Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

[tahoemike00]

I searched the forums before posting. I did find discussions about cataract surgery but not carpal tunnel.

Any shooters here that have had the procedure done? Had mine done 48 hours ago as of this posting.
As well as actual pain during the procedure. Everything was going great until Doc had to scrape and detach, and it somehow involved the ulnar nerve. Even fully numbed up I felt that all the way up into my neck. Doc also told me that I should have done this sooner (duh, insurance woes) as my nerve was pinched and "flattened"

Bottom line is, I highly underestimated the amount of pain and different modes of discomfort post-op. Tried to pick up my camera and do some "recouperation learning" and go through some settings along with one of Steve's e-books. Wrong!

How long did it take you before you could a) get back to "normal" and b) lug your camera gear around?

At least I can do -something- while recuperating, reading through the forums! I am enjoying the posts and brain trust here.

...cataract surgery slated for this year sometime.

Cheers,
-Mike

 

[JamesFarrell]

i had a carpal tunnel “release“ (the formal name of the operation I was told) in early February 2019 on my right wrist (the camera body-holding hand). My symptoms leading up to the surgery were numbness in the fingers of my hand. It was a condition that I had for several years, thinking all along that it was a pinched nerve in my right shoulder. Finally, I got a test done by a neurologist that tested the nerves in several places (acupuncture needles connected via wires to a computer) in my right arm and wrist. An orthopedic hand and wrist specialist then diagnosed the common tarpal tunnel issue. Surgery was the remedy,

I never had pain in the hand/wrist leading up to the surgery, just acute numbness that rendered my fingers in my right hand useless. The out-patient surgery, while at first seemed to appear daunting, was actually quite simple; only a local anesthetic shot in the hand and wrist (that hurt !!). Only a small incision in the palm of my hand above the wrist and few stitches. Very little pain following the procedure. Recovery was mostly complete and no pain within two weeks. Within two or three weeks I could function normally with my right hand. I do recall that I went on a photo trip to southern Calif. about 5 weeks later and had no issues handling a camera, driving or just doing normal day-to-day things. There are occasions to this day that every now and then I'll feeling a bit of a 'tingling' sensation in my hand. But it's brief and goes away. I guess that's just something I have to live with. But it's not a problem.

It sounds like from your report that your situation was much worse going into it than mine. And it sounds like your operation was a bit messy. Anyway, give it some time. Don't push it. I did some post-op therapy which helped too. Good luck on your recovery

 

[RikWriter]

I had carpal tunnel release about 15 years ago. I had them put me out during the surgery so no pain. I was back in the gym the next day, not using my left wrist but doing what I could. I was back to working out, doing photography, etc... just as soon as the stitches came out.

 

[Maljo]

I searched the forums before posting. I did find discussions about cataract surgery but not carpal tunnel.

Any shooters here that have had the procedure done? Had mine done 48 hours ago as of this posting.
As well as actual pain during the procedure. Everything was going great until Doc had to scrape and detach, and it somehow involved the ulnar nerve. Even fully numbed up I felt that all the way up into my neck. Doc also told me that I should have done this sooner (duh, insurance woes) as my nerve was pinched and "flattened"

Bottom line is, I highly underestimated the amount of pain and different modes of discomfort post-op. Tried to pick up my camera and do some "recouperation learning" and go through some settings along with one of Steve's e-books. Wrong!

How long did it take you before you could a) get back to "normal" and b) lug your camera gear around?

At least I can do -something- while recuperating, reading through the forums! I am enjoying the posts and brain trust here.

...cataract surgery slated for this year sometime.

Cheers,
-Mike

The joys of getting older!

 

[RickW]

The joys of getting older!

Beats the alternative!

 

[ajrmd]

i had a carpal tunnel “release“ (the formal name of the operation I was told) in early February 2019 on my right wrist (the camera body-holding hand). My symptoms leading up to the surgery were numbness in the fingers of my hand. It was a condition that I had for several years, thinking all along that it was a pinched nerve in my right shoulder. Finally, I got a test done by a neurologist that tested the nerves in several places (acupuncture needles connected via wires to a computer) in my right arm and wrist. An orthopedic hand and wrist specialist then diagnosed the common tarpal tunnel issue. Surgery was the remedy,

I never had pain in the hand/wrist leading up to the surgery, just acute numbness that rendered my fingers in my right hand useless. The out-patient surgery, while at first seemed to appear daunting, was actually quite simple; only a local anesthetic shot in the hand and wrist (that hurt !!). Only a small incision in the palm of my hand above the wrist and few stitches. Very little pain following the procedure. Recovery was mostly complete and no pain within two weeks. Within two or three weeks I could function normally with my right hand. I do recall that I went on a photo trip to southern Calif. about 5 weeks later and had no issues handling a camera, driving or just doing normal day-to-day things. There are occasions to this day that every now and then I'll feeling a bit of a 'tingling' sensation in my hand. But it's brief and goes away. I guess that's just something I have to live with. But it's not a problem.

