Is there anything to be done?
Having had increasing problems of lack of sensation in my hands (particularly the right), increasing loss of strength and 'fumbliness' I had a nerve conduction test and then CTS in Nov 19. The plan was to have CTS on the left hand following recovery from surgery on the right.
I didn't have the immediate sense of relief many describe, and indeed have not had up until now. I have had persistent lack of sensation and 'fumblinbess' and now, of course, greater loss of strength. I have had 15 rounds of physio, lovely for immediate relief of the constant discomfort but not really any lasting effects. The physio has given me various splints to wear - all provide varying degrees of relief, the stonger allow me to do some work without great pain, but grasping, pinching and rubbing all remain too uncomfortable to do.
Relatively fit and active 64 year old female and ony health issue is mild hypertension.
I visited the neurologist last week and had a repeat test. He concurred that the situation was not improved and said the left hand had deteriorated. After the lockdown ends (I'm in France) I have a meeting with the surgeon to discuss the results and the situation. Would welcome anyone's experiences or advice. Very reluctant to go ahead with further surgery.
Many thanks for your reply and also for this extremely informative and helpful site - I wish I had discovered it six months ago! Thank you also for your offer to look at my test results - how can I forward them to you?
Best done by email to Jeremy [dot] Bland [at] nhs [dot] net. JB
(conversation continued by email)
If you have the before and after surgery NCS results I can take a look. If the NCS have not changed and the symptoms have not changed then the two main possibilities are that the CTS was too far gone before surgery to respond, or that the surgeon has not successfully divided the ligament. Another, less common, explanation is that in fact the CTS was never the cause of the problem but merely an innocent bystander and that there is in fact anohter diagnosis which has been missed so far. JB