OT: Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

[IndyWS6]

The surgeon told me that it is certainly more rare than Carpal tunnel, but it happens. He said mine was caused by some kind of issue with the formation of the tunnel in my elbows where the Ulnar nerve rides - not some kind of repetitive stress injury. My right arm wasn't nearly as severe (possibly because I acted quickly), but he said my left arm was the worst he had ever seen. My arms look like they have been fileted.

I would just say that if you have symptoms, don't put it off. The testing sucks, but my insurance company wouldn't authorize surgery without it. They essentially stick electrodes on you and then shock the nerve while measuring the time it takes between two fixed points. If it takes longer than it should, that shows that the nerve transmission is being disrupted somehow.

 

[mixohoytian]

I would avoid surgery....
I could not play guitar for 2 years
I had to drop out of GIT

the only thing that worked for me was chiropractic

same guy that helped chick corea and billy sheehan

Gordon Chiropractic in universal city (north hollywood)
I can play now, and I do a lot of stretching
but I will never practice the same things over and over like I used to or get some tingling etc...

 

[IndyWS6]

Unfortunately, avoiding surgery was not an option for me. I had issues with the formation of the area where the nerve rides and the constant irritation was making the situation worse. Relocating the nerve was the only viable solution and waiting to have surgery would have meant further loss of muscle.

 

[Fartknocker]

This is a little bit of topic but I thought I would share:

I once heard (or read, I don't remember) that a major cause of carpal tunnel syndrome has to do with how your hands and wrists are positioned while you are at a keyboard. If your elbows are higher than the keyboard, then your wrists are bent back and this puts pressure on the carpal tunnel.
However, if you lower your seat and use a keyboard without bending your wrists back, this avoids pressure on the carpal tunnel.
I work at a computer all day, and for many years, I have lowered my chair so the desk hits me between my bellybutton and my massive and glistening pectorals muscles. My wrists are not bent at all, or if they are they are bending slightly forward.
Knock on wood I haven't had any problems with my carpal tunnel.

 

[kannibul]

Greetings all,
After lurking for a while, I'm a new forum menber

I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV, so I'm just relating personal experience. I had numbness, tingling, pain and other symptoms in my left hand that were more-or-less consistent with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I put off doing anything about it thinking that CTS was no big deal. It got to the point where I was consistently dropping things and the symptoms could no longer be ignored so I went to see my family doctor. He ran some nerve conduction tests and sent me to a surgeon; turns out it was Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (a trapped/irritated ulnar nerve...). Unfortunately, I had ignored the issue for so long that I lost muscle mass in the heel of my hand and forearm, as well as a measurable amount of prehensile strength (the ability to grip and squeeze with fingers and thumb). The surgeon did a wonderful job of fixing the issue (shout out to Dr. Burt D.), but it was no picnic. It took a 9" incision from the middle of my bicep to the middle of my forearm for him to get in there, fix the issues and relocate the nerve. After 6 years I have never fully regained the lost muscle in the heel of my hand and forearm, but I would say that I am 90% of what I was. Sadly, I started having the same symptoms in my right hand 2 years later. I promptly scheduled the surgery.

My surgeon said that Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is what kept me from being a world-class shredder. Well, that and a supreme lack of talent

I've got an equally awesome scar, except mine follows the area before and after the "funny bone" area - basically he opened it up, moved the nerve out of the way, and ground off the bony part on the inside of my elbow, that forms the outside edge of the grove the nerve normally goes through.

So, now I have no funny bone. The nerve is still there - but it can slip around in there and not be "pinched"

I had one arm done then the other - meaning my elbow and hands were cut up, one arm at a time.

It wasn't bad for me, but then again, I'm a professional patient...I've been KO'd and under the knife 13 times.

Anyhow, it sounds like your surgery was a relocation, where mine is a modification.

 

[kannibul]

The surgeon told me that it is certainly more rare than Carpal tunnel, but it happens. He said mine was caused by some kind of issue with the formation of the tunnel in my elbows where the Ulnar nerve rides - not some kind of repetitive stress injury. My right arm wasn't nearly as severe (possibly because I acted quickly), but he said my left arm was the worst he had ever seen. My arms look like they have been fileted.

I would just say that if you have symptoms, don't put it off. The testing sucks, but my insurance company wouldn't authorize surgery without it. They essentially stick electrodes on you and then shock the nerve while measuring the time it takes between two fixed points. If it takes longer than it should, that shows that the nerve transmission is being disrupted somehow.

Carpal Tunnel = Numbness/issues with half the ring finger over towards the thumb and most of the palm.
Cubital Tunnel = Numbness/issues with the half of the ring finger over towards the pinky, and the outside part of the palm on that side.

If you don't know which is cubital - whack your ulnar nerve real hard (funny bone) - you'll feel exactly what area it affects.

