2nd CTS decompression

I had CTS decompression surgery on my left hand 3 days ago. The surgery was performed by Dr Michael Nicholas at the QVMH in Herne Bay and he suggested I post my experience to this forum.

I had decompression surgery for my right hand at Reculver in June 2019. The hand tested at level 4. The recovery from the surgery was a lot faster than I expected with good use of the hand within a couple of weeks, and now 2 years on the improvement is just about 100% with almost no pain, tingling or numbness in any digit and complete mobility in the hand.

At that time I had a steroid injection in the left hand which also had significant CTS symptoms. The injection made a huge difference for over a year but since the start of 2021 the symptoms came back and in the last couple of months became quite problematic particularly at night when getting more than a couple of hours of continuous sleep without waking from pain in the hand and arm has been a treat.

Again testing at level 4, I was offered surgery at my assessment appointment at the Canterbury clinic late last month and accepted most willingly. Now 3 days after surgery I'm pain free except some minor twinges from the surgery wound. I still have some tingling in two digits but the hand is already very much improved compared to pre-surgery and best of all I can sleep at night!

One interesting feature of both surgeries I hadn't expected: coincident with the CTS in each hand I had quite severe trigger finger on the ring finger. There is no reason why CTS decompression should have any affect on this condition as far as I am aware. However, the trigger finger in my right hand has almost completely resolved, and I'm already noticing a good improvement in the left hand trigger finger in the last 3 days. I call that a bonus.

So there it is: two very positive experiences of CTS decompression from Dr Bland's team from a very impressed and immensely grateful.patient.