Pain Management Community

I would never have surgery based on a single opinion, talk to at least one more hand surgeon and a neurologist. It could also be your neck that is causing weakness in one arm/hand.

I would personally not have surgery and it attendant risks for intermittent numbness that only happens in certain positions at night. How long does it take to "wake up" your hand in the AM when you get up?

I have known people with carpal tunnel syndrome that never had any surgery at all, and others that did. It is not an emergency, talk to more MDs and get all your questions answered.

I had weakness in my dominant hand that got worse and worse, I had a surgery in my cervical spine that fixed it, but six months later, I herniated the disc below that one. I have not had weakness, only numbness with certain positions of my head/neck. I have opted not to have more surgery. That was in the early 1990s. It is not better, but it isn't worse either.

Take care, Annette

Hi svrbluechild.
I think that only you can decide if the symptoms are bothersome enough to go through surgery to correct them. Only you can answer that. I agree totally with Annette that a consultation with a hand surgeon is a fine consideration.

Personally, I'd never go to a chiropractor, but my mother has pretty bothersome carpal tunnel syndrome is both hands/wrists. She was miserable with it and had the corrective surgery scheduled. As a "last ditch" effort she went to a chiropractor. I recall that she had to go a few times per week for a short while. Ultimately her symptoms were totally relieved this way. She canceled the surgery and has not been bothered with the symptoms again. This was about twenty years ago or so.

Just a thought.
Good luck whatever you decide.

CTB

Been there, done that!!!! 2 surgeries for carpal tunnel with zippo improvement from either!

Chiropractors are cook, they make things go snap, crackle, pop and with a bit of encouragemnent from them and others you can convince yourself everything is better,,,,but nothing is better except your mind.!!!

If it's only to the stage of your hand going to sleep it's not a problem, just an inconvenience. After 2 surgeries, my left hand remains numb and tingly all day long on the good days, on the bad days I can't even hold a coffee cup in my left hand.

Lots of good exercises for CT, do some research and try them first. I do a daily regimen of flex and twist exercises on my hands, wrists, and fingers and they really help...far more then surgery or drugs ever did. I would suggest you diligently pursue an exercise routine, go to a good physical or occupational therapist and have him make some recomendations. Surgery doesn't work and meds only treat the symptoms.

I had 3 failed carpal tunnel surgeries before a dr. checked shoulder and discovered injuries there also.

It can be from Thoracic Output Syndrome.

I had 3 failed carpal tunnel sugeries before a dr. discovered it came from nerve injuries in shoulder and elsewhere. It can be Thoracic Output Syndrome.

The tingling/numbness wakes me up several times a night and goes away in a few minutes. It's hard for me to get a decent nights sleep. The specialist I saw was a surgeon, and I definitely want a second opinion. I've believed for several months it has something to do with my shoulder and not necessarily all CTS.

srvblueschild

Chiropractor, huh? Hadn't thought about that. I do have some pain in my neck area as well (C5-C6 area), and at times it is really painful. I may try that. Thanks

My son is a DPT and he is sending some exercises to do. Hope they work! Thanks for the advice.

A lot of those symptoms match mine. I did have open heart surgery two years ago this month, and those heart surgeons get pretty rough when they crack you open. I guess I could have some residual damage to my sholder area from that surgery. Thanks for your reply.

This is a good site for TOS

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24&order=desc

Hello.....MiMi in NC.....I normally post on the FM exchange...but I do visit other exchanges some and read and comment....I would like to tell you that I had carpal tunnel....which began in the right hand...the doctors sent me to physical therapy for a while and I took several different kinds of medicines also....it finally got so bad at night...and my shoulder down to the hand and it would wake me up...I was in so much pain....it was almost unbelieveable....I finally had the carpal tunnel surgery....and that stopped the pain I was having at night...

Later a different kind of pain started and I had problems again with the hand, elbow and shoulder area...my doctor finally sent me to get a MRI and I had cervical (neck) problems also...as well as elbow problems and hand problems...so I ended up having cervical surgery and elbow surgery....I have had 3 right hand surgeries and 3 left hand surgeries...as about a year and a half after my right hand problems....my left hand started...

I, personally think that the doctors messed around with me too long and doing so caused me to have nerve damage...
I had a lot of health issues at one time...and I think the doctors put off doing the surgery as long as possible...

So....I also know that things depend upon the person and what they do...I did a lot of computer work....over 14 years worth....no doubt that my job caused all of my problems...I have my first surgery and continued to work....(I do not think this was a wise decision) I was laid off of my job 2 days after I had my first left hand surgery...

I still have some problems with the hands and the elbow...my shoulder area is fine though...would I have the surgery again...you bet I would...but I would have tried to have it sooner...

I do know that the neurosurgeon who did my cervical surgery was hoping that the elbow and hand would clear up once the neck was fixed....as it was worse than what the MRI showed...so we wanted long enough for the cervical surgery to heal....my elbow and hand continued to get worse though...

Along with all of these problems I also was blessed with FM....so now I also deal with the wrath of the dragon too...

I would suggest to you to be sure and talk to a neurosurgeon...if you are thinking of having surgery....especially for the elbow....it took me over 2 years for my elbow to heal...the neurosurgeon told me he had no idea what caused the elbow problem....but that it was one of the worst cases he had seen...

I still every one and then have to use the wrist braces....and I can no longer sleep in a bed...but other than that...I have learned how to control the pain that I have (mostly FM pain) by taking vitamins and supplements and doing other things as well...using heating pad, taking hot shower at night using lavender bath salts to help relax my body....using Stopain Spray...(found at Walmart for under $8)....

I think when we have pain...that this is a sign to our bodies that there is something which needs to be addressed...and until you get to the root of the problem...it probably will not get any better....

Take care and good luck to you...


MiMi

I would see a neurologist, not a surgeon. Get a full evaluation and ask what ALL your treatment options are. Surgeons tend to only want to cut, and don't always know what other options there might be.

Best of luck.

Take care, Annette