Slow recovery from surgery
Re: operation performed on 10 April by Dr. John Ribchester. Dear Dr. Bland, I am very concerned as after suffering considerable pain for several days after the operation, which has now subsided as well as at night thankfully, I still have numbness in the tips of my thumb and adjoining two fingers meaning I am unable to hold a fork or do/undo buttons. My latest concern is that my arm goes completely numb for 30 minutes or so on several occasions. Dr. Ribchester did say that it could take three to six months before a complete recovery was obtained but I would be obliged if you could hopefully reassure me that these symptoms will eventually resolve themselves or whether you consider a further investigation is required. Yours sincerely,
Thank you for your prompt response. As suggested I have completed the Severity test but unfortunately lost internet connection on the last page which I think should have shown the scores.
As stated in my first communication the pain at night has thankfully subsided it is the numbness and tingling which is constant which concerns me plus the loss of feeling in my entire arm from time to time. As you stated it could take several months perhaps it is early days and hopefully this will eventually improve. No doubt if you consider I should be re examined you will let me know. Many thanks.
So far as the CTS in conderned. You can see the scores in the 'MyCTS' page and they have indeed mostly improved so I suspect the surgery has been done correctly. I would sit tight until about three months after surgery and review the situation then - we will be writing to you round about then to remind you. If there are still significant symptoms then we will test again.
Secondly however - 'intermittent numbness of the whole arm' is not really a symptom of CTS - either before or after surgery, so this may need looking into further if I am understanding the symptom correctly. It might be best to consult your GP about that issue. He/she will want to know details such as exactly what you are describing in terms of sensation, how extensive it is, how long it lasts and any precipitating/alleviating factors - rather more than we can deal with remotely on the internet. JB
Starting out from grade 5 recovery can indeed be rather slow (many months) and may not be complete. It is not unusual to be left with slight residual loss of sensation in the finger tips. It would be useful at this point to record a new symptom severity questionnaire on the website here (go to 'MyCTS, My CTS Record and choose the option to take a new severity test). Is it still waking you at night - if those nocturnal symptoms have not improved then I will arrange to test it again sooner rather than later. JB