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Biggest Regrets

Posted , 9 users are following.

glenn06752
glenn06752

Had bi lateral carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, two weeks apart. I am 5 weeks into recovery and still experiencing pain severe enough to make me miserable. Checked in with my doctor who is extremely high on himself and should heighten his compassion. Just as other readers have reported, I am experiencing shooting pains in both wrists and difficulty pushing my hand upward or downward. Holding onto the steering wheel is a big enough task. To make a short story short, I wish I had never embarked on this surgery. I felt much better before the surgery. If you're thinking about this surgery, please do yourself a favor and try PT first and think long and hard. The post op pain and loss of use is just plain miserable. 

2 likes, 30 replies

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  • nicola34310
    nicola34310 glenn06752

    Posted

    Hi

    I've been for my 3 month consultation and my consultant is not happy with my recovery firstly my scar is still red and angry and because the numbness is worse than before my op in my dominant left hand, he wants to see me again in 3 months if still no progress he wants to do tests again if not right may need to go back in, I declined my right hand being done. I understand that what I gave read and followed 8 out of 10 have had a bad recovery. Just have to wait and see what happens I am not sure how others feel but I can only describe the feeling as having a glove in my hand and pain is not good xx

    • Guest
      Guest nicola34310

      Posted

      Hello Nicola!

      Having a glove on the hand is a common explanation to the feeling of this, but I have never read the feeling of a glove inside of the hand. There's a lot of symptoms, but one of the more usual symptoms I have is a feeling of someone chewing on the fingertips and the long finger in the middle touching the hot oven.

      But, for a week now I've started to feel better - I don't know why for sure, but I guess it has something to do with the median nerve getting stuck or not. At the moment the nerve is in the right place so to say. I do a nerve gliding exercise - only one time(!) per day, for five seconds. I also wear wrist bracelets on both hands at night again. That's about it. And trying not to type or do anything else for hours or to get too cold.

      I haven't earlier, but I must tell you all about another experience I had a few years back. I had been doing some cable connections to my mother's tv set and sat on my right heel. After ten minutes when I was about to stand and walk away I couldn't! I couldn't feel my foot properly. What's worse, the loss of feeling went on and off for 8 months! But most of that time the feeling was gone. or partiallty gone. It was absolutely dreadful. I went to see the physio therapist and was helped by a couple of nerve gliding exercises he showed me. It took two years but now I'm absolutely 100% recovered from that, even though my GP was a bit skeptical I would be recovered. So there is still hope.

    • nicola34310
      nicola34310 Guest

      Posted

      Hiya

      Thank you for replying when you said that you try not to type I type 8 hours a day work is being a pain in the behind I gave had 3 reports ignored I work on customer service for an energy company the reports gave strongly recommended I am taken off the phones for at least 2 hours at the end if my shift as this is the time my hand gas around 10 heartbeats ha x they advised I do back office putting meter reads in so I can use my good hand and rest my bad!! But they seem to think it's business needs and should be taking calls? You know how it is if your uncomfortable and sore you get annoyed! I don't want to do this with my customers so if they give me the time off I feel it will help but my managers think they are doctors and do as they please! What can I do if they ignore occupational health recommendation? I'm struck , sorry if ranting but I feel better haha

      Nic

    • nicola34310
      nicola34310

      Posted

      Sorry my spelling is shocking ha but you know what I am saying x
    • glenn06752
      glenn06752 nicola34310

      Posted

      all these companies are similar. My company fought my workers comp claim for the CTS Nic and I ended up getting an attorney. My CTS was from my job and nothing more. Yes, I understand what you're saying. I cannot believe what sob's they turned into as soon as I made my first report of injury out. Then they called every day like a cattle prod, coaxing me back to work. They didn't care if it was light duty or what it was. As long as I had a pulse, they wanted me back. Workers' Comp laws are supposed to favor the employer but by and large they take care of the insurance companies.. BTW, my doctor told me during my first visit that my CTS was due to my repetitive motion at work... After the surgery was completed, he then said, most carpal tunnels are congenital and people are born with... as he muttered, "the door is closed and that's between us.."   WHATEVER.....My attorney states, 95% of CTS are due to the workplace.. Amazing contrast in opinions. 
    • nicola34310
      nicola34310 glenn06752

      Posted

      I believe you are right I am with GMB union and they can't believe tgey think they are doing right by me and they have offered everything OH has recommended but they have not done one thing, the only thing they said is if I feel I'm in pain is to go to a manager and tell them? I think they should be reviewing my reports and saying yes we can do this for you? I'm at my wits end I cried this morning as felt so low I gave another meeting next week because my manager didn't know what OH meant by back office work / light duties? Really I feel I need to make a claim like you said and see what happens xx I really appriciate your help x
    • glenn06752
      glenn06752 nicola34310

      Posted

      call a good w/c attorney.. most will represent you for zero out of pocket and take the case as a contingency... if you get money, they'll take their 20% and it's all well worth it to have representation at 20 cents on the dollar. Sounds like you work in a modern day sweat shop? I hope you feel better soon.
  • Guest
    Guest glenn06752

    Posted

    Well...

    I've been in your job situation before, got a bad back w herniated discs and other injuries plus tennis elbow and chronic laryngitis for two years and all the time had the pressure from the work place asking why I wasn't there. So this time, with cts, I didn't return to work at all, living on personal savings now for a year and selling a lot of my stuff to get money for the rent and other bills etc, planning to start my own business now if I just could get a little better with consistency. CTS in itself is enough pressure for me to even try anything else.

    • glenn06752
      glenn06752 Guest

      Posted

      Ken - I wish you the  best on all counts. 
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