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Is it Carpal tunnel??

Posted , 6 users are following.

nicnic8
nicnic8

Hi.

I broke my wrist four weeks ago. I have been experiencing numbness and tingling in my thumb and first two fingers ever since. I also have a very intense shooting pain going from my wrist into the tips of my fingers. Last week the hospital replaced my cast with a brace and said that if the pain didn't ease they would have to make a small incision in my wrist to ease ther pain.

The problem I have is that ten years ago an IV was inserted into my nerve about two inches below my thumb. Over the years I have had some pain from this but nothing like I have had over the past four weeks. If I run my finger even lightly over the skin about two inches below my thumb the shooting pains are like electricity into my finger tips.

I am wondering whether I actually have carpal tunnel syndrome, as the hospital suspect, or if I have damaged some other nerve in my hand/wrist. It seems odd to me that I have the pain at the side of my wrist by my thumb rather than in the centre. Will putting an incision into the centre even ease my pain?

I may be having this procedure done tomorrow and am now very nervous as I have done the bad deed of 'Googling' the procedure and it looks much bigger than the hoispital led me to believe.

Any help on this would be verymuch appreciated.

Nic

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • nilay123456
    nilay123456 nicnic8

    Posted

    hi nic

    sorry for ur problem. i got same problem too.. pins and needles and this unbearable electric shocks on my fingers.. actually u asked if its carpal tunnel syndrome or just a nerve damage..carpal tunnel sydrome basically is the nerve damage on the wrist.its called median nerve.. tmorrow when u at hospital, theyll apply u a EMG test which will definitely tell u if u got cts or not.. theyll try a few things but finally operation is the final result for those who suffering from carpal tunnel. u cant imagine how many articles i read about it.. the result of the operation is changable from person to person.. but if ure below 50, if u not smoking and drinkin too much, if ure in good health condition, eat properly,  and if u dont have severe damage on ur median nerve, then  they say ull be normal again.. but of course first u have to find a  good surgeon.. 

    get well soon 

    x

  • elaine02726
    elaine02726 nicnic8

    Posted

    It is common following a broken wrist. If it is a carpel tunnel release you are having tomorrow it takes about 10 minutes under local anaesthetic.

    my consultant sent me for nerve tests to confirm diagnosis before operating.

    good luck tomorrow

    Regards Elaine

  • mark26805
    mark26805 nicnic8

    Posted

    Does sound like CTS, pins and needles in thumb and next fingers, strangely not the little finger!

    The op. is done under a local and I had a couple of injections into the palm of my hand, this is the most uncomfortable part....not painful but uncomfortable. You then wait for the effect, about 10 minutes, the surgeon tests your fingers and then starts, It really does only take 10 minutes and you come out with a huge bandage (think boxing glove) that is taken off in 48 hours. Keep hand elevated and wriggle fingers lots, like baby waves. I got 6 weeks off work !!!!! Depends on your job, but I was driving the same day.

  • richard64216
    richard64216 nicnic8

    Posted

    May not be much help but...

    I had similar pains - lower inch of the thumb was worst - a couple of weeks after my cast was removed follwing a broken Vth metacarpal in my left hand. I might have aggravated it by biking too soon. Anyway it was all put down to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which means the nerves fired by your median nerve go nuts (thumb and middle finger mostly) post trauma/accident. It took two months of sketchy sleep and Lyrica for it to subside.

    But when they did an ENMG they found carpal tunnel left and right. A surgeon said carpal tunnel after a cast is quite common, especially since it was  bum job (too tight). Haven't had surgery yet. Am supposed to wait for decent symptoms and will try to stick things out till November. 

    • nicnic8
      nicnic8 richard64216

      Posted

      My first cast had to be removed after a week due to it being too tight..second cast was great but then they removed that after a week to check for carpal tunnel. The brace thing sucks as it doesnt give enough support to the broken bone.

      I am beyond pain with this......

       

  • nicnic8
    nicnic8

    Posted

    How big is the incision? 
    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 nicnic8

      Posted

      An inch and very neat. Can't see mine unless I stretch my hand back, it just looks like another hand crease. I am 10 months post op.

      best wishes Elaine

  • howard13749
    howard13749 nicnic8

    Posted

    Hi there Nic it does sound very much like carpal tunnel I hope all goes well with the operation and wish you well and hope you soon be feeling better and see and end to the pain you have suffered
  • nicnic8
    nicnic8

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies guys.

     

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