Post surgery numbness
I am new to this forum and discovered it by googling "permanent numbness after carpal tunnel surgery". An old post from a user named kittybeth popped up and her symptoms are exactly what I am experiencing. Since surgery my left thumb, index, and middle finger are constantly numb and stiff. These symptoms and different and much worse than my symptoms before surgery. My surgeon is saying this will ease with time, but I haven't felt any return of sensation since the surgery. Any insight you can provide as to what's going on would be most appreciated. I am concerned that this is permanent damage. PS - I am a professional pianist.
I too have had recent surgery and now have constant numbness in my index middle and ring finger. My nerve conduction studies showed moderate carpal tunnel syndrome however for the most part the symptoms were not always present for instance the numbness did go away Meaning sometimes it took 12 hours. my symptoms would come on within a minute of say writing or other activities using my right hand so I was excited to get surgery to get things corrected. I had the surgery now it's been only eight days I was told the block would wear off within eight hours however the block lasted a good 48 hours and then the numbness receded in My thumb. Now I'm left with constant numbness from my first metacarpal in my second third and fourth fingers that is constant. I contacted my surgeon who relayed to me that this is normal and to report abnormal things such as infected incision which by the way The incision is fine. I too am a physician who needs my hands to work properly as I cannot palpate properly perform minor surgical procedures since those three fingers are numb.
If I read that correctly then your symptoms are rather worse 8 days post-op? I would not view that as 'normal' as the majority of patients, especially those with moderate CTS, experience very rapid (within 24h) resolution of their CTS symptoms so persistence and worsening is, at the very least 'atypical' rather than normal. On the other hand 8 days is not long post-op so I would not panic just yet. Interesting to see a physician on here - what do you think of the site? JB
Start by reading the "When surgery fails" page. To start analysing the problem we need to know when your surgery was and ideally what pre and post-operative nerve conduction studies look like - were any done? JB