Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during

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Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during

by Debra
(Lees Summit, MO)

I had Carpal Tunnel surgery January 22, 2010. I still do not have feeling in my middle finger and insides (toward middle finger) of my ring and index fingers.

I had a Bier Block and was awake during the surgery.

While the Dr was performing the surgery I felt what I would call an extremely painful ZING through and to the ends of my middle 3 fingers.

I am scheduled to return to have nerve testing done at the end of May if feeling has still not returned.

Could the ZING I experienced have anything to do with the numbness?

I am concerned that the feeling will not return.

Thank you.

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Joshua Answers:

Hi Debra.

Well, the zing could have been from a few things.

1. The surgeon nicked a nerve.

2. The nervous system, for various reasons, sent out an electrical charge. It's all electric/chemical.

3. Due to the damage that was happening from the surgery, and the confusion caused by the nerve block, there was an instantaneous muscle spasm, like a twitch, but more like an electrical twitch.

Bad news if the surgeon nicked the nerve. Nothing to be done about that but suffer.

If that's not the case, then I wouldn't worry about the ZING.

I would worry about the doctors wanting to do another surgery because the first one wasn't successful.

What if that numbness is from up at the elbow, or neck/shoulder/chest? Surgery at the wrist isn't going to help that.

What if your symptoms are from Inflammation That Causes Vitamin B6 Deficiency, or Vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes nerve issue?

What if you have tight structures other than the specific spot where they did surgery? It's all part of the Tendonitis dynamic, and absolutely includes a Pain Causing Dynamic of progressive tightness and inflammation.

What if the scar tissue from the surgery is 'knitting' everything together and making it tighter?

I'm not really sure if I answered your question/dealt with you concern. Let me know if not, or if you have any further questions.

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Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com

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Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during

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Nov 13, 2011
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Numbness 4 weeks after surgery
by: Von

I had nerve studies(3) done on my right hand. These indicated that it was getting worse. I my fingers would get numb when working (drywall taping, texturing, concrete work. The numbness would go away when resting my hand. After I had the surgery, I was told I could continue my normal work gradually after 4 weeks.

I started light and that is when my middle finger(palm side), my thumb(palm side), and the third finger from my thumb (palm side,off to the side toward my thumb) started getting numb and progressed down to the palm. I also have jolting pain shooting through those three fingers now. The bottom line is, I am worse after the surgery.

I am presently having physical therapy. The docter says sometimes this happens and he does not need to see me anymore. I am afraid this will be permanent. Well is it? Von

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Von.

Sorry to hear about the increase in symptoms.

What the doctor actually said was "Sorry I made things worse, but if my hack job didn't help you, there's no other tool in my toolbox that can help you, and don't tell anybody, but I have no idea what's wrong with you or how to fix it."

Granted that's paraphrased just a little bit...

So. Is it permanent? It's only permanent -if- A. the nerve was nicked or B. you don't do anything beneficial to reverse the dynamic.

Here's some things to think about:

1. Much of/most of Carpal Tunnel Symptoms come from tightness/constriction up at the neck and front of chest/shoulder.

2. When you lift your arms up from your sides, that contracts and constricts the neck/chest/shoulder muscles and compresses the nerve.

Thus, when you were resting symptoms went away.

3. It's entirely likely that there wasn't a single thing wrong with your wrist or carpal tunnel. Surgery not only didn't deal with the cause of your Carpal Tunnel Symptoms but it also created new injury and problem.

That's entirely common, unfortunately.

So. What now? I suggest that you get my Reversing Whiplash ebook.

Also, learn How To Reduce Inflammation. Meaning, ice dipping your forearms/hands as instructed.

You may want to get Reversing Wrist Tendonitis ebook too, but first things first.

Ice Dip as described and open up the neck/chest/shoulder constriction.

Let me know what happens after a good 7-10 days of ice dipping (should notice results after a day or two).

More questions, more answers.

Apr 06, 2011
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Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery
by: Jean

Joshua,
I had Carpal Tunnel surgery last May. Following surgery, my hand and arm were bandaged very tightly to the forearm with an Ace bandage. That night I experienced severe pain.

The next day I returned to my Dr. and he removed the bandage. My ring finger and middle finger was not numb before surgery but have been since. I am going to therapy 3 times a week but my therapist is very concerned much damage has been done.

Your suggestions and help would be appreciated,

Thank You very much, Jean

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Jean.

It's not surprising you had severe pain, as you were cut into with a very sharp object.

If you didn't have numb fingers before the surgery, but you do now, that points to two options:

Option #1: The surgeon nicked or cut your nerve. That's bad.

Option #2. Since the surgeon was cutting so close to the nerve, s/he didn't cut the nerve itself, but the tissue around it is so inflamed, swollen, and unhappy, that it is compressing the nerve (or possibly the nerve itself is super irritated).

It's also possible that, long story short, your muscles and connective tissue, either at the wrist/forearm and/or up at the neck have tightened up from the trauma of surgery, and are now stepping on the hose of the nerve.

That numbness is either coming from the wrist/surgery site,, the forearm, or up at the neck.

Have you ever had numbness in those fingers before? At all?

Jan 28, 2011
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Third surgery - Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during
by: Debra

Hello Joshua. I had a third surgery in December. The Dr performed a nerve graft taking a 4 inch nerve from my leg and grafting it into my hand. There were 2 pain issues. One of those was alleviated immediately and was recently told in a follow up visit that he believes the second issue will be gone within 2 years. That is the time it will take for the nerve to regenerate. I will start physical therapy in 3 months.

Thank you once again.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Debra.

Interesting!

Please do keep us updated.

Nov 18, 2010
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Update - Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during
by: Debra

Joshua. I wanted to thank you for your comments a few months ago. Since that time it has been determined that the median nerve was struck and I am getting ready for a third surgery that will be a nerve graft. I have lost feeling in the middle finger and partially in the ring and index fingers.

The second surgery was to try to repair the nerve by sewing the ends together and that did not work and it was done by the original doctor. When that doctor told me there was nothing else he could do for me I went to another doctor that was referred to me by one of the physical therapist I saw.

Because of your comments I was able to suggest to the original doctor that a nerve had been struck. He admitted that that was what had happened.

Again, I just wanted to say thank you.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Debra.

Sometimes, the patient has to tell the doctor what's what!

Good luck with the nerve graft. Keep us updated.

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Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during

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Numbness after Carpal Tunnel Surgery, ZING during