Three Months Therapy for CTS - Too Soon to Surgery???

[kellycts]

Hi All,

I am new to this site. Thank you for reading this thread. I have a question for you related to CTS.

Three months ago, my doctor did the nerve test and announced that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands. He restricted me from working on computer for more than 4 hours per day. Since I am a computer programmer, I am not allowed to work full time any more.

I have gone through therapy during the past few months, but it did not seem to help much.

How long should I go through therapy before considering surgery? My doctor and my friend told me that it is too soon to have surgery, but I want the surgery and get better so I can go back to work as normal. I am feeling so depressed and useless. Please help me!!!

Thank you.

[saf76]

HI I had my surgery two weeks ago and it is worth it. I feel so much better. My doctor said that therapy was a wast of time and money. Have a orthoscopic bilateral carpal tunnel release.That is what I had. You have to have some help for about a week. After that you are good to go for the most part. Take your time on recovery.Good luck with everything.
Sam

[kellycts]

Originally Posted by saf76

HI I had my surgery two weeks ago and it is worth it. I feel so much better. My doctor said that therapy was a wast of time and money. Have a orthoscopic bilateral carpal tunnel release.That is what I had. You have to have some help for about a week. After that you are good to go for the most part. Take your time on recovery.Good luck with everything.
Sam

Sam,

Thank you so much for responding. Do you mind telling which doctor performed your surgery. I am looking for one with good record. Or can you please point me to where I can search for a hand specialist that is reliable?

Thank you!

[Maremma]

Have you had cortisone injections? If not you may want to try them first. There are some people that actually luck out and for whatever reason once they have the cortisone injections they are completely relieved and it never comes back. You never know, you may actually be one of the lucky ones.

If the injections work for you but it returns, it will have at least bought you time to consider surgeons and type of surgery etc and get a full physical workup to see if there is an underlying health condition that is making it worse for you or even causing it. The ultimate test of course will be for you to be able to work your job full time without the symptoms returning.

[Julie24]

Hi. Im 24 years old and i waited for 3 years with carpel tunnel before having surgery. I was told to have physio therapy and use splits at night even at work. Nothing worked. I had the testing on my hands and found it was severe carpel tunnel syndrome. I couldn't sleep at night without pain in the morning my hands were numb it was hard to get dressed. Even driving to work was horrible couldn't feel my hands. So I had surgery on my right hand Nov 23rd,07 and i just had surgery Feb 1, 08 on my left hand. I was off work 3 weeks per hand. Im still off on leave from my left hand. I wish i had this surgery along time ago. I've never had so much relief in my life.Its instant and never had any problems. Best advice.DONT WAIT. Go get it done.