Just been diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, thoughts please!

[missjulie]

Hello all,
I have had pins and needles in all 4 extremeties since i was 4 months preg with DD, now a 20 month duration. Have had various tests etc, this week had nerve conduction tests, nothing abnormal found in my feet and legs, but i have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both my wrists.

Am so squeemish when it comes to myself! I have lots of other complications post preg/birth which i am having to deal with too. I may have to have surgery for suspected abdominal hernia too...anyway, am digressing!

I am now being referred to the orthopaedic specialists, who may want to 1) inject steroids into my wrists, or 2) do surgery on both wrists.

I am not relishing either prospect, but do need to get something done, as the pins and needles are driving me nuts!!!

Come and tell me about your carpal tunnel stories, success stories, everything! Am interested, and want to know what to expect, what is ahead of me?

Thanking you in advance.

I've got carpal tunnel on one wrist, had anti inflamms prescribed - which did nothing. So now I'm waiting for nerve induction tests, and probably the same options as you - injections or surgery. It's a pain isn't it, does yours keep you awake at night? - mine's always worse at that time.

Have you got a wrist splint? - I wear mine most of the time and it does help a bit, especially wearing it at night - if I don't I wake up with a lot of pain in my wrist.

It must be horrible to have it in both wrists - poor you

Sorry I can't be much help -( I think I'm slightly behind you in procedures) but I just thought I'd sympathise

Had it when I was preg too . tis horrid
My friend had the op for both wrists , one at a time.
Very successful and straight forward op...cured!

thyroid can be an undiagnosed cause of carpal tunnel. Please have all 3 hormones tested - TSH, FreeT3 and freeT4.

The NHS will resist the last two, especially if the TSH is normal, but they can be done privately.

I second the thyroid tests my Tsh is very high atm -one of the symtoms pins and needles in hands then feet and now lips ;)

Interloping orthopaedic bod here. It's a 5 minute op to sort out and we usually do it under local anaesthetic so definately in and out in a day. Yes you will need a work up for things like low thyroid hormone, diabetes, etc. as can be linked to CTS, but needn't get in the way of sorting it out for you. The pins&needles won't go if the nerve is still squashed, but freeing up the tunnel takes off the pressure on the nerve and settles things down.

It can take a few weeks or even months to settle after the op though.

Would also second the above - only have one done at once, otherwise will have problems of no "good" hand for a few days when in the bandages post op!

Hello all, many thanks for the replies. Have had visitors, and not able to reply until now.

I have just had the nerve conduction tests, which diagnosed the CTS.

No, i do not have splints, and not been offered any.
It is a pain! Is so frustrating, particularly with a young child! So annoying! Can hardly do anything without it happening, whether awake, sleeping, busy, resting, always happens!

I sympathise having it in your lips too!! You poor thing!

I have had various bloods done. Def not diabetes, and not vit b def (which doc thought), but as far as i know they haven't done any of the thyroid tests. (Would these be done in a routine blood test? - i.e would i know about it if they were done?)

Crikey, it won't go if the nerve is still squashed?! I hope the nerve isn't squashed! Is there anything that can be done if the nerve is squashed?

Yes, 1 hand at a time sounds good - particularly with a baby, and a DH who works away from home for months at a time!

Many thanks ladies!

i had it during my pregnancy. it started in my third trimester and continued for about 2 months after my son was born.

it just faded away. went from agony to nothing over a few days.

best of luck and i hope that yours goes too.

Thank you! So glad that your's went! It has been 20 months, so not holding my breath!

My mum had the op this week. Local anaesthetic, home same day, bit tender atm but can tell already that it has worked!

WOW!!!!!

I have the same, or rather only in one hand now. I went in to have the right hand done and on the table changed my mind and had the left done first as I had taken delivery of a right hand steering column gear change new car! The surgeon cracked up with laughter and said he had people change their mind, but not which hand!

The op is simple, but opt for intravenous analgesia,they won't offer it, but a fellow patient and I noticed that all the medical staff having the ops the same time, all had IA and got beds. We had to sit in chairs all day! They have agreed to this for next time, they said it will be less painful, and I have had a pre op assessment.

it is jolly painful, for quite a while, and I have a good pain threshold, (two babies 9lb 12 oz gas and air only was FAR less painful) but the relief is INSTANT. The bandaging is HUGE and you will have a sling for a while. Pressure bandage and packing came off after three days, then large micropore type dressings for a week, stitches out (5) after a week and then dressed to keep clean and dry. It healed really quickly. Take arnica for bruising and swelling.

You can hardly see the scar. I watched the whole op, it was really hard to cut and he had to call for a new blade!! I really recommend the op and hope to have the other one done in the summer when not working as you can't wash your hair or do up bra, get dressed very easily! DH and I got the giggles when he put my knickers on the first day!

I was never offered steroid injections, straight to op after nerve conduction tests.

Best thing I ever did, go for it!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply in such depth! I really appreciate that! (although, am feeling a tad squeemish, silly me!)

Am so glad it worked really well for you! Hope you get the other one done soon, and it is as much of a success!

I shall mention the IA when i have my next appt.

Many thanks. x