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Carpal tunnel release


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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Nov 20 2009, 09:10 AM)
thanks all.

i'm doing fine, just sore. will be back to posting soonish.

applaudit.gif new_thumbsupsmileyanim.gif Glad to hear it went well!

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I got the stitches out of my left hand Monday and it seems to be right on track. The right one is another story.

 

When I went in for surgery #2 two weeks ago, the doctor was not pleased with how my right hand (with the large incision) was doing. I had noticed that it was making a helluva scar which was tight and painful.

 

Monday he told me I have to go to a hand specialist. The scar is forming keloid tissue - it's bigger than it was 2 weeks ago, instead of steadily getting fainter and smoother. The scar is very tender, raised, and there's scar tissue forming at a great rate at about a 1/2 inch margin all around the incision line. The doctor said that the scar tissue has to be "broken down" or else it could impinge the median nerve. Again.

 

I'm kind of discouraged because I still don't have full use of my right hand, and the scar pain gets worse every day.

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Dec 2 2009, 02:15 PM)
I got the stitches out of my left hand Monday and it seems to be right on track. The right one is another story.

When I went in for surgery #2 two weeks ago, the doctor was not pleased with how my right hand (with the large incision) was doing. I had noticed that it was making a helluva scar which was tight and painful.

Monday he told me I have to go to a hand specialist. The scar is forming keloid tissue - it's bigger than it was 2 weeks ago, instead of steadily getting fainter and smoother. The scar is very tender, raised, and there's scar tissue forming at a great rate at about a 1/2 inch margin all around the incision line. The doctor said that the scar tissue has to be "broken down" or else it could impinge the median nerve. Again.

I'm kind of discouraged because I still don't have full use of my right hand, and the scar pain gets worse every day.

Sorry to hear that. Try to be optimistic, I'm sure the keloid will get better with time. I know it's discouraging though.

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Dec 2 2009, 02:15 PM)
I got the stitches out of my left hand Monday and it seems to be right on track. The right one is another story.

When I went in for surgery #2 two weeks ago, the doctor was not pleased with how my right hand (with the large incision) was doing. I had noticed that it was making a helluva scar which was tight and painful.

Monday he told me I have to go to a hand specialist. The scar is forming keloid tissue - it's bigger than it was 2 weeks ago, instead of steadily getting fainter and smoother. The scar is very tender, raised, and there's scar tissue forming at a great rate at about a 1/2 inch margin all around the incision line. The doctor said that the scar tissue has to be "broken down" or else it could impinge the median nerve. Again.

I'm kind of discouraged because I still don't have full use of my right hand, and the scar pain gets worse every day.

sad.gif

 

Sorry to hear that GG. I hope you feel better.

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Update - I know you've all been waiting and wondering. laugh.gif

 

My right hand with its bitchen scar is doing fine. The left hand has been steadily getting more and more numb over the last year. The tip of my index finger never did get feeling back, and now the numbness and pain are creeping back in to the thumb and first three fingers (classic carpal tunnel symptoms).

 

I went back to the surgeon and got a REALLY PAINFUL cortisone injection in my wrist. The needle was approximately 34 feet long and hurt like a mofo. It didn't help at all. It just hurt.

 

So, I have to have surgery again, this time the "open" procedure on my left hand (had endoscopic in Nov. 2009). The doctor hopes he can find what's impinging on the nerve.

 

He HOPES he can.

 

So, I get to go under the knife, be off work for 2 weeks or more, try to deal with kids, cooking, etc. with one hand - and HOPE that this works. I have the surgery on 2/22.

 

Yay!

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 2 2011, 10:40 AM)
Update - I know you've all been waiting and wondering. laugh.gif

My right hand with its bitchen scar is doing fine. The left hand has been steadily getting more and more numb over the last year. The tip of my index finger never did get feeling back, and now the numbness and pain are creeping back in to the thumb and first three fingers (classic carpal tunnel symptoms).

I went back to the surgeon and got a REALLY PAINFUL cortisone injection in my wrist. The needle was approximately 34 feet long and hurt like a mofo. It didn't help at all. It just hurt.

So, I have to have surgery again, this time the "open" procedure on my left hand (had endoscopic in Nov. 2009). The doctor hopes he can find what's impinging on the nerve.

He HOPES he can.

So, I get to go under the knife, be off work for 2 weeks or more, try to deal with kids, cooking, etc. with one hand - and HOPE that this works. I have the surgery on 2/22.

Yay!

Yikes sad.gif

 

 

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 2 2011, 09:40 AM)
Update - I know you've all been waiting and wondering. laugh.gif

My right hand with its bitchen scar is doing fine. The left hand has been steadily getting more and more numb over the last year. The tip of my index finger never did get feeling back, and now the numbness and pain are creeping back in to the thumb and first three fingers (classic carpal tunnel symptoms).

I went back to the surgeon and got a REALLY PAINFUL cortisone injection in my wrist. The needle was approximately 34 feet long and hurt like a mofo. It didn't help at all. It just hurt.

So, I have to have surgery again, this time the "open" procedure on my left hand (had endoscopic in Nov. 2009). The doctor hopes he can find what's impinging on the nerve.

He HOPES he can.

So, I get to go under the knife, be off work for 2 weeks or more, try to deal with kids, cooking, etc. with one hand - and HOPE that this works. I have the surgery on 2/22.

Yay!

