6 months after cts surgery, severe numbness /pain /electrical shocks

Hi,
First off i want to thank you for this forum and taking the time to respond to each post. I'm sure you have other things that you'd rather be doing.

I had carpal tunnel syndrome for years and never had it looked at, i now realize that was a mistake. In March of this year i finally had a nerve study done and was told that I had severe to extreme cts in both hands and needed ulnar nerve surgery on both elbows as well.

Hydrocolloid dressing?

I had surgery on my dominant hand 5 weeks ago. My mobility is great and the incision site has been healing reasonably well, but it took a knock on Friday (accidentally caught it on a chair - ouch!) and it now seems a little raw where a scab had been forming at the base.

I've picked up some Elastoplasts and hydrocolloid dressings. With my surgeon stressing that the wound should be kept dry, I'm just wondering whether hydrocolloid is a good idea? Is there a case for not using those dressings?

Should I have steroid injection?

Hello,
I have been using a splint part of the day and every night for three weeks. My symptoms have improved. I can move my middle and ring finger now. The pain below my fingers at top of palms has gone.

The only time I feel a dull pain is when I am holding my fork or pen. The middle finger feels like it’s received a mild electric shock.

I am due to have a steroid injection with G.P. on Thursday. Should I attend this appointment or continue with wearing the splint?

Kind Regards,
Andrea

Chronic pain from median nerve damage

I am a nurse and had severe carpal tunnel in both hands and had surgery several years ago. I was misdiagnosed in 1991, as the consultant said it was my sleeping position causing the numbness, so I ignored the symptoms for 20 years as I didn’t have severe pain until a few years ago then was rediagnosed hence the surgery. The surgery stopped the hand tingling and numbness but I still have burning and prickling pain in my arms which is sometimes in lower arm and sometimes upper arm or neck. An MRI cleared my neck.

Severe symptoms and long nhs waiting lists

Hi, I first went to my gp 2 1/2 year ago as I had been having trouble with grip and cramping in both hands. Blood tests revealed nothing but I was put on anti inflammatories and then Amitriptaline after I was given it for back pain but it helped with the pain in my hands more. Short version is I came of the medication earlier this year as I was having really bad side effects and the symptoms with my hands have gotten really bad very fast.

Work or Rest

Hello,
Thank you for replying. I have an appointment this morning with my G.P.

Can you return to work using a splint for keyboard use or should I rest it? The pain in my fingers only started last Tuesday.

Can you drive with cycling gloves?

Kind Regards,
Andrea

Work and Driving with CPS

Hello,
Thank you for your response yesterday. It was appreciated.

I am due to go to work tomorrow but my ring finger and middle finger is painful. It feels like I have been touching stinging nettles. The splint I have is not the same as the one on the diagram. My splint has a metal bar from wrist to top of palm.

The health and safety advisor at work has not changed my keyboard or ordered any ergonomic products until he has seen me.

Recently Diagnosed With CTS

Hello,
I have suffered with pins and needles in my left hand during the night for a few years. I woke up on Tuesday with severe pain in my middle and one side of ring finger. I saw my G.P. who diagnosed CPS.

She recommended I buy a splint and take ibuprofen. Over the week the pain has got worse. I am due to go back to work on Monday. I am office based and use a keyboard. Should I wear a splint in the day. I am using it at night time and it has helped. Should I go back to see my G.P. next week or leave it a few more weeks?

Severe numbness

My numbness wasnt always there. It use to be more pain in my wrist radiating up to my elbow. Even to the point i went to the er. Now it's not so much pain but sever numbness in my thumb, index and middle finger that is constant. It never goes away. Anyone experience this? I even lost sensation in those fingers.

Update

Dear Dr. Bland. - My last appointment with with the clinic was 18th May 2015 and since that date I have continuously worn my splints at night on my right and left hand (with very rare exceptions!).