Does this sound like Carpal Tunnel

[Grumpy John]

For the last few months I've been getting a tingling/numbness in the thumb and first two fingers of my left hand. Also when I make a fist it feels "spongy", if that makes sense and I often wake up with a "dead hand".

[wheelinround]

John could e a pinched nerve in the neck/shoulder area or even worse get it medically checked out either way.

[Ad de Crom]

John, my own daughter had the same tingling feeling in her fingers of her left hand.
Had to do something with nerves in her hand, it seems like this happen often.
After consulting her family doctor, and a second opinion in the hospital, she got a small operation in her hand to get rid of this feeling.
So the best thing you can do is to tell this to your own family doctor.
Good luck, Ad

[China]

Grumpy it does sound like CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome) I know I have had it for twenty years, yes I had the operation "twice" unfortunatly in 20% of cases the op does not not work ( lucky me) it has improved but I am left with some symptoms that are permenent. Get your G.P. to refer you to a hand specialist, if you ignore it it will only get worse and you will start getting pain and dropping things etc. I wish you well let us know how you get on

[HazzaB]

Hey John,

I had the same feeling (or lack of ) for a while and the GP had me booked in for an Op, when I mentioned it to my Chiro Doctor, he did some work on my elbow and my neck and shoulders, and when I left I could crack a walnut single handed:2tsup:, i haven't mentioned it to the GP since, when my hands get a bit fuzzy, I know I'm due to see the Bone Cracker.

HazzaB

[Lignum]

Numbness in only two fingers and a thumb dosnt sound like carpal to me, but I aint no Neurosurgeon. Book in tomorrow with your GP for a referral to a Neuro. If you have Private it will be ok, if you don’t, then don’t wait one minute getting a referral.

I had carpal and it was the worst thing ever. Couldn’t sleep as every hour I would wake with my hand scrunched in excruciating pain. I ended up making a splint from a wooden spoon, tea towel and roll of masking tape so I could keep my hand “open” all night. it’s a #### of a thing carpal. It literally took 8 months out of my life as I couldn’t do a single thing with out pain.

[rsser]

CTS is often marked by a burning sensation in the skin of the palm.

Finger tendons + the main nerve run through a band of ligament in the wrist called the CT. If the tendons swell pressure is put on the nerve.

Sometimes stretching exercises can slim down the tendons.

I can recommend a crowd called Melb Hand Rehab. Specialist physios for hands.

Surgery is often sucessful but there's a risk of nerve damage, and your hand may be fairly useless for months afterwards.

[Grumpy John]

Thanks for the replies so far. I have every intention of seeing a G.P as soon as I can get an appointment.

An excerpt from this (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm) web site (I love Google :D )

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to "shake out" the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

I know of the dangers of self diagnosis, but I have all the symptoms in red text so I'm off to the G.P. ASAP.

[Grumpy John]

And the doctors diagnosis is...............................................

127197

yep, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Will make an appointment with the neurologist tomorrow to confirm.

The doctors options for treatment were cortisone injections or surgery. LOML recently had a cortisone injection in her shoulder to help with pain after a workplace injury. She said it hurt like hell and it knocked her around for a few days, but she is now totally pain free.............. but for how long, who knows. There are no guarantees with surgery either.

[cadeuceus]

just so people know what tinels and phalens tests are

tinels sign is positive if the symptoms (usually pain) are stimulated by tapping on the anterior (front) of the wrist at the location where the median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel (the region of the wrist that has tunnel formed by the shape of the carpal or wrist bones and the roof of the tunnel is a ligamentous structure called the flexor retinaculum).

Phalens test is positive if the pain is stuimulated by flexing the wrists against each other (like an inverted prayer position) in which case the carpal tunnel is compressed and the median nerve is compromised.

The operation discussed above is usually a fasciotomy in which the carpal tunnel is deroofed by cutting the flexor retinaculum and reducing the compressive pressue on the nerve. Lerss pressure - less symptoms.

I hope it all works out and have you tried massage or myofascial release before slicing the retinaculum?

Good luck

[hitch]

I have had the CT op on my left wrist and it has left me with some (very small) amount of inhibited movement (nerve damage) but I now don't wake 5 or 6 times a night with half my hand "dead". I would do it again and probably will sometime in the future as I have the same problem developing in my right hand.

If it is your little finger and about half the next finger that tingles then that's another problem.

[rsser]

Yes, GJ, when you speak to the neuro guy & if surgery is recommended ask what % of cases result in nerve damage, and what the consequences of cutting the carpal ligament are.

