Hi Dr Bland
Wasn't sure if you received my last message as I haven't heard back from you.
Many thanks
Julie
I did see it. I've been thinking what to do. I'm still not sure whether Mr Housden's team are planning to see you again but on the whole I think it would be not unreasonable for us to check out your nerve conduction studies again at this point. I'll arrange an appointment. JB
Many thanks. Just to let you know that I am away now until 10th October.
Julie
I've found a space after that - a letter will go out in the post today. JB
Just to keep you updated after my appointment with yourself. I have an appointment with Mr Housden's clinic on Wed 19th November. Not sure if this is for the right hand that I have trouble with after surgery or to see about having the surgery on my left hand. Will keep you posted.
Many Thanks
Julie
Just to keep you updated after my visit with Mr. Housden. He didn't think it would be in my interest to have revision surgery on my right hand, he said it would be more sensible to treat me with a splint for the thumb and see if it improves the situation, also try a steroid injection around the trapezium in due course, He is going to see me again in the future with a up to date x-ray of scaphoid views on arrival.
He is also getting me an appointment to have surgery on my left hand so will wait to hear and let you know the outcome,
Many Thanks
Julie
Just to let you know that the date for my surgery on my left hand is Thursday 12th Feb.
After wearing the split on my right hand a lot of the pain has gone but since the operation I am unable to bend my right thumb and it is quite swollen at the base by 1/2" and is quite painful at times. Is this common after having the operation as I am a bit worried about the same thing happening to my left thumb.
Regards
Julie
Last time I looked at you I thought a lot of the problem in the right hand was arthritis of the joint at the base at the thumb and I wondered if that might have been aggravated by the carpal tunnel surgery, though that last idea is very speculative. It sounds as though Mr H agreed - didn't he discuss possibly injecting it?
Anything that happened on one side obviously could happen on the other side too but in general problems with this joint after carpal tunnel decompression are not very common, or at least I suspect no more common than they are in the general population anyway, so unless the left thumb is already showing signs of trouble I would not worry about it too much. Do you think the CTS symptoms in the left hand are getting worse? JB
My doctor sent me for an x-ray but she said it didn't really show up much, just a slight bit of arthritis in my right thumb.
I have been having a lot of pain in my left hand and the base of my left thumb, my operation is Thursday so hopefully that will resolve it.
Regards
Julie
I don't think you need a lot of arthritis (in x-ray terms) to cause a good deal of pain. Let me know how the left hand does please. JB
I had my op on the left hand on Feb 12th and so far it is feeling fine, stitches are due to come out on 26th Feb. I had a word with the surgeon re my thumb on right hand and he informed me it was arthritis at the base of my thumb.
Regards
Julie
Glad to hear that the left hand is doing OK. It sounds as though we are all pretty much in agreement about your right thumb I'm afraid - did they think they could do anything about it? JB
The surgeon did say that if he was operating on my right hand he would have given me an injection at the same time but as the op was on my left he couldn't. I have an appointment with Mr Housden's clinic on the 1st April so maybe I should mention it again and see what he suggests,
Julie
Hi Dr Bland
I have now had my 6 week check up on my left hand and all has gone well. Both hands are numb free and hardly any pain.
I would like to thank you and your team for everything you have done for me in the past, it has been much appreciated.
Regards
Julie
It's still quite bad, when i went for my 6 week check up I mentioned the thumb and the Consultant said I had trigger thumb and I could get an injection if it gets worse or maybe an operation. He also informed me I had arthritis in my left thumb as it looked square, I do get pain in this thumb but I can move it unlike the right one.
Julie
Unfortunately quite a lot of other conditions often co-exist with CTS and although I recognise many of them I don't know much about treating them I'm afraid. JB
The hospital haven't said about going back again, Mr Housden whom I saw on 3rd September seemed pleased with everything. It was Narayan Singh who performed the surgery.
Many thanks
Julie