Carpal Tunnel Options

[Bakersbum]

Dp (late 40's) started with carpal tunnel symptoms at Christmas, he doesnt seem to have a bad caseyet. He had his first appointment at the hospital yesterday and was in and out within 5 minutes, the nurse did one test of tapping his wrists, said it wasnt too bad and then said youll hear from us about an operation date. Dp being dp didnt ask any questions and no other information was given, other than he would need 5-10 days off work, then 3-6 months recovery, then the other hand would be done.

Everything we have found on the internet and NHS websites say the usual course of treatment is splints, then hydrocortisone injections, with the operations as a last resort, as they can be can disruptive to life, work etc. No other treatment was offered or mentioned, is this normal? I know dp should have asked, but he didnt, so what now? Is it worth asking for a 2nd opinion or is this just the normal course of treatment now?

Dp is also terrified of anything medical and the thought of having the op under local has sent his anxiety sky high hence why no questions, he was panicking.

It seems a bit odd that the hospital is considering surgery so soon, especially as he doesn't seem to be too bad atm. I thought I had CTS last year, saw my GP, and had a Nerve Conduction Test done at the hospital, this is where they stick electrodes to your wrist and arm, and send an electrical impulse down them to see how fast they transmit. It doesn't sound as though your DP has had this?

In my case, I was told that cortisone injections would be the first line of treatment, with surgery being a last resort, as you are out of action for some weeks. However, I decided to try with a wrist splint worn at night first - obtainable from any chemist - and this seemed to do the trick for me, no further problems.

Can he go back to your GP and get some clarification re: his hospital visit? I would certainly want to investigate less invasive methods of treatment before having surgery. Good luck!

I had an op for this about 20 years ago. Was quick, almost painless and recovery was swift. I think not worth buggering about with injections etc when the op will cure it.

10 days off work seems excessive tbh, I cycled to wrok after a week :-)

Perhaps its due to his line of work and lots of driving she said 5-10 days out of action. It does sound like quite invasive surgery from reading up on it and as he needs both hands doing, it would be nearly a year before he is back to normal.

From what we've read online it does seem to be unusual that she has booked him straight in, we were expecting the electrode tests and as I said, the other methods of treatment first.

I am a surgeon myself so when I developed carpal tunnel I made sure I saw one of the top hand surgeons in the country.

In his opinion nerve conduction tests are a waste of time feeling the fingers gives you far more information, when the nerve is affected the skin on the affected fingers is softer than on the other fingers. He feels the steroid injection is mostly a holding pattern to have the surgery and that well performed surgery is the best treatment option.
The surgery was very straightforward under local anaesthetic, it took 15 minutes I went home 10 minutes later with arm in a sling for 24 hours, no driving for 5 days, stitches in for 7 days, physio at 14 and 21 days. Back to performing ordinary surgery at 21 days and full Rubicam strength was back by 4 months post surgery.

My mum had both hands done at the same time, which was inconvenient for a couple of days, but easier in the long term

Full surgical strength damn auto correct.

Thanks all, its good to hear your experiences and that it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. I suppose its good that they're offering that then, instead of just fobbing him off with holding treatment.

All my symptoms of CTS disappeared pretty much overnight when my underactive thyroid finally got treated.

CTS can be a symptom of underactive thyroid.