CPS-Made worse after Auto Accident
Hello, I had pregnancy induced carpal tunnel since 2006 and did not work for 5 years went back to work in 2010 symptoms began to increase around 2012. I have always had extra strong hands and no issues prior to the 2006 diagnosis. 2016 symptoms in right hand became increasingly painful and uncomfortable but not on a constant basis. Had EMG in 2016 surgery was suggested but CPS was not severe. Around mid 2017 my middle finger on right hand was in a constant state of numbness but no tingling sensation or pain on a regular basis just numb. In Mar 2018 I was in a auto accident on freeway and pushed into a concrete shoulder by another vehicle. 10 days after the accident my whole right hand begins to go numb constantly. 12 after accident I go to dr and 14 days i get EMG with severe results. 27 days after accident I have Open CTS release surgery and 10 days post op I feel more strength returning to my hand and my pinky and ring feel normal but my thumb, index and middle are in a constant stiff and tingly state. I am concerned that when I got in the accident that I damaged something on the pad of my hand. Is the sensation feeling normal for me to have and why is it only in 3 of my fingers. My post op in next week, so I will also ask then but wanted some advise. Amiee
also forgot to mention that I also have it in my left hand which I never had before. and this post has made my hands act up a little.
thank you so much for responding, but you did not touch on the car accident. or any TCTS damage that may have occurred.
It's hard to say whether the accident may have been a minor contributor to aggravating the situation. Unless there was a direct injury to the wrist (which you didn't mention) it will only have affected the CTS by indirect means - such as changing the pattern of use of your hand for a bit. Without knowing the precise details of the injuries you sustained it's hard to say much. JB
OK simple things first - the CTS symptoms spare the little finger (and the adjacent side of the ring finger) because those fingers are connected to a different nerve which doesn't go through the carpal tunnel so that one is normal. Secondly, most cases of CTS affect both hands sooner or later so having symptoms in the other hand is not a surprise.
Now the more difficult bit - the persistent symptoms after operation. To analyse that the first things we need to know are how bad the allegedly 'severe' NCS results were before the op (the word 'severe' by itself has no agreed meaning I'm afraid and is applied to all sorts of different results by different labs), and also whether those symptoms are worse, better or the same (or just different) compared to the ones you had before the operation. JB