Carpal tunnel and 10 weeks pregnant, PLEASE help

llordvenger
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Hi, my girlfriend is 37 Years and pregnant with our second child, our first was fully fit and healthy but caused mum to have severe 'carpal tunnel syndrome' rendering her unable to sleep for 7 months from huge burning sensations and extreme discomfort.

We tried splints and went on to having steroid injections which was a temporary solution, she is now 10 weeks in to pregnancy and is desperate to have the operation, my question is can the operation be carried out during pregnancy under a local anaesthetic whilst with no risk to the child. We are in Lincolnshire.

llordvenger
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Our first is now 15 months and the condition disappeared after the pregnancy, but the condition has raised its dirty head again since being pregnant, I worry she will not go ahead with the second birth if nothing can be done.

Please advise.

jeremydpbland
Online

The operation can be carried out safely during pregnancy if there seems to be a danger of permanent damage to the median nerve without surgery. Most people would prefer to try splints and steroid injection first. Injections seem to be safe after the first trimester (ie 14 weeks onwards). The experience with injection the first time round may not be the same this time - they are not necessarily consistent in effect in the same patient so it could be either more or less successful this time. I would get some nerve conduction studies done so that we can judge the severity of the threat to the nerve and then make a decision about how to treat it. In my own clinic I would also take a look at the nerve with the ultrasound scanner as there is not much documentation of the ultrasound appearances of CTS during pregnancy. JB

llordvenger
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Thanks for your response.

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