections with your specialist?

 

[behinger]

I had carpal in my right hand a few years back. Injections (2) and a brace took care of the issue. I definitely wanted to avoid surgery and that therapy managed to do it for me. Have you discussed injections with your specialist?

I will ask the Doctor about that when we meet. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[ggglobert9]

Who is the doc? Mine was done by Dr Tchaikowsky at FWO in Ft. Wayne