 

[IndyWS6]

You are correct - mine was a nerve relocation (there's a ridiculously long name for the procedure - not sure what it is).

I had a similar buff and grind to remove the accumulated mess in the tunnel area of the elbow, but he wasn't able to leave the nerve in the original location. The incision is on the inside of my arm, starts half-way between my armpit and elbow and runs to a point about 3" past my wrist. They cut the muscle on the inside of my forearm in half and then placed the nerve under it for protection. The muscle repair was the biggest part of the recovery - I wasn't supposed to move my hand or wrist for 6 weeks (splinted) so that the muscle could heal.

The weird part is that now, hitting the inside surface of my forearm in the right way causes the same reaction that hitting my "Funny bone" used to

 

[IndyWS6]

You are correct - mine was a nerve relocation (there's a ridiculously long name for the procedure - not sure what it is).

I had a similar buff and grind to remove the accumulated mess in the tunnel area of the elbow, but he wasn't able to leave the nerve in the original location. The incision is on the inside of my arm, starts half-way between my armpit and elbow and runs to a point about 3" past my wrist. They cut the muscle on the inside of my forearm in half and then placed the nerve under it for protection. The muscle repair was the biggest part of the recovery - I wasn't supposed to move my hand or wrist for 6 weeks (splinted) so that the muscle could heal.

The weird part is that now, hitting the inside surface of my forearm in the right way causes the same reaction that hitting my "Funny bone" used to

Meant to say "...half-way between my armpit and elbow and runs to a point about 3" past my elbow" Sorry...

 

[CaseyCor]

Few things how often do you do appropriate stretches before you play drums and guitar?

There's quite a few videos, and I was having arm problems my self mostly in forearms from tendinitis but sometimes in the wrists as well it would get really bad.

Stretching is absolute key, also as silly as it sounds I've heard quite a few people recommend acupuncture for CT related issues and had it work, and another guy I know actually started doing yoga to deal with some of the problems he was getting from playing so much, and since hes been in top notch shape with no issues.

All of these sound like silly ideas but they are all IMO worth exploring before getting an operation done.

Dallas

With numbness for 15 hours...stretching won't help.

Could it be anything else other than CT?

Possible...get an EMG (Electro-my-ograph is how it's pronounced) done. It's a test where they check the nerve conduction at specific points along your arm from your shoulder to your hand. If there's a resistance, it will show where it's happening. It could be your neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist or some other condition.

But, given your desciption, I would say more than likely, it's CTS.


The surgery isn't bad. Mobilize as soon as you can afterwards, that way you don't end up needing rehab to build up the muscles again.

I know when I came out of surgery, I noticed an IMMEDIATELY better level of sensation though my fingers.

Honestly, the worst part was learning to wipe my ass with my other hand. I made it a point to practice a few weeks before surgery

I did that test a few years ago, confirmed Carpal Tunnel.

The numbness/tingling thing is new though. My index fingertip (to my first knucke on the bottom side) has been numb since 5 yesterday.

 

[John Busbee]

guys, just my 2 cents: undiagnosed Carpal, and even some misdiagnosed cases, can actually be nerve damage that can be treated through chiropody. I have been going to a chiro for a year and a half now and she has been a miracle. My hands and fingers go numb, my middle toes go numb when I ride my mountain bike, lots of other things tingle...anyway, I am awesome now. I still have a screwed up back, but she really keeps me straight.
Cervical vertebra misalignment can make you have all sorts of problems with your hands and arms. Just throwing it out there. Hell of a lot cheaper than surgery...I don't have insurance so it is a real blessing.

 

[CaseyCor]

guys, just my 2 cents: undiagnosed Carpal, and even some misdiagnosed cases, can actually be nerve damage that can be treated through chiropody. I have been going to a chiro for a year and a half now and she has been a miracle. My hands and fingers go numb, my middle toes go numb when I ride my mountain bike, lots of other things tingle...anyway, I am awesome now. I still have a screwed up back, but she really keeps me straight.
Cervical vertebra misalignment can make you have all sorts of problems with your hands and arms. Just throwing it out there. Hell of a lot cheaper than surgery...I don't have insurance so it is a real blessing.

That's what I'm thinking. I have confirmed Carpal Tunnel, but this hasn't ever happened before. My index finger is still numb from the tip to the first knuckle. Mostly the pad of my finger really.

 

[zee1usa]

My index finger is STILL numb/tingling. Has been since 5 yesterday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar_nerve_entrapment ??

Stay positive!

 

[CaseyCor]

A week or two later..pad of my index finger still numb. Just feels odd to touch things. Doesn't bother me anymore.

Although I just got back from a gig, where my entire right hand (same hand) just locked up on me. Like a cramp that wouldn't go away. I had to play drums with one hand for 4 songs, and end the set early. It's a bit better now, but I'm still kinda stuck in a "drum stick" position.

