Has anyone had Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?

[rray62]

I'm wanting to get some feedback on this. I have been diagnosed with very severe Carpal in both hands, and I'm curious about the recovery time. I've been wondering why my hands have been going numb so bad I can't feel the handlebars, I thought it was a pinched nerve from the years and years of abuse from the dirt bike, but the Conduction test proved otherwise. So, how long will I be down? I don't want to wait, but it's getting worse by the day. We still have the 200X and 250SX to shoot as soon as the weather breaks, plus I definitely don't want to miss Trikefest this year!!!!!!!

[hoosierlogger]

I had both of mine done. You will be down 6 to 8 weeks. Do not get them both done at the same time. Bathroom hygene is a definite problem. I did mine two weeks apart and still had trouble.

[Flyingw]

I too had both hands done. The surgery these days is textbook. As far as the recovery time goes, I'll put it this way. After my left hand was done, the next day I built a large dog house.... with one hand for the most part. After my right hand was done, the next day I was pulling wire through the attic. It took about 3 months to get full strength back in my hands but the recovery wasn't too bad at all. It wasn't like my hands were completely inoperable, they were but limited in strength. It was the best thing I had done. Both of my hands were hosed until I had the surgery. I say if you're having problems with your hands, get them fixed. You'll be so glad you did.

[Flyingw]

Oh and I had my hands done about 6 months apart.

[Chopsaw]

I had both mine done at the same time . Mine were really bad . Recovery was a " forced " 6 weeks . I just could not be off 12 weeks in those days . Had to have my wife tell the Doctor she would do " whatever it takes " before he agreed to do both . Get a good hand surgeon , and get it done . night and day difference .

[El Camexican]

Doc wanted to do me in 1996. Another Doc talked me out of it and put me on Naproxen for a few months. I was building natural gas pumping stations for about a year and working with pipe 12 to 16 hours a day 7 days a week. That's when it all started. When the contract ended and the Naproxen did it's thing the pain subsided. Then it was off and on for a year and now it acts up every once in a while when I am say changing tires and trying to stuff a HD tube in, or a rim lock and my hand curls up and hurts for a few minutes, but an Advil and a shot of rum later it's gone.

Maybe their better at it now, but back then my GF at the time had the surgery and a few years later it was bothering her again I think she was scheduled to go under the knife again when we split.

If you've tried anti-inflammatory meds and changing what you do with no better results I guess go for it, but I'm glad I didn't. Good luck!:beer

[rray62]

Thanks guys, I go back to the specialist Wednesday and we go over the results of the test. When I had the test, the doctor showed me the graph and it was flat lined, so I bet he will recommend surgery. I know I can just set my wrists down on the counter gently and it jabs the median nerves and shocks me horribly. I'm concerned about how long before I could start riding. We have quite a few tests to film, plus Joe mentioned building my 450r to a John Natalie replica and taking me to a few 40+ national races, but I think that will be next year. I just don't want to miss the 200, 250, and the Tecate tests!!!

[Mickey Dunlap]

Gain 20lbs, it will take care of it. I have it too but since I'm 100lbs over weight it doesn't bother me. I asked a doctor about weight gain, if it cured it and he said kind of. When your over weight you have more room right there for circulation so it doesn't bother you. When I did the Kawasaki race team back in 98' I couldn't even drive a car with out my hands going to sleep. Even riding a MT bike it would happen, but I was back to my weight I should be at. How is that for advice! lol

[rray62]

I like that Mickey, I have found gaining weight is a lot easier in the past few years, but "Coach Joe" keeps telling me I'm not light enough yet :lol:

[Mickey Dunlap]

I like that Mickey, I have found gaining weight is a lot easier in the past few years, but "Coach Joe" keeps telling me I'm not light enough yet :lol:


Yea he keeps wanting film me, but I don't think he has a wide enough lens. :( I'll bet he's one of the guys that never been a pound over weight. lol

[tri again]

Any more info in the nerve conduction test other than flatline?
I worked with the phone company (pac Bell) that had / has epidemics of carpel tunnel issues.
Their company doc said that they test and open 'em up and see nothing wrong about 1/2 the time.
We were in the process of using nerve stimulators to light 'em back up and then I retired.
I'm very happy to hear about the good results on here but never, for the life of me, understand why they push doing both at the same time.
When you make a fist, the wrist bones 'tunnel' and pinch together.
We even had some good results with ' impact traction'... a very bizarre concept but sounds like yours are
wickedly inflammed.
How are your other joints?
Hips, ankles etc? If other stuff is sore you may want to think about some general anti-inflammatory stuff.
Does ice help at all? or makes it worse?
A good chiro or acupuncturist may be able to help since it is essentially a mechanical issue unless you have fragments busted loose.

[Chopsaw]

If you need the surgery , you need it . Being FAT , don't fix it . Thats just stupid . It is caused by muscle being built up from doing the same action over and over again . The vein supplying the blood to your hand is released so its not pinched . In extreme cases like mine the vein is released , and muscle is trimmed from your hands and wrist .

[rray62]

He said the results were 8.3 and 8.5. He didn't give me a scale, but when he said that he said evidently I have been struggling with this for quite a while. The only scale I have found online was a 0 to 6, 0 being normal and 6 severe. I drive an automated garbage truck and do nothing but grip and release the steering wheel and joystick day in and day out. I've also tried the test where you fold your thumb into your palm and pinch it with your index and middle finger, then bend your wrist down toward the ground, and I get extremely sharp pain up both my radius bones. He said the result of the nerve to my pinky was normal. My family doctor has put me on some strong anti-inflammatory medicine, but it hasn't helped. As for my other joints, I have one bad knee, both elbows and shoulders are wearing down, left ankle bothers me some, all from years of motocross and supercross. The medicine seems to help these problems, knee and ankle don't hurt so bad while running on the treadmill, but there's no change with my hands. I know the median nerve has made it's way to the surface on my left wrist, just the slightest pressure to my wrist sends a shockwave through my hand!

[atc007]

I would say you need to get fixed ASAP. Some of us have to come very quickly to the reality,,,, there actually IS more to life than motorsports sometimes :) Your health and family surely being 2 of those. My Dad had both done/farmer,,his were done,,1993 ? Never complained again after surgery. He went to 91 yo.,My Mother in law,,dental assistant ,had one done,,again,early 90's. However,her insurance fought tooth and nail,and would not cover surgery until she had exhausted PT.. So,she had one done,and never did the other. Her hand is numb,has been for decades. A close friend/farmer.. Had both done,,,he wasn't sorry he did. But never really got back the brute strength he had.. If you have a nerve rubbed raw. You already KNOW what you need to do. Good luck ...

[big specht]

Damn after reading all of this I think I would have it done ASAP. One of the guys I worked with had hip problems he had the surgery and wish he would have had it done years before

[rray62]

I find out my options tomorrow. I pray there isn't nerve damage. I hope Joe doesn't read this, but when we filmed the Polaris 570-Can Am 500 shootout last month there was a few times I almost crashed because I had no feeling in my hands. I'm tired of it and I'm ready to have it fixed. I can't even work on my rc planes and cars, dang screws are too small and I can't feel them :mad: