Anyone have carpal tunnel surgery? - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

The orthopedic surgeon I saw yesterday has sent me for therapy for carpal tunnel before. It's been back again for awhile, this time with a very painful cyst to aggravate the situation. He referred me to see a hand/wrist specialist, and suggested that I might need to have both problems corrected surgically at the same time. In other words, the ligament across the base of the palm would be severed. That isn't the plan yet though, just speculation. I'm hoping that the removing/aspirating/whatever the cyst might take care of it, since it's right next to the carpal tunnel and may be rubbing the nerve too.

Anyway, the orthopedic surgeon, who did a great job on my knee but does not do hands anymore, said all of his past patients have been happy and nobody complained of lack of strength. He said it only reduces hands strength with the hand at an angle that's weak and awkward even without the surgery. OK, I understand that, and everyone I've talked to said the same thing. Nobody thinks they lost any hand strength.

However, I doubt if any of those people actually use their hands for any real work. They've probably never touched a wrench in their lives, and certainly haven't tried to use one in the inevitable awkward spots. At least now I can turn a turn a few bolts, then ice down my wrist and take it up again the next day. Yeah, it took me two weeks to get through a recent job that should have taken an afternoon, but I did get it done. I also live on about 11 acres, with all that entails .... Plus, there's the 54 pound race tires to maneuver onto the studs, and an ever-growing child who feels no pain whatsoever from my wrist (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Am I worrying about nothing? Once that ligament is severed, there's no turning back.

This post has been edited by sgarnett: Oct 25 2007, 03:33 PM

sgarnett View Member Profile	Oct 25 2007, 03:14 PM Post #1
Seeking round tuits Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,522 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Kentucky Member No.: 33	The orthopedic surgeon I saw yesterday has sent me for therapy for carpal tunnel before. It's been back again for awhile, this time with a very painful cyst to aggravate the situation. He referred me to see a hand/wrist specialist, and suggested that I might need to have both problems corrected surgically at the same time. In other words, the ligament across the base of the palm would be severed. That isn't the plan yet though, just speculation. I'm hoping that the removing/aspirating/whatever the cyst might take care of it, since it's right next to the carpal tunnel and may be rubbing the nerve too. Anyway, the orthopedic surgeon, who did a great job on my knee but does not do hands anymore, said all of his past patients have been happy and nobody complained of lack of strength. He said it only reduces hands strength with the hand at an angle that's weak and awkward even without the surgery. OK, I understand that, and everyone I've talked to said the same thing. Nobody thinks they lost any hand strength. However, I doubt if any of those people actually use their hands for any real work. They've probably never touched a wrench in their lives, and certainly haven't tried to use one in the inevitable awkward spots. At least now I can turn a turn a few bolts, then ice down my wrist and take it up again the next day. Yeah, it took me two weeks to get through a recent job that should have taken an afternoon, but I did get it done. I also live on about 11 acres, with all that entails .... Plus, there's the 54 pound race tires to maneuver onto the studs, and an ever-growing child who feels no pain whatsoever from my wrist (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Am I worrying about nothing? Once that ligament is severed, there's no turning back. This post has been edited by sgarnett: Oct 25 2007, 03:33 PM

SSTAT View Member Profile	Oct 26 2007, 05:28 AM Post #2
Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 545 Joined: 19-June 04 From: Zanesville, Ohio Member No.: 369	Im an internal medicine physician, (hence SSTAT) not a surgeon. But Ive referred many people for, and seen many people after this surgery, and none has complained of lack of strength. Given the ligament that is severed, I find it hard to believe anyone would lose ANY strength from this surgery. Were talking a ligament (connects bone to bone) not a tendon (muscle to bone). The only problem you could speculate on would be loss of some "stability" of the wrist, but not overt strength. And Ive NEVER heard of any joint stability problems after this surgery (like with an ACL tear). Again, Im not a surgeon, but this is my opinion.