Possible/Probable Carpel Tunnel Surgery/Procedure

[JHaris]

Well, I had an EMG test done on my right hand today because of numbness increasing in the middle, index finger and thumb. The diagnosis is severe carpel tunnel. I have had carpel tunnel in both hands for many years, but it is only since the late summer that this numbness started to be constant. Never had pain.

Has anyone had the surgery/procedure done and have the results and recovery been what you expected? I am right handed and I am a little bit scared as to what is down the road in regards to what I will be able to do. Is this the end of knitting, crafts, typing, etc?:(

[wallycat]

I've done some lit searches that seem to show yoga may help with the condition.
I'll see what I can locate tomorrow and post back.

[LakeMartinGal]

DD had the carpal tunnel surgery, and had an *almost* complete recovery. Her hand still bothers her if she's at the computer for more than 8 hours:rolleyes:, straight, but not in her normal activities!

[gigicancook]

My husband had it done and he has no problems, I think it was his right hand also.............he does everything he did before, except knitting and crocheting.:D One doctor I know does it with just a local anesthetic, but my husband was put into a twilight sleep. His left hand started to bother him and he went for that test and they said he had tennis elbow:confused:, he did some therapy and excercises at home and it doesn't seem to bother him.

[CompassRose]

My mother had it done, on both hands at separate times, probably close to 20 years ago now. It let her knit again, once she'd recovered. The surgery is starting to fail a bit now, but it's been a while.

For what it's worth, one of her surgeries, the first, was done by a guy who was also a plastic surgeon, and she was much more pleased with that one, not only in terms of scarring, but results.

My friend, who is a massage therapist and osteopath, points out that a lot of "carpal tunnel" starts in obstruction and tension in the nerves at the shoulder, as well, and if these issues are not resolved, it can cause the surgery to be unsuccessful.

(There's a woman at work who has had each hand done two or maybe even three times - and now needs it again, but can't, because there's too much cumulative damage. That may be illustrative of that, since of course her job hasn't changed, and she's still an administrative assistant with the majority of her work involving deskbound keyboarding.)