Diabetic - CTS release surgery affects
Hello, I am a diabetic who has had release surgery on my right hand about 3 years ago. That surgery did not turn out as expected and my hand became much stiffer (fingers), pain all around the hand, and I have about 1/2 the strength and flexibility as my old hand. The pain subsided about 1 year ago and I am at least moving the hand without significant issues (other than stiffness and weakness). Now I am developing stiffness, inflexibility, pain and the same post-release symptoms I had 3 years ago - in my left hand (but I have not had any surgery done yet). I get a bit of tingling in my fingers, but mostly dull pains at night and sharp pains when trying to use my left hand/wrist. My diabetes is not controlled very well with about 8.0 as my last A1c shows. My EMG test came back as mild nerve latency, and general comments by the neurologic tester seemed to mention more of diabetic neuropathy than it did CTS. I have tried acupuncture - with no relief, as well as trigger point muscle therapy with no relief. I am curious if anyone has seen this before (i.e., extreme pain, swelling, stiffness) as a precursor to CTS, and after a "not so great" outcome of the first surgery I am obviously very skeptic about another surgery on this hand. Any thoughts or guidance would be appreciated.
As you have perhaps seen any new posting in this forum now attracts a flood of spam so folliwng this reply I will lock the topic so that we donlt get another batch of porn links.
There is an entity sometimes referred to as 'diabetic hand'. It is a composite of CTS, tigger fingers, diabetic neuropathy, small jpint arthritis and general stiffness - all problems that seem to occur more commonlly in diabetics and often togteher. Treating any one element of it is often rather unrewarding and it requires the attention of an expert hand surgeon and hand therapists. Even then it may not be possible to effect a huge improvment I'm afraid.
If you want to continue the conversation you can email me directly. JB