Left Carpal Tunnel Injection
Today my GP done a injection in my left wrist as I have been having symptoms again in both hands. On April 2013 I had surgery on my left hand and in August had my right hand done symptoms did go for a while and then came back. My symptoms at the moment pain and numbness also dropping things. Hope the injection works as don't really want to have surgery again... The consultant did say that if surgery was needed he would go further down the wrist and would be put to sleep this time. Does any know how many injections you can have and how far apart. My GP did say he normally does it twice if it works on the first injection. Hope to hear from anyone. Mark
Ok thanks for the advice, you mention before surgery first time time round. So as I have had surgery and symptoms have come back am my wasting my time having the injection. What is the normal time scale for a injection to start to work. Also do you feel I should go back and see consultant either way Mark
It's not a waste of time injecting in this situation but it is something of an experiment. There is a little bit of scientific literature which is summarised on the failed surgery page. Before surgery most injections take effect within a week, after surgery there is just not enough data to say anything useful as yet. That's one of the reasons I'm keen to hear how yours turns out, as even single case anecdotes are useful at this point. I'm also a great believer in not making decisions about what to do in the future in advance - ie wait and see what the situation is after the next step before deciding who to go and see. If we are lucky your problems might resolve and you might not need to go and see anyone. JB
Ok thanks for the advice and also the reply from you in my e mail.
One thing i did do was i went to work after having the injection yesterday, could that explain why i'm having bad pain today i know the GP did say in would be sore for a couple of days. Lets hope it settles down - at the moment pain - numbness and grip not that good with the pain. Mark
Since 8pm my wrist and my grip has got really painful and have taken some painkillers to help with the pain. Have noticed moving my fingers and the turning of the wrist is painful. Had to hold the dogs lead in the other hand. Touching things is painful as well. When I had injection before surgery in 2013 pain was not like this.Mark
It doesn't necessarily have to behave in the same way this time and the situation is rather different now. We don't really know if this is even related to the injection. If it is the phenomenon sometimes known as 'steroid flare' it should settle in a few days. JB
Ok thanks, had to use my splint at work today as the pain was intense all the twisting and putting out the items on the shop floor. All the twisting in breaking down the boxes did not help, hopefully after today it should settle and I can get more done at work. Anyone else had this problem? Bearing in mind I had surgery on both hands in 2013. Mark
Dear J Bland,
Its been 4 days since injection in my left wrist for the pain and numbness and grip problems. As I have had surgery on both hands and symptoms have come back. Do you think I should give it a bit longer before deciding on going back to see surgeon.
Or to maybe have another injection in the left and the right wrist again. Mark
If it is still much the same 4 days after injection I would start making moves towards getting to see a hand surgeon again - you can always cancel if it gets dramatically better before an appointment comes around. JB
Its taken some time but from the 18th May have noticed a improvement so have hold off in going to see the surgeon. have booked in to see my GP to have the injection in my right wrist for the 5th June. will discuss how long it took to work and see if he still want to inject.
Will let you know the out come. Mark
So that has started to improve from about a week after injection. I wonder if that it coincidence or a late responce - no matter as long as symptoms are improving. JB
The European surgical societies recommend no more than three injections per wrist but that is not a recommendation based on evidence of more than three being a problem and we know of patients who have had many more than that without problems. Almost all the experience with injection however is BEFORE surgery. Trying it as a treatment after surgery is a completely different ballgame. It will be interesting to see whether it has any effect. JB