This is one area I am the expert in on this
listserve. I am a Certified Hand Therapist. My job in life is rehabilitating and
preventing hand injuries.
First of all, you need to seek an evaluation
of your problems by a board certified hand surgeon who are usually either a
plastic surgeon, neurologist or orthopedic surgeon. They will be able to tell
from their exam and tests they order where the problem actually is. Sometimes,
when you have numbness in your hands, it can be originating from your neck or
elbow. There are many entrapment/ compresssion points along the path of the
nerves as the distribute from the spine through their course down the
arm.
About endosopic releases of CT.... Many docs
in our area St. Louis have stopped doing these altogether or at least minimally
because much more often than with the open technique there is need for redos
because you just can't see and do all there needs to be done in many cases
through 2 holes.
The biggest thing I care for in the rehab is
the scar. Dependent on how your body heals and how much damage was done to the
nerve, directly affects your result...of course the skill of your surgeon has
much to do with this also. The release severs the transverse carpal ligament
which is a huge pulley for the flexors that move your fingers and thumb. This
ligament is not stitched together but allowed to heal by scarring. The ligament
heals looser and results in a bit larger compartment through which all the
tendons, nerves and vessels to the palm of your hand travel, which allows for a
bit more abuse to the contents before the effects of swelling cause problems
again. If you continue doing the same activities that caused the CT in the first
place, there's always a possibility of "catching" it again. A hand therapist
would be able to tell you what your probable risk factors are and how to modfy
your activities to reduce your risk.
Susan Milam, OTR/L, CHT
-----Original
Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Suzi
Maiorisi Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 11:15 AM To:
mfarm@xxxxxxx; Ridecamp E-mail Subject: Re: [RC] Carpel
Tunnel
The key here is getting to it (surgery) BEFORE it gets too bad - as in
still have the dropsies and lack of coordination. I have it and ride
with it and it usually takes a week of wearing my braces again before I quit
waking up with the electrical jolts in my right hand and numbness while trying
to work (transcriptionist, so hands are vital). My sister waited too
long to have her surgery - she'd been having the jolts all day as well as all
night and she had bilateral surgery done 2 years ago with fair results.
She still has problems periodically, but not near like it was before.
Wear your braces (the good ones from the orthopedic with metal braces in them
are best) all the time until the numbness goes away, or be brave and go have
it fixed. Endoscopic is really the fastest and easiest, you'll be
functional in 4-5 days. (sister and I flew to Ireland for a vacation 5 days
after her surgery) Have it done the 'old' way and you're down for
weeks.
I had mine scheduled for December and cancelled at the last minute after
a really bad hysterectomy in September and resulting 2.5 week stay in the
hospital trying to get over a large abscess that followed...call me a chicken,
but I don't care, that was enough surgery for one year.
Anyone out there have carpel tunnel problems? I'm not
riding too much because my hands go numb and that's not a great combo
with horses that want to go. I'm going to have surgery on at least
one of my arms and I'd love to hear from someone who's had the surgery
and what riding was like before, after, recovery time, etc. You
can e-mail me privately, if you want.
Jannelle
Jannelle Wilde
& Adam Falk Menagerie Farm 584 Romie Howard Rd Yoncalla OR
97499 541-849-2460 (phone & fax) 866-241-1531
Toll-free ASK ABOUT OUR DAVENPORT FOALS! www.cmc.net/~mfarm
