Hi Jamie - This is how my PN started. I was first diagnosed as having carpal tunnel. I had 2 hand surgeries and the worst of the pain was gone but my hands were still numb and tingly. At least after the surgeries I was able to sleep again.

I was just wondering what other treatments there were, (that would/might be helpful) besides surgery for the Carpal Tunnel? Some have mentioned they have had surgery for it, but the thought of surgery scares me too much! I thought that it would be a last resort anyway. I would like to try other things first, of course.
Anyway, I'm still waiting to see my neuro about the results first...

~Jaime~

I had a carpal tunnel operation on one wrist, even though going by the nerve conduction test they said both hands were pretty bad, but only the one hand was giving me grief, my symptoms were a throbbing & swollen hand, when i had the op it fixed it straight away and haven't had a problem with it since, the other hand still has not bothered me yet and that was about 7 years ago, touch wood

At that time i didn't know there were alternatives to try first, i have heard of good and bad results from the op, so i think it wise to try other methods first.
keeping my hand straight by using a splint helped some.
good luck
Brian

A friend of mine recently had both wrists done, at separate times, of course, and he thinks it's the best decision he ever made. He wishes he had done it sooner. My neuro told me mine carpal tunnel is inoperable, I didn't know there were any inoperable, but I guess so. Maybe that's why I also have pain in my elbows and shoulders too. I guess it's an individual decision.

My Neurologist told me yesterday (confirming the Carpal Tunnel diagnosis), he wanted me to try the wrist splints first. He told me the choices were splints or surgery, but would rather me try the splints first. So, he's making an appointment for me to get them fitted...I have no idea what that's going to cost me! lol
I wonder if they will be much help? I hope they aren't too uncomfortable.
~Jaime~

My insurance totally covered my splints and the fitting. I just got mine in December 07, and of course, they way over charge the insurance company for them, so that they get what they want, we all know that. They say they don't, but they do. Altogether, they charged my insurance company $226.84 and the insurance paid $41.76, which is about the same thing I paid for them 10 yrs ago in Michigan, I am now in New York. He actually, just put them on my hands, to make sure they were the right size and that was it. Now my friend, he said the guy bent it this way, and that way, and spent a lot of time adjusting it to fit his hand. He didn't spend anytime adjusting it to mine, I found that weird.

Ten years ago when I had first them, I was to wear them for 3 weeks, 24 hours a day, and I was put on anti-inflamatory meds. They do help, while you are wearing them, but they greatly limit what you can do, and never drive with them on! FYI: If you get in an accident, you can be sued because you are wearing them! I was not informed of that until this time. I can't work wearing one on my right hand, I can not write with one on. They may help you. My neuro tells me to at least wear them while sleeping and any time I am doing any lifting, anything that puts stress on my hands.

Well, I got my wrist splints yesterday, I'm still trying to get used to them. They were a little more expensive than I thought they would be, so I got a good one for my right hand, and a cheaper plastic molded one for the left hand, for now. I'm being sent for therapy, thankfully they referred me to a hand therapist in my hometown, instead of having to travel to the city all the time!
But in time I'm sure I'll end up having surgery on my right hand, as it's getting worse, but that's my own fault I guess.....I use it too much! lol

~Jaime~

Jamie, i totally agree with Deb, actually i didn't know you could even buy splints for carpal tunnel, i made mine up myself, i only found it helpful for sleeping only as it restricts your normal hand usage to much during the day.

If it comes to having to have the op, for me it was a real breeze, i was done down at the Geelong hospital at the day surgery part, only takes a few hours and was allowed to go home about an hour after the op.

Brian