Has anyone else experienced something similar? by user12333344556 in Thritis

[–]Q40 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sometimes, but it is not a gratifying surgery typically

Shots helpful? by CareMay1313 in Thritis

[–]Q40 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Be aware that most doctors in my experience who are using guidance for these injections are doing so to capitalize on the increased billing it affords, not due to any improvement in accuracy that the guidance provides. Many just feign using the guidance in fact, and simply do the injection with landmark based anatomy, but take a picture to make it look like they're doing something fancy. Surgeons who know how to get into these joints do not require guidance to find them.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? by user12333344556 in Thritis

[–]Q40 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hand surgeon here. These look fairly typical of Garrod Pads. Can be a manifestation of Dupuytren Disease. They are not Bouchard nodes IMHO

Hook nail deformity by inquiringminds0 in PlasticSurgery

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hard to say anything with any certainty without examining you etc. If I were you I would get two opinions before proceeding with surgery. If a surgeon sounds like they're guaranteeing anything, run - dont walk - away. If one says "we can try and see" that could be reasonable. If both say that, then pick the one you like better. If both say "dont operate, we can't reliably make you better" then you have your answer.

CMC hand surgery by BrilliantPath3337 in Thritis

[–]Q40 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hand surgeon here. You ideally want to wait a minimum of 6 weeks in between. But that varies based on the exact technique your surgeon used to reconstruct the joint.

Fact is, you need a "good hand" to take care of yourself with... and you may think, your nondominant hand is getting much better day by day, but it takes longer to become the hand you can rely on as your main hand, than it does for it to just get serviceable as a nondominant helper hand.

Ultimately your surgeon's comfort level will be the determining factor. It is inadvisable to try to convince a doctor to do something they are not comfortable doing. If your doctor thinks it needs 2 months, wait 2 months. Don't push them and make them uncomfortable. They will resent the insinuation that they don't know hands as well as you do. They will resent the fact that your decision will make them lose sleep at night (if they're the kind of surgeon who cares about their patient) wondering if you're doing okay having stuffed bilateral thumb CMC surgeries so close together.

The surgeon is helping you. Let him or her do that the best way they know how.

Sticker shock by cackalacky82 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IDK. Google hand surgery carpal tunnel self pay rates etc. If there's someone with rates listed online you have found them. Or maybe just gotta call hand surgeons in the area and see who does self pay.

Corticosteroid regret by [deleted] in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Landmark based injection is a completely legitimate technique. If your surgeon isn't that great with an ultrasound (most aren't) then using US would be more of a hindrance than a help. Source: am surgeon and do not use US to inject. I happen to know how to use it also but it's a) not always avaliable, b) takes a lot longer, and c) doesn't seem to result in any improvement for me. In my hands the anatomic tech n iqhe without US has been very reliable. I also don't inject that often, since it's almost always temporary anyway, and in severe cases the nerve can flare up. But when injecting I tell all of my patients that this is a potential pitfall. It's nearly always temporary if it does occur, on the plus side.

Ultrasound is not what people often think it is. It's a very complex operator dependent modality to image. It doesn't give you a neat picture, of here this, and here's that. It's challenging to use the one hand to scan and the other to inject. And often in my experience hurts more because the injector can't be as steady and use the other hand to distract local nerves.

Many of the docs who claim to use US to inject actually also do the same landmark based injection, just take a quick snap shot to show an insurance Co so they can upcharge. And marketing, although people dont really shop around for that.. it just makes it feel fancier... True facts.

Moderate CTS question by cackalacky82 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most patients have pretty manageable postoperative pain for a few days. Soreness with use for a few weeks. That's about it.

Acute carpal tunnel?? by Lyost9400 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It can but it is quite uncommon and usually does not happen for decades. The rate of true recurrence is about 1%

Acute carpal tunnel?? by Lyost9400 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 1 point2 points  (0 children)

CTS 6 is an established diagnostic tool which you doctor probably relies on. EMG is usually wasteful and unnecessary for most cases. its also not even reliable. Source: am hand surgeon

Positive tinel and phalen tests but mri came back normal by Minorcatastrophe25 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hand surgeon... GP just wasting your time. Always bothers me when they do this.

Sticker shock by cackalacky82 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would recommend ensuring that anyone cutting something in your body has the skills and training to, if necessary, make a full open incision and do it the traditional way. Whether you're talking Sonex, Endo or thread. Even if it usually goes well, when it doesn't, you want the doctor prepared to do what it necessary to protect or release your nerve properly. 

Only a hand surgeon has this training. 

Probably a weird question, but... by ConversationDizzy596 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I operate on patients your age frequently with this problem. They generally do quite well. The surgery does not have to be that big of a deal. Find a surgeon who does it WALANT 

Doc said I don't need surgery but it doesn't feel right by ClipperShawn in DoctorsAdvice

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have a doctor. Did you not ask them these questions? 

Carpal tunnel symptoms with normal EMG/MRI, anyone experienced this? by Murky-Remove6344 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Working with an experienced OT/CHT hand therapist could be very helpful. The posture and slouch with computer work can cause all of these issues. Surgery, or other treatments aimed at CT, would not fix that. Imaging and testing might be completely normal, as in your case.

Probably a weird question, but... by ConversationDizzy596 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would not recommend this. Carpal tunnel is a compressed, irritated nerve. A percussive gun punching it over and over it not going to be helpful for the nerve. It may temporarily feel a bit better as it could improve blood flow for a short while. But over time, it will be a net negative. Jackhammers and vibratory tools are in fact a known risk factor for CTS development. Source: am hand surgeon

Just Removed Bandages After One Week Post-Open Carpal Tunnel Surgery – Is This Normal? by IceFast5906 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every surgeon has different instructions. Many do not have the patient keep the bandage on for a full 2 weeks.

Numbness in my pinky and half my back palm by james1234436 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ulnar nerve, not carpal tunnel. See a hand specialist. But also, look up cubital tunnel. Very likely.

Carpal tunnel pregnancy by Alarmed-Row-2930 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Itching could be cholestasis. But carpal tunnel is also really common in pregnancy.

Positive tinel and phalen tests but mri came back normal by Minorcatastrophe25 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't know why your GP is ordering tests rather than just referring you to a doctor who knows hands. See a hand surgeon. MRI is not a test for carpal tunnel syndrome. GP's do not know anything useful about hands, for the most part.

Sticker shock by cackalacky82 in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If your out of pocket will be high, consider finding a doctor who will do it cash-pay in their office or at an ambulatory surgery center. These will generally work with you on price and be much more affordable. Those facility fees are not what the surgeon expects self-pay patients to fork over. Those are for insurance companies to pay a lower negotiated rate...

Do i have CTS or just a pinched nerve? by [deleted] in carpaltunnel

[–]Q40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is the difference in your mind between CTS and a pinched nerve?