Carpel Tunnel Surgery Again

inpaininbama · 05-31-2003, 10:43 AM

I had surgery in August 2001 on my right hand. This was a work related accident. My hand was swollen and in extreme pain. After surgery there was signs of improvement, the swelling was gone, but I still had pain and numbness in my thumb, Index finger and Middle Finger. I went back to the Company Doctor who preformed the surgery and he kept telling me the pain and numbness was normal. He said that it could take a month or even years for the nerve to regenerate and the pain to go away. It has been about 18 months and the pain is still there so I went back to the doctor and he thought I might have a pinched nerve in my neck. He did another Nerve study test and then a MRI on my neck. He said the MRI showed a bulging disc in my neck causing the pain in my hand. I told him that my neck didn't hurt but still he presisted that was what my problem was. He recommended physical therpy. However my workers comp insurance wasn't statisfied and sent me to a nuerosurgen. They sent a representive with me, for what I don't know. The doctor said my bulging disc wasn't there and did a few test on me. The lady from WC asked what the problem was and he said that I had carpel Tunnel. She told him that I had CT Surgery already. And he said I had inadaquit surgery. Now I am waiting for WC to find a surgen who will go in and fix what the first doctor screwed up.

lidia09 · 05-31-2003, 03:20 PM

Hi
Sounds like you've really been messed around. I had surgery for cts about 7 years ago. After the first hand got done, I didn't want the second done as I still had symptoms in the first one. The surgeon told me that it can take anything up to 2 years to settle after surgery & it did take a long time. Damaged nerves grow at the rate of 1mm per day apparently. However, in your case I'd say numbness after all this time doesn't sound good. Did you have endoscopic or open release surgery? I've visited a cts message board where many people have complained of poor results with endoscopic surgery.

I hope you get it sorted out soon.
Lidia

inpaininbama · 05-31-2003, 10:02 PM

I had open release surgery. I didn't know if it was common for a person to go under the knife twice?

SissyK · 05-31-2003, 11:13 PM

It is common for you to have open cts, I had 3 and end results are NOT what I wanted. Im left in worse shape now than what I started with.
I wish you luck with your surgery and PRAY your results are not what I am left to deal with the rest of my life.
PAIN PAIN PAIN!

lidia09 · 06-01-2003, 04:51 AM

I discussed 2nd surgery with the surgeon who did my hands & he said that firstly he'd never do 2nd surgery on a hand until at least 2 years had passed as that's the time it takes the hand to fully recover. He also said that 2nd surgery can be less successful as there's often a build up of scar tissue which just presses on the nerve & makes things worse. I've been asked by doctors if I want more surgery but when I say no, they agree with what the surgeon said.

What I do now is wear splints at night & when I type. I take vitamin b6 & bromelain (lots of fresh pineapple) I do exercises too as I've got muscle wasting in my right hand. A simple elastic band has helped build up the muscle again!

Apparently there's a new operation for cts where they wrap a vein or tendon around the median nerve to prevent pressure on it. Don't know exactly how it works but it'll surely be in a website somewhere. Do a search for the cts message board I mentioned. There's quite a few people there have had 2nd & 3rd surgery for cts.

Lidia