I found out last week that I have it. The doctor has me wearing a brace for work/sleep and taking Celebrex 200mg. If a month of this doesnt help I am facing surgery.

Talk to me boys!

Who's been there already?

Try switching to your left hand, its different and gives your right a chance to rest...[:D]

My last boss had it in his right wrist. 35 years of writing code did it to him.

He started with the brace, which helped, but ended up having to have two surgeries. The final surgery seems to have done the trick and he no longer has the pain. It's all that swollen nerve.

Having chronic knee pain in both knees, I am an amateur expert on NSAIDs. Just a question, but why the Celebrex? You don't need it unless you have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding. But in any case, myself and some of my friends who have these problems have found Vioxx to be superior. Ibuprofen is still the best if you ask me, but if you've had ulcers, it's something to avoid. Just my 2 cents.

I got mine last year (19) because I used a gas powered hedge trimmer 8 hours a day for like 2 months.  My hand was almost completely numb for like the next 4 months.  I wore the brace all the time and took the celebrex and it is about 95% gone.  I get flare ups every once in a while but they go away within an hour.  19 is too damn young to be getting carpol tunnel syndrome IMO

Keving67

I had the surgery last year. Worked like a charm. No more waking up in the middle of the night screaming in agony because my hand felt like it had been run over by a tank!

If the surgery was performed well, the residual numbness will go away about 6 months after the operation.

Posting photos of me in the OR...I conned a nurse into taking them!

[img]members.aol.com/ericsorenson/carpal4.jpg[/img]

Does anyone know about the newer laproscopic approaches to this surgery?

RBAD,

RE: newer laproscopic approaches to this surgery.

My wife's sis had this done awhile back. She finally got released to work, then started having trouble again. Now, ~3 months later, it's almost as bad as before. She said the Dr's latest comment was something to the effect that it was hard to see and get everything with that type of surgery.

My wife had the regular surgery ~ 20 years ago. Has had no trouble since. I think that unless I got a lot more encouraging info I would take mine the old fashioned way.

NMSight

I wouldnt trust the laproscopic type of surgery for this. In most cases, there is too much 'gunk' that needs to be cleaned-out of the tendon/nerve area. Also, with normal surgery you are less likely to have nerve damage (IMHO) because the Dr can see more of the procedure. Photo is about 15 minutes after the bandage-thing came off. YUCK.
[img]members.aol.com/ericsorenson/carpalscar.jpg[/img]

Thank you VERY MUCH for that insight !

I have been delaying having the surgery done due to back ailments, but need to get it done soon.  (I can't feel my right thumb and two other fingers at all)

My cousin is actually listed as one of the top 10 hand surgeons in the country.  BUT he only performs the OPEN procedure.  I initially had some misgivings about doing this if a lap method was available.   I guess I'll be calling him now. [:D]

Thanks NMSight!

Thank DevilsAdvocate !

  I had it done last year on both wrists. Mine was work related and it turned into a nightmare. The workmans comp doctors were 'quacks' and hurt alot of people I worked with. I was told by at least 10 other co-workers to absolutely never let them touch me. I held out and stood my ground to get proper treatment and physicians.
   Those 10 co-workers still have problems with their wrists. After 3 months of healing, the pain never returned again in my wrists. Get the best doc you can. Even if it comes out of your pocket. Shop around and ask alot of questions. Because some surgeons treat you like your part of an assembly line and some treat you like family.


Edited for Devil's Advocate: Dude, he cut you a long way didn't he. My scars never went past where my hand meets my wrist. My electrical tests were way off the scale too. My arm was jerking so hard it almost took me off the table :)

For Rbad: The surgery and recovery for me was not a problem. The first couple of days were a little painful but after that the only time it ever hurt was when I accidentally tried to use it. If you need it done, get it done before it gets any worse.

I think that having a "large theatre of operation"...lol, was for the better. I come from a long line of medical people, so Im not easily snowed when it comes to this kinda stuff. I checked-out 4 doctors. The one at the best hospital was the only one who didnt want to do laproscopy because of what is neccesary for a good outcome.

LOL..as far as suicide...a cut THAT big would have been succesful. As for scars, you would NEVER be able to tell, even if I pointed them out =)

Well, as usual, You guys have come through again! I know a lot more and feel a lot better  about it than I did last night. This IS work related and a workers comp case, but The doctor is a hand specialist and has confidence out the yazoo. He REALLY knows his shit. I will do the splint/Celebrex thing until 8/9 and see how it goes. I will keep everyone posted. Maybe I can get some cool pics too!

I had the surgery 10 years ago due to motorcycle riding/racing four 0r five times a week and during the 80's. Ten taking up bowling,often times bowling up to 50 games week.

I strongly suggest that you research your doctor because a fellow I worked with had both his wrists done at the same time througha different doc and his got screwed up. although I had CTS in an advanced stage mine came out ok and I was bowling within two weeks after surgery.

I had it done in '84 by a Navy surgeon in Long Beach.  He did a passable job and I went through several weeks of physical therapy afterwords to get the wrist in shape again.  Boy...do I remember the first time that physical therapist tried to bend my fingers back to my elbow!!!  She warned me to keep coming to my appointments too, since failure to do so would almost certainly lead to a buildup in scar tissue, restrictive movement of my wrist and another surgery.

In the sixteen years since the surgery, I've had some occasional discomfort, especially if I spend too much time on the AR15 site pounding away at the keyboard!  On the other hand...it's a lot better than it was before.  My surgery was the old open-em-up-and-start-carving type, like Advocate's.  One side effect was total deadening of the nerves in my wrist for a couple of years.  It's still a bit numb...but no big deal.

Make sure you go to the PT!  If you don't you WILL regret it.  This is doubly important since this is WC related, too.

Good luck!

[soapbox]

[size=4]FDA just approved a new laser treatment that is non-invasive!![/size=4]


If that doesn't work, try orthoscopic first, it worked for my wife's hands.  Only a few tiny incisions.