should I go to surgery ? - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

soba · 04-09-2001, 07:27 AM

Hi all.
I suffer from what seems like CTS on both hands, about a year now. I've seen 3 hand specialists and they all said I should do the surgery, though my EMG results says I have a minor CTS and my hands hurt like hell...
One specialist told me he thinks surgery is not in place, so I tried some non-instrusive treatment such as: massage, physiotrapy, bio-feedback, acupuncture, magnets (you get the idea). At some point I even left my job (as programmer) so my hands can rest and heal. I'm not working for 5 months now but only lately I started to feel some improvement - my hands dont hurt so much as long as I dont type (the pain used to come with almost anything I did with the hands).
So it may be the long rest, or the aucupunturist who's treating me now (the 3rd I saw) - or it might be only a period which may pass.
I already decided to do the surgery when this improvement came, and now I realy dont know what to do (I dont receive any payment now so I have to get back working soon).

If anyone have/had any similars symptoms, or can advise - please let me know !!
One last thing - I wake up sometimes with my hand numb, and I think it's the pinky and ring fingers which are sleeping, though they are not related to the meridian nerve. Does it mean anything ?

Sorry for the long post ;-)
and thanks,

------------------
Eran.

nancyA · 05-01-2001, 07:57 PM

if you do not have carpal tunnel you may have peripheral neuropathy. I have both the symtoms are very much alike. I have severe carpal tunnel and will meet with a surgeon next week. I would suggest you do what ever you can to get your hands back. Some days my hands are virtually useless. and I live off of percocet and neurondin. for the pain. I can not grasp things. some days it is hard to brush my teeth. My skin is totally numb when I hold something I see it is in my hand but I do not feel it. Hopefully yours will not get this extreme. Good Luck

soba · 05-02-2001, 03:29 AM

thanks for the reply !
do you know what causes peripheral neuropathy ? are there any tests to detect if I have it ?
I already decided to do the surgery, but the surgeon wants me to test for problems in the thyroid, becuase my simptoms does not fit to the classic CTS case.
hope you'll get better soon.
Eran.

nancyA · 05-14-2001, 06:23 PM

pheripheral neuropathy can be caused by chemotheropy such as in my case. or it can be caused by thyroid problems. which i also have. if your doctor is wanting to get a thyroid test this may be where they are looking. neuropathy is diagnosed just like carpal tunnel. with an emg. a good neurologist can tell the diffence. neuropathy always starts in the point the furthist from you central nevous system which is your feet. I did not even realize i had it in my feet untill he told me. I new they hurt alot but nothing like my hands. the reason for my hands was because i have severe carpal tunnel on top of neuropathy. and will have surgery next week. find a good nurologist. and ask him about neuropathy. there is no cure for neuropathy. only pain management. hope this helps

soba · 05-15-2001, 01:07 AM

already had the thyroid checked - it came negative. so the doc said I should do the surgery. I have it planned for next week. I'm going to do it on my left hand first (I'm right handed) and then see the results.
wish me luck !!
bye.