[cadeuceus]

"If it is your little finger and about half the next finger that tingles then that's another problem"

yes that is compression of the other main nerve entering the hand - the ulnar nerve, which supplies sensation to the medial (little finger side) of the hand and the two fingers as discussed.

[JJK]

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to "shake out" the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to tell between hot and cold by touch.

I had CTS in both hands (due to job) and I had pins 'n' needles and pain in the two middle fingers of the right hand but also made my grip weak. I persisted with this problem for over 2 years till it go so painful (wake me up during night), I had the op done. The symptoms disappeared almost instantly but had some wasting on the thumb muscles (Dr said I took too long to have op). No other prob's since 1992.
The left hand wasn't as bad and had it done in 1999 and no prob's since.

I hope it all works out OK for you.

[DavidG]

I had CT, both hands. Pain was extreme of a night and it was bad during the day.
Had the ops and what relief. No further problems with CT.

Slept through one op and watched the second. :U

[rsser]

Good result David and JJK.

The reason I favour starting with non-invasive therapies as that acc to the research there is a rate of adverse outcomes from surgery running from 5-10% (see the Cochrane Collaboration website).

[keithkarl2007]

I think a chiropractor can help with carpal tunnel.

[rsser]

I've had useful but not complete benefit from hand stretches prescribed by a specialist hand physio mentioned earlier.

Also taken Bromelain as suggested by Hughie but at the same time as other changes so its hard to know how much it helped.

[rsser]

GJ goes in for the ligament snip on the 22nd folks.

I'm sure we all wish him well.

He'll be needing tips on how to cope with one hand (the 'wrong' one).

[Grumpy John]

Thanks for the thoughts Ern. The last time I went under the knife was ~22 yrs. ago, at the wife's insistence :rolleyes:.

[rsser]

heh heh

1 case of pleasure without the pain; 2nd of pain with no pleasure :wink:

Edit: a good site on hand stuff .. click (http://www.eatonhand.com/index.htm)

[rsser]

This has been designed for hands-free shaving GJ.

Ideal really. If you start sweating with nerves it keeps you cool, and if you do get nicked the blood gets blown away from your face so you easily see how many stitches you'll need.

[tea lady]

This has been designed for hands-free shaving GJ.

Ideal really. If you start sweating with nerves it keeps you cool, and if you do get nicked the blood gets blown away from your face so you easily see how many stitches you'll need.So is this before or after loosing the hands? :rofl: Might be nose free after the shaving too! :D

[Grumpy John]

This has been designed for hands-free shaving GJ.

Ideal really. If you start sweating with nerves it keeps you cool, and if you do get nicked the blood gets blown away from your face so you easily see how many stitches you'll need.

Shaving's not the problem. The problem is about 93cm south of my nose and on the other side of my body. Your solution just scares the S#!& out of me, therein lies the predicament.

Addendum: Of course, this could be a solution to my hemorrhoid problem.

[rsser]

heh heh,

rubber gloves, disposable, are yr friend :D

[tea lady]

::? I wonder if work cover would stretch to a bidet? :D

[rsser]

Tip #2 ...

GJ, you'll prob find yrself for the 1st week with the paw wrapped in plastic and pointing to the roof when you take a shower.

Now we know yr a bit follicly challenged but a task will be how to measure out some shampoo and get it on the head.

So this is what you do.

Bottle upside down, nozzle resting on the pate.

Gentle squeeze and the moment you feel the cool goo, that shld just be enuff.

OTOH, TL's bidet idea may well work better.

You can imagine the drill :rolleyes:

Just remember to flush first :D

[rsser]

Tip of the day, #3

Be sure yr carpal tunnel 'deroofing' contractor is qualified.

You don't want to wake up with a wired wrist.

Edit: suggest you inquire with an open-ended q'tn.

Asking if he/she has a Cert 1 in de-roofing may offend those who who've got Cert 3.

[tea lady]

Tip of the day, #3

Be sure yr carpal tunnel 'deroofing' contractor is qualified.

You don't want to wake up with a wired wrist.:D Pain killers kicking in nicely are they Ern? :D

On the other hand it could make keeping the mobile phone charged up a bit easier.:think: :D

[rsser]

heh heh ...

there's an idea

do some bargaining GJ, like ..

the guy down the road will put in a mobile power pack for the same price, so can you beat it?

Edit: no, TL, as it happens. Mr Plastic Paw is beating up on me bigtime. Daytime meds no use. It's like bringing a baby home from the hospital: takes some time b4 you figure out its pattern, and you think you've got it sorted, but then the little sod changes. And you have to start again.