It sounds like from your report that your situation was much worse going into it than mine. And it sounds like your operation was a bit messy. Anyway, give it some time. Don't push it. I did some post-op therapy which helped too. Good luck on your recovery

Glad you're doing better. It sounds like your surgeon was less than... how can I characterise it other than by saying "precise". First, if he/she were worth his/her stuff, the "local" should not have hurt. Done properly and with alkalinization, it should be nothing more than a small "prick" followed by pressure. In terms of the repair itself there are multiple factors which could lead to the intermittent "tingling" you experience. Depending on the underlying nerve, if you had a neuropathy (damage) it could take years to recover (the nerve regrows a millimeter a day) or it may never resolve. Alternatively, you could have scarred in around the median nerve again, or possibly the decompression was less than complete. If it still bothers you, then my recommendation is to follow up with a competent hand surgeon.

 

[ajrmd]

I searched the forums before posting. I did find discussions about cataract surgery but not carpal tunnel.

Any shooters here that have had the procedure done? Had mine done 48 hours ago as of this posting.
As well as actual pain during the procedure. Everything was going great until Doc had to scrape and detach, and it somehow involved the ulnar nerve. Even fully numbed up I felt that all the way up into my neck. Doc also told me that I should have done this sooner (duh, insurance woes) as my nerve was pinched and "flattened"

Bottom line is, I highly underestimated the amount of pain and different modes of discomfort post-op. Tried to pick up my camera and do some "recouperation learning" and go through some settings along with one of Steve's e-books. Wrong!

How long did it take you before you could a) get back to "normal" and b) lug your camera gear around?

At least I can do -something- while recuperating, reading through the forums! I am enjoying the posts and brain trust here.

...cataract surgery slated for this year sometime.

Cheers,
-Mike

The Ulnar nerve lies on top of the transverse carpal ligament and can but should not be disturbed during this procedure. Here are some references for your edification:

Iatrogenic median and ulnar nerve injuries during carpal tunnel release: clinical, electrodiagnostic, and ultrasound features in 12 patients. Patient series - PMC

Nerve injuries during carpal tunnel release (CTR) are rare. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) and ultrasound (US) studies may be helpful in evaluating iatrogenic nerve injuries during CTR. Nine patients sustained a median nerve injury, and 3 patients ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[JamesFarrell]

Glad you're doing better. It sounds like your surgeon was less than... how can I characterise it other than by saying "precise". First, if he/she were worth his/her stuff, the "local" should not have hurt. Done properly and with alkalinization, it should be nothing more than a small "prick" followed by pressure. In terms of the repair itself there are multiple factors which could lead to the intermittent "tingling" you experience. Depending on the underlying nerve, if you had a neuropathy (damage) it could take years to recover (the nerve regrows a millimeter a day) or it may never resolve. Alternatively, you could have scarred in around the median nerve again, or possibly the decompression was less than complete. If it still bothers you, then my recommendation is to follow up with a competent hand surgeon.

You read a lot more into my post than you should have. The orthopedic surgeon was/is first class. And if you’re suggesting that a syringe of Lidocaine, or whatever it was, injected deep into my wrist which resulted in a painless procedure after the numbing injection wasn’t supposed to hurt at all … well you’re a bit myopic or disinterested about what a patient experiences. And a reminder, this whole thread was in support of the original poster. I am just fine thank you. Signing off.

 

[ajrmd]

Simply beneath me to respond to such ignorance, arrogance, and petulance.

 

[Calson]

Having dealt with hand surgeons I woud recommend caution and a thorough review of the options for procedures and the experience of the various surgeons. The more they have done a particular procedure the better they are at doing it but also the less inclined they are to try any new procedure.

A local hand surgeon lied about the side effects and when asked about recovery time told me to ask the physical therapist. He was using a 50 year old "gold standare" procedure that was high risk of causing nerve damage.

I have benefited from 4 surgeons for various procedures and never did I go with the person my GP referred me to. I had to travel to Germany from California for one series of procedures on my hands and paid 400 Euros as an American. Second set of the same procedure was done in San Francisco CA and the charges were more than $13,000.

I have always been able to find online forums and found useful advice from people who had various procedures performed. They are more candid than the majority of doctors who are afraid to criticize other doctors.