 

[Variable]

guys, just my 2 cents: undiagnosed Carpal, and even some misdiagnosed cases, can actually be nerve damage that can be treated through chiropody. I have been going to a chiro for a year and a half now and she has been a miracle. My hands and fingers go numb, my middle toes go numb when I ride my mountain bike, lots of other things tingle...anyway, I am awesome now. I still have a screwed up back, but she really keeps me straight.
Cervical vertebra misalignment can make you have all sorts of problems with your hands and arms. Just throwing it out there. Hell of a lot cheaper than surgery...I don't have insurance so it is a real blessing.

That's what I'm thinking. I have confirmed Carpal Tunnel, but this hasn't ever happened before. My index finger is still numb from the tip to the first knuckle. Mostly the pad of my finger really.

This actually happens to my middle finger after I attend a particularly aggressive drum circle. But only in my right hand (which is usually the more active hand... it's my hi-hat hand, really, and it's easier to keep a beat for some reason compared to my left).

In my case, however, I think what's happening is I'm compressing a nerve in that finger, especially after a hardcore rumble. But it's weird as hell, and sometimes it a takes a couple days to get all the feeling back. I get pain and stiffness in my right wrist every now and again, too, but never any loss of feeling. Well, unless I sleep on the damn thing...

-Russ

 

[CaseyCor]

Bumping this old thread.

I've not had the surgery yet. I can't afford it, and I'm still scared of losing my muscle strength. That would ruin my life.

It's gottenworse overthr last few months. Pain, numbness, and cramping.

 

[CaseyCor]

Bumping this old thread.

I've not had the surgery yet. I can't afford it, and I'm still scared of losing my muscle strength. That would ruin my life.

It's gottenworse overthr last few months. Pain, numbness, and cramping.

Go thru the surgery, it is a simple procedure, with a quickly pos-operatory.
There is a little nerve who starts in the main nerve and goes to the thumb muscles, the surgeon shouldn't cut it,so you won't have problem.
The secret is not goin too far!
I made a lot of this procedures with no colateral damages.

Cheers!

I'm going to as soon as I can afford it

 

[The Hoff]

Seems like the topic has pretty much been covered but for what it's worth....

My step mom had to have the surgery. She struggled for a little while after the fact. She had this little machine that zapped her wrists, don't know what the use of it was but ya, she is 100% now, no issues to speak of.

 

[CaseyCor]

This is what worries me..

"It is common for people recovering from the carpal tunnel surgical procedure to experience some permanent loss of grip strength, a perduring loss of lifting strength in the wrist/forearm, a nagging loss of full range of motion of the hand and wrist after surgery and lingering tenderness at the incision. This is due to severing the Transverse Carpal Ligament and then relying on this important ligament at the base of the hand to scar or heal back together. The purpose of the Transverse Carpal Ligament is to wrap around the hand and wrist and hold the many small bones of the hand and wrist securely together."

From http://www.mycarpaltunnel.com/surgery-r ... nnel.shtml

 

[Jimmie]

This is what worries me..

"It is common for people recovering from the carpal tunnel surgical procedure to experience some permanent loss of grip strength, a perduring loss of lifting strength in the wrist/forearm, a nagging loss of full range of motion of the hand and wrist after surgery and lingering tenderness at the incision. This is due to severing the Transverse Carpal Ligament and then relying on this important ligament at the base of the hand to scar or heal back together. The purpose of the Transverse Carpal Ligament is to wrap around the hand and wrist and hold the many small bones of the hand and wrist securely together."

From http://www.mycarpaltunnel.com/surgery-r ... nnel.shtml

I had the surgery in July 2009 for the left and December 2009 for the right. I suffered with mine for years as well. I was to the point where I couldn't get through a song on my guitar without my hands going numb and burning. Couldn't sleep, the pain would back up through my wrists and into my elbows and both hands felt dead. Was so bad that I don't think I could have carried my kids out of the house in an emergency.

My surgeon went in through the lower center of my palm and released the pressure on the nerves, can't even see the scar, is no loss of strength or dexterity. It was pretty amazing as soon as I woke up from the surgery, I could sense the air moving around my fingers, don't remember the last time I felt that. I was playing guitar again a week later pain free.

If you do need surgery, just remember as others have said, the longer you put it off, the more irreversable damage you might be doing.

Good luck man,
Jimmie

 

[metalone]

I had surgery 5 months ago, Mine painstarted in 07" and I will say I am so glad I did it
I am still getting my strenght back, I'm at about 75% now but I can play stuff I never could have done before
Just didn't relize how much dexterity I had lost, my pinkey and ring finger were curling up also, had to have the guyan nerve release also, I was play guitar the next day[althought not very well lol]Played a gig a month later
Stretching is so important for prevention and I do it all the time now, Here's a pic of what it looked like, I had a great surgeon