Can anything further be done after ops on both hands?
Dear Dr Bland, after not resolving symptoms in either hand with surgery, Dr Ponraja is investigating if anything further is possible. If my records (and my memory!) are correct, I last had an electric/nerve check at Canterbury on my left hand in Dec 2020. I had surgery on the right hand in Feb 2021. I don't think I have had an electric/nerve check on the right hand, but of course I could be wrong. Two weeks ago, Dr Ponraja arranged an ultrasound check on both wrists. To summarise the report (and using my non-medical words) the median nerve is still squashed in both hands (15 to 5mm for right hand and 14 to 3mm for left hand), suggesting continued carpal tunnel compression in both wrists. Dr Ponraja suggested I contact you to see if an electric/nerve check would show anything further. I do accept that the adverse symptoms are unlikely to resolve themselves after 2 years since the left hand op and almost one year since the right hand op but I think that Dr Ponraja would like to investigate any possible remaining avenue. If you agree, I am here for the next 2 days (wishful thinking?!) but I would not then be available until 5 Jan 2022. Regards.
Sorry about the slow reply - I've been away for a week. I can certainly take a look at you again and tell you what I think. Your memory for Dec 2020 is not bad but we always test both hands and in fact you have had both hands tested 8 times between Decembrr 2015 and December 2020. I would not put much weight on what the ultrasonographer said unless you went to the Netherlands to see Nens van Alfen - interpretation of ultrasound imaging after carpal tunnel surgery is very much a research level topic at present with only two or three scientific publications and only a handful of us around the world who are interested. Your records with me suggest that the left hand operation was a partial success. It would help if you could add a new severity score to the website here now and then I'll see you in January. JB