Failed? CT surgery. Mayo's 2nd opinion - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

Taimse · 09-21-2005, 07:13 AM

I went to Mayo, Rochester, MN Monday and Tuesday for 2nd opionion consult.
Went through bone scan and autonomic tests for RSD and MRI and EMG.

Then saw orthopedic doc. Not good news. He said at beginning:
"JUst remember you came to me, I didn't come to you." I knew then it wasn't good news. He said that nerve is damaged, but it wasn't from CT release surgery. It is from before surgery yet. He couldn't explain the change in symptoms, but that I would have to learn to live with it. He said he could do exploratory surgery, but the risk of making it worse was higher than making it better. I know there are people worse off than me....but this is really depressing. He said pain won't cause tissue damage and pain is in ones' head anyway. Said more physical therapy won't do any good...nor with cortisone shot. Does anyone think acupunture will help?

My chiro thought that doc was off on diagnosis. He gets patients from Mayo every so often that are told they will have to live with their medical problem....he just had one the other day that was being treated for foot/heel problem in physical therapy at Mayo. problem is more in hip area ...he has treated her and she is already a lot better than she was. He has told others to go back to Mayo doctor and ask if what he has suggested to them could be the problem or be tested for. He told me, that I probably should have sought out a neurosurgeon that works on hands rather than ortho. I don't ever want to go back to Mayo....

iantodd001 · 10-05-2005, 03:13 AM

hi, i had surgery june 10 ,and still experience pain,stiffness,and tinsels isgn-and swelling to left of palm---how did you first realize the surgery failed?
thank you

Taimse · 10-05-2005, 02:27 PM

billyf27. I guess, I fully realised it in July, 5 months post surgery. I was told by physicians assistant two weeks post op when I had my stitches out and had hypersensitivity big time in part of hand, that nerves regenerate at rate of 1 inch a month. Then in May, when doctor couldn't figure out why my hand was the way it was and consulted a hand specialist at Mayo, I was told it would resolve in 3-4 months. I did occupational therapy and desensitization therapy from mid March to early May when I hit a plateau. The symptoms were not going away and haven't since that point. I thought maybe, and doctor thought so too, that I would see smaller increments of progress and less pain over a longer period of time. My occupational therapist was really impressed with the progress I had made and also the consistancy of doing the exercises. I saw her briefly in July and she told me it was nothing I did nor didn't do.
I saw the orthopedic surgeon at the end of Aug. He said nerves regenerate at the rate of 1 mm per week. On some websites , they say nerves regenerate at rate of 1mm to 1.5 mm per DAY or about one inch a month.