CTS or am I just crazy??? - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

DAG · 08-06-2004, 07:38 AM

Help! I have been suffering with this pain and numbness since Jan. I am an officer mgr and do some heavy typing all day long. I first went to the dr end of Mar. Did the usual tests, xray, blood work and ordered nerve conduction test. All showed normal. I was given a spint and told to wear it at night and come back to see him in a month or so. Pain just got worse. At night staring around 6-7 pm my hand feels dead. Pain is pretty intense up to elbow. Went back to dr. and started workers comp claim (big mistake - as I am finding out now!) they ordered cort shot. That offered some relief only 2 weeks. Went back and forth with WC & they wanted second opinion. Went to another dr he said it appears to be CTS and ordered 2nd nerve test. Had that done and it was normal again! Just had another cort shot with 2nd dr and it hurts like the dickens! I was told to come back in 6 weeks. I am starting to think I'm crazy as the nerve tests are normal. But what is causing my pain and numbness? The first dr suggested surgery even when nerve test was neg and cort shot had little relief. Now that WC is involved, I guess I am at their mercy. Anyone else going nuts like I am?

lidia09 · 08-06-2004, 04:07 PM

Hi DAG
Firstly, you ain't going nuts & secondly you probably do indeed have CTS. Is it mostly your thumb, index, middle & ring fingers which are affected? That indicates a problem with the median nerve - the one involved in CTS. If it's mainly your ring & pinky fingers, that's your ulnar nerve. That one often gets trapped at the elbow causing Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

These NCV/EMG tests are not very accurate. A study done in Leeds UK showed that something like 25% of people tested who did NOT have symptoms of CTS showed a positive result & many of those who DID obviously have CTS came up negative.

I had CTS surgery done without having these tests done beforehand. The surgery worked fine for me.

What I'd suggest is that you read as much as you possibly can on the subject then fight to get the treatment that you want. I'm in the UK so don't know too much about WC I'm afraid.

Best wishes
Lidia