RETURN OF CTS IN LEFT HAND
Hi Dr Bland. Everything has been doing great since steroid injections in both hands on the 30 July 2013. 3 days ago I helped move several pieces of heavy furniture. This seems to have triggered pain in the left hand. The first night I woke with pins and needles in it. 2nd night very mild pain and pins and needles. Last night I woke with pain in my thumb and on waking this morning I had considerable pain in the whole of my thumb and in my palm. At the moment I am out of the Country, but return next week on Wednesday 9th. Going by previous experiences, I think by next week I will be in agony!! Therefore, could I ask if it is possible to make an appointment for a steroid injection next Thursday when you have a clinic at Canterbury please? Operation on my left hand is not due until the 22nd November. Many thanks. PAF
Hi. Hand was much worse during the night last night. Had a mixture of pins and needle, numbness and considerable pain in thumb and ring finger for several hours and again on waking. All been good during the day. Will come to clinic Monday. What time would you like me to attend? Thank you. PAF
Even worse pain last night and more frequent. Looking fwd to getting pain relief on Monday. See you then. PAF
Hi Dr Bland and Nick,
Just a quick update after the steroid injection on my left hand on Monday 14 Oct. My hand ached on and off through out the rest of Monday. I was woken three or four times in the night with the same ache, tingling in index and ring finger and slight pain on the top of my pointing finger. These symptoms carried on for several hours during Tuesday morning but I am glad to say that all symptoms have now stopped. Thank you once again for all your help. PAF
I'm glad it has settled now. At some point we will have to collect some data on how many patients get this fairly short-lived pain after injection. My impression is it might be 5-10% but to really capture it we would need a cohort of patients who are willing to keep a daily pain diary after injection for a week. As usual just let us know if and when it comes back. JB
Hi. Currently both hands have had no problem since last update. Been looking at some of the other patients comments following operation and have some concerns. My op is due on 22 Nov. Spoke to Nick and he seemed confident that all would be good by the time I am due to leave the country for a special holiday on 3 Dec (11 days later). Other patients seem to be having issues well past the 2 week point. As this is such a special holiday I don't want it spoilt by possible post op issues. We arrive back in country on 15 Nov, is it worth changing date (if possible) to earlier or after we get back on 18 Dec? Your advice would be greatly appreciated as getting myself a bit worked up over it all. Thanks. Pauline F
The majority of people will be OK to travel and not requiring analgesia 11 days post-op but there are undeniably a few who have problems. The chances of it spoiling your holiday are slim but not zero. I couldn't put an exact figure to it I'm afraid. You have to remember when reading the forum that having a problem tends to motivate people to come on here and add a posting so the forums tend to be biassed towards reports from patients with problems. If your hands are fine again now after injection I guess the safest policy overall would be to defer surgery until after you return - but even that leaves a small chance that you will suffer a sudden relapse of CTS while you are away - sometimes you just can't win. JB
Thanks for that. Has given me a bit more confidence that unlikely to be an issue so will carry on with op as planned. Sorry to air my concerns, but got a bit panicky as going on such a special (secret) holiday for my 60th. Thanks again. Pauline F
Dr Bland I am so so sorry to disturb you as I know you are such a busy man. I have been on the phone for over 30 mins ringing number after number to East Kent Hospitals trying to explain to some one that a pre-assessment letter arrived at my home whilst away on holiday informing me of a "telephone Pre-assessment date of the 11th November 2013". Obviously I have missed this date, but every extension I ring either has an answer machine informing me that they are out of office or on annual leave. I have syked myself up for this op on the 22nd November and would not want it cancelled due to an administration issue. My Patient Ref No is 370002 - if that helps. Please could you advise me as to what to do? Once again I apologise for disturbing you. Many Thanks. Pauline
No problem. As the operation is probably with Nick we will sort it out on Monday morning. Have a good weekend. JB
Hello Dr Bland and Nick just a quick update of progress after surgery Fri 22 Nov 2013. The numbness of the local anaesthetic wore off around 2am Sat morning. I took two co-codamol at this point as hand felt quite painful. Apart from this I needed no medication. My hand was uncomfortable but no pain. All exercises are achieved with very little discomfort. Went to local Nurse on Thursday who redressed the wound and I was amazed (as she was) at how well the wound has healed and the mobility in my hand. I now feel that all my worrying was for nothing. Will keep you informed of any further progress. Thank you. Pauline.
Glad to hear it's doing OK, and that we managed to work around the missed pre-op assessment - makes a contrast to all the patients in the general forum who are being told that it is expected to feel worse a week or two after surgery! How are the original CTS symptoms doing? JB
Touch wood everything seems to be doing fine. Hand healing well. Bruising following the op has practically gone and have all round movement. Still a bit weak when lifting plates etc. So far no CTS problems. PAF
Thanks for the follow-up. Always a pleasure to hear from the patients who are doing well. The slight weakness may go away but in some patients it is permanent so we'll see how it turns out in your case. It may take some months. JB
The 'Thursday' CTS clinic has moved to Monday so you might need to come and see us on Monday 14th! JB