steroid injection update

So now we have to decide whether to try a second dose of steroids or to proceed to surgery. How good were they after injection when they were at their best - did the symptoms go away completely? How traumatic were the injections themselves? JB

No it did not go completely I still got slight pins and needles not painfull just annoying really but a relife from what it was.

If it were me I might be inclined to go for surgery at that point, after partial relief for only a couple of months, but I don't feel very strongly about that and the decision is ultimately yours of course. Factors like whether surgery is convenient for you at present will also play a part. Second injections, on average, are about as successful as first injections, but some patients get a better result from a second one and some do less well - it's just as unpredictable as the first basically. JB

I think I would Be inclined to go for the surgery this time

I can find you a slot for surgery in Herne Bay in late April/early May - you would require about 2 weeks recovery time. Would that fit in with your schedule? JB

Can it not be done in margate as hern bay would be a bit difficult I dont mind waiting a bit longer if its possible

I can get surgery performed in Margate but it's a bit more unpredictable as I have to hand you over to the orthopaedic waiting list management team and once I give you to them I no longer have any control over the process - the managers can shift you around from one operating list to another, or offer surgery in different places to suit their waiting list targets. They may well offer you a quick appointment in Margate if we do that but I cannot (at present at least) guarantee who will end up doing the surgery or when. JB

Oh ok Ill stick with hern bay, what are the rules with driving after would I need someone to take me

You certainly won't be driving immediately after surgery - usually not for about 10 days or so. JB

Ok ill have to arange for someone to take me then that is not a problem thanks ill just waot to here about an appointment. Am I right in saying they only do 1 wrist at a time and also how long will I be there for? Thanks

Yes one wrist at a time - it's a bit too disabling having both hands out of action simultaneously, though there are surgeons who do both at once in other areas of the country/world. You will ony be there for about an hour all told, with the surgery itself taking about 10 minutes to do the procedure itself. JB

Ok great thanks ill wait to here about an appointment then