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Hi Dr Bland
Recently having had the carpal tunnel op at the end of March was wondering if it is usual to have lumps either side of the scar and for the area to still be sore and at times very itchy on the wrist underneath the scar and also from time to time have pains shooting from the area up my arm, only lasting a couple of minutes at the most though. I put cream on it every day and massage the area. Where the scar ends at the wrist this is sometimes painful. There is still redness in this area. Just wondering whether this is normal recovery?
Thanks
Dear Dr Bland
I am slightly worried as for the past week I have started to have problems with my thumb, its almost like it clicks out of place with pain emanating from the thumb when I pull on anything . The wound still looks inflamed and any contact with it, e.g. holding anything which comes into contact with this area - holding a shopping bag, simply moving the mouse of a computer around, etc. makes it sensitive and increases the redness, .There is a lump near the wrist on the right hand side of the scar. Do you think I need to have this looked at?
AH
You may be developing a trigger thumb - very common in patients who have had (or are going to get) CTS. If you want to drop in and see us we can take a quick look and see if that guess is right, or more GPs should be able to recognise trigger digits if it's easier to see your GP. You can read about the association between trigger digits and CTS here. JB
I'm not sure the word 'normal' should be applied but there is quite a range of experience after surgery and certainly some patients do get this sort of symptom pattern. In most people it does seem to settle down eventualy, but not all unfortunately. JB