Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Support Group

I had surgery on both hands and it has been pretty helpful, but I'm not near 100%. Therapy was not helpful at all. If your cts is severe, you'll need to have the surgery. The compressed nerves will slowly lose function more and more, and the compression needs to be relieved. The surgery is not too bad, and your wounds will heal up quickly within 2 weeks. The pain only lasts a few days. The nerves can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year to heal. It's all very stressful, I know. Our hands are our lives! Good luck. Also, be advised that people in this community are likely still affected by cts, so advice may appear more negative than it should. People who have been cured have probably moved on, and are not concerned. The most important thing is to find a trustworthy and talented doctor/surgeon to help u. Keep doing research.

Thank you hatecarpal21! Since your not at 100% yet, do you feel that it's still getting better over time? Which surgery did you have: Open release? Endoscopic surgery? or Small Palmer Incision?

I imagine it's different for every person. I had the surgery on both hands and it was about 6 weeks before i was back at work again. I don't have half the problems now as I did before the surgery but my hands aren't totally better either. I also have tendinitis and arthritis in both hands and wrists as well. If your doctor recommends it I would go with him on it. I wish you the best of luck though whatever decision you make.

Thank you Tonya826! Every bit of advise & feedback I can get helps a lot. Did you have tendinitis and arthritis prior to your surgery or did you get it after? Is tendinitis and arthritis very painful & what treatment helps that? Thanks again for your help!

Can you tell me what a "L&l" claim is? As it seems relative to worker's comp as per the storyline of your email, and aren't you concerned with getting fired from a job that caused your ailment? Relative to cts alternative processes;overall I am WAY concerned that so many people on this site turn to surgery BEFORE exhausting other types of treaments: ie splints, chiropractic care, RESTING the hand/forearm and stopping the motion/action that caused it in the first place. And on an entirely odd note, I find it almost too amusing that there's a site like this that discusses cts when 'typing' is the main cause of it...read I should really stop typing this comment now, and I'd probably be a lot better off!

Hi Karonia, Thanks for the advice. L&I is Labor & Industries, same as workers comp. My boss told me she was firing me because I couldn't physically do the job since my hands and back were hurting, but she told L&I that I was fired because she could not accomodate light duty work as recomended by my doctor. I can't really prove she told me different. I don't plan on going back to washing dogs, it was just to get out of the office for a while, and since my hands rarely hurt now, except at night, would you suggest doing the surgery. It seems so invasive and maybe not even necessary. Let me know what you think. Thanks again!

When you say that the pain is hardly bothering you, is that true? I mean, are you able to sleep without the pins and needles? Can you pick up a coffee cup and hold on to it? Make sure you are really okay before letting it go. I would advise speaking to an attorney if you decide to pursue care because this would be considered workers comp and every state must cover it. Also, when and if you do consult one, they should receive no more than 25 percent. Hope this helps, good luck!

hi tnj well dont really have advice but im haveing surgery on the 4th july i will post on my diary what happens every day but its got to be better than the pain and numbness and pin`s and needles if you want to im not really taking on new friends at the min but if it will help you u can add me. a friend did try ??? relki ?? or something like that im no good a remembering haha or spellin at the end of the day eveyone is different and only you can tell if the surgery is the right thing to do after you have had it ? me!! i just thought what the hell it canit be worse than this and the longer you leave it ?? the percentage of it working go`s down iv put off for 2 yrs so its know or never hope i can help yours happychick99:)

I had my R hand done in Nov last year and the L this last Feb. I spent a few years before doing chiropractic therapy, wearing all sorts of different supports and splints. It was compounded by arthritis in both hands at the base of the lower thumb joint. My R hand healed much more quickly all around as it was not the worse off hand. The L has taken longer, both in feeling and the actual incision site. BUT I can button small buttons again, I zip zippers, I do not drop dishes and can lift heavier objects again. I still cannot do some stuff I used to but probably never will and I do not care. I feel so much better now. No more needles and pins, no more waking up to numb hands and arms. In another year I will explore the possibility of doing something about the arthritis, but as long as I keep my hands moving but not adding too much stress I am doing ok. Driving is still rough, no more than half an hour at a time...gripping the steering wheel tenses all the muscles and puts undo pressure on the thumbs. Good luck with your choice. I am glad I did it, wish i had done it earlier, especially with the L hand. Take care

i had carpal tunnel surgery done 3 time and since the last one about 8 years ago no problems at all just find a good surgeon andand physiotherapist and i believe a medical condition is not cause for dismissal