carpal tunnel

No I can still deal with it at present - at least until the clinical commissioning groups take over from the primary care trust in April. I did think it should probably be operated on when I saw you in November and this has proved to be a fairly short lived response to injection - about 12 weeks by my reckoning. If surgery is completely impossible for work reasons then we could try giving it one more dose of steroids and if we are going to do that then I would rather do it as soon as symptoms recur rather than waiting for it to become as bad as it was. However, I really do think the best approach to the left hand at least is probably going to be operation. I could book you a slot in Herne Bay for surgery in June at present. JB

I was thinking myself that the operation would have to be done as the injections have not lasted very long, june would be ok exept between the 9th and 20th as i will be in spain

I suspect that means we will be looking at surgery in late June as we will want you around for a couple of weeks after the operation until the stitches come out. I'll have a look at what dates are available and if I can find a suitable appointment we will arrange to test you again too - hopefully on a day that will allow us to re-inject as well if appropriate. I'll send letters out in the post tomorrow. JB

I was wondering if it would be possable to have the operation before i go away in june, that way i could have 10 days relaxing while recuperating, and also i would not have to take so much time off work. Lez

We generally work on a schedule of Pre-operative assessment visit - 2 week gap - surgery - 2 week gap - stitich removal. We do all of those visits at present on a Saturday so we could fit that around your holiday by doing the operation on Saturday 8th and stitch removal on Saturday 22nd but that would mean you were travelling the day after surgery and if anything goes wrong with the operation we might mess up your holiday - what do you think? JB

If it was possable to do the operation on the 8th that would be ideal,also i realise there is a risk with me travelliing the next day but i'am prepared to take the risk, i'am going away to relax and not do anything that would pull the stitches out Lez

I'll book you into the 8th June spot when I get back to Canterbury tomorrow but it will also be subject the approval of the surgeon - he may want to talk to you about it. JB

Edit - booked - letter in the post. JB

Hi Dr Bland The letter you sent confirming the time and date of my operation has been mislaid,if you could send out another it would be much appreciated many thanks Lez

A new letter has been printed and should go in the post on Tuesday morning. JB