I haven't been here in a while. I had cts surgery on both hands in middle and late 2005. I was ok as of March 2006, but then I helped my husband remodel 2 bathrooms, lifting and carrying the bathtub, glass shower doors, etc. Well I am still not doing well with my hands. I have pain in my fingers. No numbness at all--this is pain. I still cannot drive far and I get these shooting feelings that aren't pain but they are probably something to do with the nerves in my hands. They feel kinda icy. So I'm thinking I will have to see a doctor about them soon. We are no longer with a HMO and so anything I have done will probably cost a fortune. I'd just like to have my hands back like they were when I was 30. I'm almost 50.
--Jo

That's really the pits! Yes, it sounds like it is time to see the doctor to find out what is going on and to see if you can get some sort of relief. Good luck.

Thanks Taimse.

I have an appt. on April 6th with a hand specialist. Let's hope he can help me. He's supposed to be really good.
-Jo

Seems like a long wait, huh? I, too, hope he can help you. Let us know what happens. Anything for the pain and other symptoms in the meantime?
Does heat help? Ice? Ibuprofen? Dipping hands in hot paraffin? Over the counter remedies such as arthritis creams? Herbal teas?...I think ginger is supposed to be good for helping with inflammation.

Since your current symptoms happened after work associated with redoing bathroom....is it possible you could have a nerve or nerves pinched in your neck? Not sure, if maybe it might be worth checking out Thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms too?

Taimse,
I have been taking Centrum vitamins, back to wearing splints at night and when I drive and taking Aleve. Symptoms are 20% better, if that much.

I went to see a hand specialist today and I am going to have a new EMG test done soon. I will keep everyone up to date on how this is going.

Results--------------
I had another EMG done today. Good news, I have the nerves of a 15 year old! And I just turned 50! He said the surgery done 2 years ago was a success. Bad news -- I have tendonitis. All the tendons in my hands are inflamed. He is sending today's results to my hand specialist who will most likely suggest cortisone shots. I am told they hurt. But it's better to have that done than to be in pain every day.

Anchovy procedure: the surgeon takes a tendon from your arm and uses it to replace a joint at the base of your thumb that is arthritic. Have you experienced any of the symptoms I am having?