Anyone here had CTS relief surgery?

[seangee]

I was a computer programmer (they call them software engineers now  ) for many many years working in client sites and hotel rooms using a laptop with the built in trackpad. Guess you don't have to look too far in my case. Its also why I asked the GP about CTS - I was already pretty sure of the answer 5 years ago.

[Paul2bikes]

Strange how in my experience, the CTS came & went after 6 months, then came & went again after 6 months, several years later. Unless, GP got it wrong on both occasions and it was something else. After much reading up on the symptoms, there doesn't seem to be much else it could be. The bit I don't understand is, why sleeping with hands high up in the bed fired up the pain & numbness, like poor circulation, which I don't normally suffer, no cold hands, no need of heated grips.

[Paullie]

Originally Posted by Paul2bikes

Strange how in my experience, the CTS came & went after 6 months, then came & went again after 6 months, several years later. Unless, GP got it wrong on both occasions and it was something else. After much reading up on the symptoms, there doesn't seem to be much else it could be. The bit I don't understand is, why sleeping with hands high up in the bed fired up the pain & numbness, like poor circulation, which I don't normally suffer, no cold hands, no need of heated grips.

I'm no physician, but I'm guessing that it is actually reduced circulation in the extremities, as during the night your whole bodily system slows down. Drinking plenty of water can help I've found (but maybe that's more for arthritis), but then you have to get up at night to get rid of it! 

[Paul2bikes]

Originally Posted by Paullie

I'm no physician, but I'm guessing that it is actually reduced circulation in the extremities, as during the night your whole bodily system slows down. Drinking plenty of water can help I've found (but maybe that's more for arthritis), but then you have to get up at night to get rid of it! 

I'm up in the night enough getting rid of the beer, don't add to it. 

[Tigermike]

Loads of stuff on line about CTS, below is excerpts from healthonline.com.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve as it passes into the hand. The median nerve is located on the palm side of your hand (also called the carpal tunnel). The median nerve provides sensation (ability to feel) to your thumb, index finger, long finger, and part of the ring finger. It supplies the impulse to the muscle going to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one or both of your hands.
Swelling inside your wrist causes the compression in carpal tunnel syndrome. It can lead to numbness, weakness, and tingling on the side of your hand near the thumb.
The recommendation is to try to manage carpal tunnel pain without surgery, if possible.

Nonsurgical options include:

avoiding positions that overextend your wrist
wrist splints that hold your hand in a neutral position, especially at night
mild pain medication and medications to reduce inflammation
treatment of any underlying conditions you may have, such as diabetes or arthritis
steroid injections into your carpal tunnel area to reduce inflammation

Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome involves cutting the band of tissue in the wrist that crosses the median nerve so as to lessen the pressure on your nerve.

hope this helps 

[Paul2bikes]

Likely the arthritis in both hands causes mine.