Time off work - Career Change - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

julesmba · 06-15-2004, 07:52 AM

Hi There

I'm sitting here feeling a bit sorry for myself as I just had to come home for the first time from work, because of the pain in my right hand, wrist and arm and the gibbering wreck it's temporarily turned me into. It's a shame really - I was doing quite well hiding it at work!

I am going to the specialist at the end of next month and hoping to get the release operation on my right hand, I have to get the left hand done too, but the doctor recommends doing one at a time. Is anyone from the UK here, and if so do you know how long I might have to wait for the op once I've been to the consultant? - I'm in South Wales.

Can anyone tell me whether they think I need to change my career as I use a computer all the time at work and the mouse especially gives me lots of trouble?

If I do need to change - has anyone got any jobs in mind that don't agitate CPS as, in this mood I can't think of anything that wouldn't agitate my arms and wrists - or leave me open to dropping stuff.

Sorry I'm being negative I won't be next time.

Thanks

Julie

whatamess@35 · 06-15-2004, 09:35 AM

Jules
I am not in the U.K....So i cant tell you how long you have to wait...What i can tell you is to get a splint for your hand{s}...Wear it when you are typing..That may help you while your at work!!! Take it off for a while so your wrist doesnt get stiff while at home..Then back on at night...Take ibuprofen for the pain until you can get in to see the doc..I lost my job 2 months ago..I know how it is to feel sorry for yourself..Dont be sooo hard on yourself!! This isnt "fun" and nobody expects you to be hapy about it!!! I went through a very rough time the first month of not working..I loved the people and my coworkers..Well except for one..LOL"The Boss"LOL
I was unable to do the simplest tasks at home w/out pain!!! I have moderate CPT and severe nerve damage...I have alot of burning in my neck that i take meds for..It only takes the edge off i am never w/out burning most days!! I wore a cast for 2 weeks to rest the nerve and hopefully heal it...It eased up my symptoms but it is certainly not good enough for me to do work!!! I am due to have surgery on july 30th.. I hope you keep us updated on whats going on..These boards in my opinion arent just for learning about whats goin on with you but also for support.So stick around a bit....

lidia09 · 06-15-2004, 10:52 AM

Hi Julie
Sorry to hear your CTS is giving you so much trouble. I'm up here in Scotland & had CTS surgery in 1996/7 I think it was. I waited about 6 months to see the orthopaedic surgeon then about another 6 months before he operated on my worst hand. The other one was done about 4 months later. I think we now live in the land of the NHS Lottery where it's just your luck as to the length of time you have to wait.

Have you had any NCV/EMG testing done? If it shows any nerve damage/severe CTS, they might just push you up the queue a bit faster. I had these tests done recently as I now have Cubital Tunnel Syndrome & I had to wait about 4 months from seeing the consultant to get them done!

It costs something like £2,300 to get one hand done via private medicine if you get really desperate.

The good news is that it might not be necessary to change your job. Before my CTS surgery, I hardly touched a keyboard - maybe about 8-10 hours a week. Now I use one 8-10 hours a day & don't have much trouble with CTS at all. The muscles below my thumbs are wasted so I do tend to drop things - I just avoid picking up expensive/breakable items in stores!

The neurologist tested my median nerve while he was checking out the ulnar one & said it was absolutely fine, so the excessive keyboarding/mousing has done me no harm whatsoever. I still sometimes wear splints in bed at night & I'm putting off the Cubital Surgery for now. Same surgeon as last time who now has CUTS too & isn't planning surgery so that's good enough for me. I'd heard the results weren't always wonderful.

Have you got splints to wear in bed? Night time only is best because if you wear them all the time you end up with weakened wrist muscles through lack of use. I take Vitamin B6 & Bromelain/Papain tablets to try & keep the nerves healthy & reduce inflammation.

Try not to be too despondent - there's light at the end of the carpal tunnel!

Best wishes & hope you get some relief from that pain soon.

Lidia

julesmba · 06-15-2004, 11:26 AM

Dear W and Lidia

Thank you both for your speedy replies - helps a lot as my hubby is at work just now.

I managed to get an emergency appointment at the docs and he gave me a note for a support splint, a prescription for a month's supply of diclofenac sodium enteric, which I've looked up, and told me to have a few days off work - oh yes and to use an ice pack. Pretty helpful for a doctor in my experience.

I did ask him about how long the op might be and he said it may be 12 months before I can get the pulse tests and they won't operate without that for fear of being sued. I did have these tests about four years ago when I was first referred - someone (Dr, hospital or postman) lost the referral and I had to start again recently. I don't know if the old test will do as it's so long ago - but I'd pay for that part if I have to have it again and I get the option - I know it's not very ethical, but I'm past caring! I can't afford to pay for the op, especially as I need both hands done.

Thanks both for your kind words - I'm feeling a bit better now the doctor took me seroiusly and I've had a bit of a "I'm gonna be disabled" blubber to myself and come out the other end.

Cheers

Jules

xxredstarxx · 07-25-2004, 08:24 PM

hi julie,
sorry to hear about your cts. i had it too and went throught the same thing. i hate going home from work because you cant do anything whithout hurting. every time i ended up going home from the pain, management always thought i was just using it as an excuse to go home. i had the surgery not too long ago and it is soo much better. and i did go back to my original job (which is also alot of typing) and im still ok. my job also includes a lot of heavy lifting, and its still doing well. the way i see it, no matter what your profession is, anything you do for work can cause cts. unless its something that doesnt include using your hands. my physical therapist said that it can even be the way you do your daily home activities that cause it. the way you have to reach in a cabinet for a glass, etc. she said the posture of your body has alot to do with it. so dont worry too much about the job thing. you should be ok..

kandice