[Grumpy John]

I was going to say something witty about hand jobs, but I thought better of it. This thread's already on a slippery slope methinks :p.

[rsser]

Tip of the day


Shaving's not the problem. The problem is about 93cm south of my nose and on the other side of my body. Your solution just scares the S#!& out of me, therein lies the predicament.

Addendum: Of course, this could be a solution to my hemorrhoid problem.

Can see you don't need the 'stay positive' tip GJ.

You can already see the upside of the downside :D

[Grumpy John]

............................
You can already see the upside of the downside :D

Not without a mirror I can't :D.

[rsser]

SCA sell those little round ones on a telescoping shaft.

Now that'll give the missus something to wonder about if she sees you!

TIP OF THE DAY ...

If after the op you're not feeling positive the surgeon may have got the polarity wrong, so get out the multi-meter and chk.

You may also need an RCD. Amber fluid in modest quantities seems to work well ;-}

[rsser]

TIP OF THE DAY

Since your dominant hand is likely to be weak for some time after the snip, build up strength now in the other hand by using it for everything you normally use the other one for.

(Oops, on the slippery slope now :- )

[tea lady]

Maybe this thread should just be put in the orange room now to save time.:D Although it is fun talking in innuendo.:rolleyes:

[rsser]

Did you know that innuendo is Italian for pessary suppository?

[Grumpy John]

You beat me to it Ern, I suppose there is an upside to insomnia :p. Actually I heard it as innuendo was Italian for suppository.

[rsser]

& you beat me to it; just came back from shopping ready to make the correction, did so then saw it was redundant

wonder what redundant is Italian for?

endoscope we can guess ;-}

.... vision of the end of time?

[tea lady]

wonder what redundant is Italian for? Stomped on de ant twice? :think:

endoscope we can guess ;-}

.... vision of the end of time?Light at the end of the tunnel vision? :D

[rsser]

LOL.

Last tip John:

Write on yr right palm

NOT THIS ONE!

[tea lady]

:rofl: So break a leg tomorrow everyone.:D

[rsser]

Thanks Anne-maria.

[Grumpy John]

LOL.

Last tip John:

Write on yr right palm

NOT THIS ONE!


Honestly, It took me all day to get it. Very funny Ern, I wonder if the surgeon has a sense of humour.

[rsser]

Shldn't need one for what he does. The nurses will sort all that out, hopefully.

Lastest last tip ..

If he comes by b4 the op just let slip that yr Don Giovanni, Don of the Carrum Downs concrete boot makers, and you neither forgive nor forget :D

That shld help him focus :wink:

Good luck.

[Grumpy John]

All done. I now have an orange hand courtesy of copious amunts of betadine. Be prepared for a few typos due to one hand operation of keyboard and painkillers for the next 24 hrs.

130357

[rsser]

All the best with the recovery GJ.

Don't worry about typo's; we understand and will pour sh*t on you accordingly ;-}

Hope they gave you slow release morphine ... might turn Ch 9's broadcast of the winter Ahlympics into something mildly interesting.

[tea lady]

Nice tan Grumpy.:D

:2tsup:

[Grumpy John]

All the best with the recovery GJ.

Don't worry about typo's; we understand and will pour sh*t on you accordingly ;-}

Hope they gave you slow release morphine ... might turn Ch 9's broadcast of the winter Ahlympics into something mildly interesting.

Alas, no such luck. They released me with a small bag of readymix and told me to harden the............ I'm sure you know the rest :p.

[DJ’s Timber]

Geeze you guys are a bunch of pansies :q :U, I survived on the run of the mill of the supermarket shelf Panadol, did come home with Endone and Panadol Forte but only ended up taking one of the Endone, hoping I'd get a better nights sleep.

[rsser]

Actually it looks like GJ had his hand deep in the jar of yellow jelly crystals when his missus caught him and gave him a belting ;-}

[rsser]

Geeze you guys are a bunch of pansies :q :U, I survived on the run of the mill of the supermarket shelf Panadol, did come home with Endone and Panadol Forte but only ended up taking one of the Endone, hoping I'd get a better nights sleep.

Endone is an opiod DJ, used for the relief of moderate to severe pain.

[DJ’s Timber]

Endone is an opiod DJ, used for the relief of moderate to severe pain.

That is correct Ern, but one of the side effects of Endone is Drowsiness and because I had to sleep on my back, which I never do normally, I tried it for one night hoping the side effect would help as it did/does make me drowsy, as I was also taking it in Hospital on my first visit over the Xmas/New Year break, but it really didn't help this time, certainly was drowsier but because I was on my back, I just couldn't sleep comfortably :no: :C

[rsser]

Yeah, same here; cracked rib > had to be on my back.