You might have been asked this before but have you seen an RMT (Registered Massage Therapist) about your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 2 2011, 11:40 AM)
Update - I know you've all been waiting and wondering. laugh.gif

My right hand with its bitchen scar is doing fine. The left hand has been steadily getting more and more numb over the last year. The tip of my index finger never did get feeling back, and now the numbness and pain are creeping back in to the thumb and first three fingers (classic carpal tunnel symptoms).

I went back to the surgeon and got a REALLY PAINFUL cortisone injection in my wrist. The needle was approximately 34 feet long and hurt like a mofo. It didn't help at all. It just hurt.

So, I have to have surgery again, this time the "open" procedure on my left hand (had endoscopic in Nov. 2009). The doctor hopes he can find what's impinging on the nerve.

He HOPES he can.

So, I get to go under the knife, be off work for 2 weeks or more, try to deal with kids, cooking, etc. with one hand - and HOPE that this works. I have the surgery on 2/22.

Yay!

Ow - tha makes me wince just reading it.

 

We can be surgery buddies - I have my hip operation one week after your carpal tunnel surgery. But I'm only supposed to be out of work for a week, max. There is a huge difference in being one-handed vs. one-legged.

 

I feel for you and hope it goes well!

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YBT - yes, I have. I spent several weeks in therapy before my first surgery in Oct. 2009. I did everything they taught me to try to open up the "tunnel" but to no avail.

 

Mara - having your hip worked on is much more serious, and I hope that things will go great for you. Mine is painful for a few days then just annoying after that as long as I don't use it too much.

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QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Feb 2 2011, 12:48 PM)
I hate those 34-foot needles! angry.gif

The other hand that had the invasive surgery which produced that bitchin' scar is doing just fine, so now you'll have the same thing on this hand. And the same relief. I just knows it. cool.gif

:realizes she misspelled "bitchin'":

 

blush4.gif

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 2 2011, 01:49 PM)
QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Feb 2 2011, 12:48 PM)
I hate those 34-foot needles!  angry.gif

The other hand that had the invasive surgery which produced that bitchin' scar is doing just fine, so now you'll have the same thing on this hand. And the same relief. I just knows it.  cool.gif

:realizes she misspelled "bitchin'":

 

blush4.gif

I didn't even notice we spelled it differently until now. laugh.gif

 

I don't think there's an official spelling for that word. I've seen it spelled both ways.

 

There SHOULD be an official spelling. We must do research. Go see Johnson in petty cash, and get a grant.

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QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 2 2011, 12:25 PM)
YBT - yes, I have. I spent several weeks in therapy before my first surgery in Oct. 2009. I did everything they taught me to try to open up the "tunnel" but to no avail.

Mara - having your hip worked on is much more serious, and I hope that things will go great for you. Mine is painful for a few days then just annoying after that as long as I don't use it too much.

Yikes... well I hope corrective surgery works for you. Are you having the transverse carpal ligament surgically cut to remove the tension on the median nerve? I'm guessing by this point you also have significant muscle atrophy of the thenar eminence (thumb) I can recommend you some specific muscle strengthening exercises for that if you would like.

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QUOTE (Ya_Big_Tree @ Feb 2 2011, 09:37 PM)
QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Feb 2 2011, 12:25 PM)
YBT - yes, I have.  I spent several weeks in therapy before my first surgery in Oct. 2009.  I did everything they taught me to try to open up the "tunnel" but to no avail.

Mara - having your hip worked on is much more serious, and I hope that things will go great for you.  Mine is painful for a few days then just annoying after that as long as I don't use it too much.

Yikes... well I hope corrective surgery works for you. Are you having the transverse carpal ligament surgically cut to remove the tension on the median nerve? I'm guessing by this point you also have significant muscle atrophy of the thenar eminence (thumb) I can recommend you some specific muscle strengthening exercises for that if you would like.

Right. That ligament was supposed to be cut by the endoscopic surgery over a year ago. Either the cut was incomplete or scar tissue has formed.

 

And yes, my left thumb muscle is atrophying. That's why I have to get something done.

 

You can tell me about the exercises - chances are I have handouts on most of them from my therapy days, but I'll do whatever I can.

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Surgery is 5 days away. I'm ready to get it over with, but nervous about how such a change in routine (me with a bandaged hand, unable to do all my normal "mom" stuff, plus being away from home a couple of nights) is going to affect Stephen.

 

<sigh>

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QUOTE (Babycat @ Feb 17 2011, 02:31 PM)
I don't know what atrophying means, but it does sound quite nasty. Good luck with the surgery, GG. hug2.gif

It just means the muscle is getting smaller and weakening.

 

Thank you. smile.gif

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Bumping this because I am wondering how GG is doing? Surgery was six days ago - hope all went well and that she is healing nicely.
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QUOTE (Mara @ Feb 28 2011, 02:34 PM)
Bumping this because I am wondering how GG is doing? Surgery was six days ago - hope all went well and that she is healing nicely.

I'm hoping GG's okay too. hug2.gif

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QUOTE (Babycat @ Feb 28 2011, 11:24 AM)
QUOTE (Mara @ Feb 28 2011, 02:34 PM)
Bumping this because I am wondering how GG is doing?  Surgery was six days ago - hope all went well and that she is healing nicely.

I'm hoping GG's okay too. hug2.gif

I texted her on Friday and she said she was sore and still a little out of it, but is doing okay.

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