Questionaire completion
I've just completed answering the questionnaire. I must say with some difficulty. The symptoms I had about 6 months ago which eventually led me to our local doctor and subsequently the referral to Dr Bland have somewhat abated. That maybe as a result of using the wrist splint for the passed 2/3 weeks but even before then the discomfort was reducing. So I rarely get those tingling/numbness/severe pain attacks of the past - but I am still fully aware that "something" is sorely wrong with my left wrist. So I have tried to be as truthful as I can when answering the questions knowing full well that the response is not entirely accurate!!
Thanks for that Dr Bland - I guess I did more or less the right thing.
Perversely, though I thought the condition was improving, it has now deteriorated such that the wrist has swollen and now very painful. I look forward to the consultation
If it is visibly swollen that is unlikely to be simple CTS and more likely to be some other primary pathology - arthritis, gout, tendonitis etc, with secondary carpal tunnel syndrome as a consequence of the swelling. Is it also very stiff in the morning? If it is very swollen and painful I would probably try to see your GP about it while it is still like that so that it can be examined. If it seems to be getting worse over the weekend let me know and I will see if there is any scope to bring your appointment with us forwards, though I can see that next week is pretty well packed full at present. JB
Thanks again. I did try, rather half heartedly, to get an appointment this morning with the doctor. I gave up and wrote to you.
I don't have any stiffness just the swelling and persistent pain and quite a loss of function.
Our surgery is closed now and possibly not open till Monday when I'll try again.
Next week could prove difficult for me too (grand daughter expected) though for what it's worth I've had a photo taken. Just need to find out if I can attach to this - sorry if it doesn't work!
Usually the best thing to do with the questionnaire for initial diagnostic purposes when symptoms are improving is to answer it for the symptoms as they were at their worst, but for follow-up the final (multiple choice) section should be answered for symptoms in the last 2 weeks. Quite a lot of the information we collect is not likely to change with the symptoms however and is partly there just to save us asking a lot of very routine questions in the clinic (and to make sure we don't forget to ask them of course). JB