Didn't like the stuff asleep or awake.

[artme]

OK, Back to some serious stuphph.

Both my thumbs give me curry at times. Sometimes I have little or no grip strength and at other times the thumbs just let go.

Sometimes, when doing nowt, I get a seering pain at the base of the thumbs , on the outside, as if someone has plnged a red hot needle in there.

Doctor says it's not Carpal tunnel but more likely the begiining of arthritis.

I'm not so sure. Any Ideas out there??

[Grumpy John]

I'm not a doctor but it doesn't sound like carpal tunnel, I didn't have any of those symptoms. Just numbness in thumb, index and middle finger. Occasionally woke up with a "dead hand". If you don't trust/believe your doc, get a second opinion.

[rsser]

Bummer Artme.

Try this website: click (http://arthritis.about.com/od/handandfingers/Hand_Pain_Causes_Symptoms_Diagnosis_Treatment_Pain_Relief.htm) and certainly consult a hand ortho or hand physio.

Is there anything you can correlate the pain episodes with, eg that you've done earlier in the day?

I get useful relief for my lax thumb joint, which is on the way to arthritis, by wearing a soft splint (of which there are many designs and expert advice is needed).

[rsser]

Just back from visiting the the cripple.

The bandage is v impressive, now with a big red stain which makes it look like he was just heli-vacced from the front line. (but is actually just pasta sauce :doh: ).

Pleased to report he's got over his biggest obstacle, or should I say under it :D

[Danielmp]

I work in Adelaides busiest Emergency Dept and one theme presents frequently - Pt did not see their GP when Panadol or similiar analgesia failed to relieve the pain. From the onset of any numbness, tingling and sustained pain see your GP ASAP. He/she may put you on antiinflammatory medication until you see an Orthopaedic specialist. Better ahead of the game than losing.

Regards

mp72trp18 :2tsup:

[tea lady]

Just back from visiting the the cripple.

The bandage is v impressive, now with a big red stain which makes it look like he was just heli-vacced from the front line. (but is actually just pasta sauce :doh: ).

Pleased to report he's got over his biggest obstacle, or should I say under it :D


:? :think: His head? :hmm:

[Grumpy John]

Well it's 18 months since the CT op (which worked out very well) and I'm going under the knife again next Tuesday. This time for Ulner Nerve Release on the right arm. I asked the doc if I would have to cease my wood turning and was told to keep vibrations to a minimum. Looks like I'll have to take up pen turning :((.
Also getting my nose fixed at the same time (deviated septum), I'm sick of the missus complaining about my snoring :D.

[rsser]

Good luck GJ.

As for septum probs., thought you had to be an overpaid rockstar to get these.

(What white tip on my nose?!).

[tea lady]

Well it's 18 months since the CT op (which worked out very well) and I'm going under the knife again next Tuesday. This time for Ulner Nerve Release on the right arm. I asked the doc if I would have to cease my wood turning and was told to keep vibrations to a minimum. Looks like I'll have to take up pen turning :((.
Also getting my nose fixed at the same time (deviated septum), I'm sick of the missus complaining about my snoring :D.I can lend you a pen mandrel if you like! Not that I make pens.......... much! :B

[Grumpy John]

I can lend you a pen mandrel if you like! Not that I make pens.......... much! :B

Good, I can use it to pull the splints out of my nose when the time comes :p.

[tea lady]

Pushing shutter buttons might be a bit to much stress too! :D

[Grumpy John]

Good luck GJ.

As for septum probs., thought you had to be an overpaid rockstar to get these.

(What white tip on my nose?!).

I said DEVIATED septum not DEVIANT :rolleyes:.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

[rsser]

Up here getting white on your nose is just a sign that you're taking more ski lessons :D

OK, among some, that's pretty deviant behaviour.

I assume that you've offered the +1 some ear plugs?

And suggested that another pair in the nose will obviate the olfactory offences a guy might also commit in bed?

Well, good luck again with the surgery.

Turning a pen can be fun.

Once :rolleyes:

[Grumpy John]

The dressing came off the Ulner wound for the last time today. Cool scar or what?

181508

[rsser]

Good grief, that should scare away the kiddies on their way to school!

Or any more unwanted neighbours.

Hope the outcome is good.

BTW, recently read that a deviated septum can by traced back to one tribe in the middle east.

K, by way of considerateness, I'll speculate no further ;-}

(But it's a good sized schnozz your folks gave you :rolleyes: )

[acmegridley]

Good god man, get out in the sun for a while that arm looks like it belongs on a mortuary table!