Anyone had Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

[AVID]

I am considering surgery on left hand (doc recommended it) but am also looking into alternative therapies. Any success/disaster stories?

[amazona]

1. a friend had it

It didn't do anything for her. She is permanently disabled as far as her career as a writer is concerned -- been that way since the late 80s.

When I had the same symptoms, I took vitamin B-6 instead. Not saying this will work for you but it might be worth a try before you do the surgery. It can't hurt and it's cheap. I haven't had the symptoms for many years now and while I am no longer a full-time writer, I type many hours most days with no problem.

[AVID]

2. thanks

I will look into that. One Celebrex at night has been helping, but getting worse all the time.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. NIH

Pyridoxine hydrochloride treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a review.

Aufiero E, Stitik TP, Foye PM, Chen B.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.

It has been hypothesized that idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a manifestation of vitamin B6 deficiency. Some claim that B6 supplementation can alleviate symptoms. Others argue that pain relief occurs because of vitamin B6's anti-nociceptive properties or because B6 supplementation addresses an unrecognized peripheral neuropathy. Few studies on CTS and B6 employed electrodiagnostic techniques in diagnosis, and few showed a correlation between symptoms and improved electrodiagnostic parameters with supplementation. Other studies failed to measure or estimate B6 levels. Nevertheless, it appears reasonable to recommend vitamin B6 supplementation to people with CTS. Some patients will improve symptomatically with low risks of toxicity in recommended doses.

Publication Types:

* Review
* Review, Tutorial


PMID: 15098856

[Maple]

3. Go to a good chiropractor

Forget surgery.

[2Design]

4. most have heard it does not work.....some suggestions....

massage therapy on regular basis....could find a neuromuscular therapist
could combine that with chiropractor...
physical therapists....

get a stretching book that shows exercises for carpal tunnel

find a kinesiologist type of chiropractor

search no the internet for soft tissue release exercises

Need to release the muscles in the wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck that get tight from continued repetitive use......

If you press on the muscle while it is shorten, keep it pressed as you rotate the hand so the muscle is extended....continue this in many rotation.....this will help loosen it up......

[realisticphish]

5. my mother had it

she is a music teacher, and plays piano most of the day. the surgery took care of it perfectly, and she has had no problems since

:hippie: The Inocorrigible Democrat

[diddlysquat]

7. I had the surgery twice on the same wrist.

The first doctor did not do it right. There are two types of surgery for carpal tunnel. In one type they do not make as large a cut but this is not as successful. In the second type they make the full cut and success is almost 100%. My wrist still hurts but at least my hand is not going numb and there are now no shooting pains going up my arm. If I had to do it over again I think I would try accupuncture first.

[underseasurveyor]

8. I had both wrists done 3 years ago.

I tried everything in the world under the sun before I had surgery. I prefer a holistic approach versus 'western medicine' any day. Nutrition, accupunture, chiropractic, etc. I tried to avoid CT surgery at all costs especially after all the horror stories that left some with botched and mangled hands.

In my case it has been an absolute blessing. No more numbness, shooting pains, waking up in agony 10 times a night, I can hold onto things without dropping them all the time. And no more wrist splints :-) ahhhh. The only negative affect I experience is so very minor in comparason to pre-surgery. Major changes in the weather usually in the winter but sometimes the summer when it's super hot and muggy, my left forearm gets a deep ache in it. But other than that, no problems.

The insisions were only an inch long on the palms where they meet up on the wrist. Right where that life line is. Can't even see where they were cut. Much different than CT surgery of old ;-)

The only thing I would suggest is to try everything else before you decide to get surgery. Who knows, something may work for you there by saving you from needing surgery.

Take care :hi: