Re: on the waiting list

In Reply to: Re: on the waiting list posted by rob on November 23, 2003 at 00:26:41:

: : : i've been diagnosed with CTS and i'm on the NHS waiting list(up to 18 months) and have had two series of injections from my GP to relieve symptons. I am a builder by trade and a musician by choice. As far as the causes of CTS pounding away at building tasks all day is certainly not helping the condition and the music suffers consequently. I'm interested to hear about recovery times post op,delay between each hand being operated upon and the efficacy of the results of any similar sufferers.

: : Hi Rob
: : Not too many UK folks on this board unfortunately but I'm one of the few. I waited about 6 months to see a surgeon then about another 6 months before the first op was done. I think I had the first surgery in the summer break from college & the 2nd in the Xmas break so something like 4-5 months between hands. That was a few years ago though.

: : At present I've been referred to a surgeon for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. The wait for initial consultation is around 4 months. I'm told by an Occ Health doc that there's several months wait for emg type testing too but I didn't have any of that b4 my cts surgery.

: : Truth is Rob, if you go back to building/creating music, your symptoms may well return. Mine have. For me, it's mind over matter. Drawing cartoons/calligraphy is more important so I continue to do it & suffer the consequences. I just refuse to give up what pleases me. My current plan is to sue my employer (dead boring government job) for industrial injury & start up my own business doing creative stuff - mind over matter. We're here for a good time, not for a long time.

: : Evelyn
: hi evelyn, thanks for your prompt reply. Could you tell me a few things about the onset of your original symptoms. From what i've been reading on the message board most sufferers appear to be keyboard RSI related, is this the same for you? Because of the nature of my work/pastimes my symptoms are related more to "white finger" (seemingly caused by vibrations and gripping ).I have been somewhat suprised by the number of subsiquent operations experienced by other messageboarders. How long was your recovery the first time? You're right about our time allotment, i've had some symptoms for over ten years on and off whilst trying to live for the moment!
: (one last question,sorry,but how long was your recouperation time ?
: rob

Hi Rob
No, my cts didn't start up with using a keyboard. Up until around '94 I was a paediatric nurse & had no symptoms then. It was when I started doing a course in signwriting that it started! I used to notice the tingling/numbness in my thumb & first 3 fingers when I was stirring paint! It was when I was doing a bit of decorating at home that it got worse. I used to wake up in the night with the dead hands which most experience & knew then that I had a problem.

Over here, the surgeons don't seem to do repeat surgery quite so readily/quickly. My surgeon said he wouldn't do repeat surgery on the same hand for at least 2 years. Apparently thats how long it can take for the nerve to completely recover from the trauma of surgery.

I honestly can't remembe how long my recovery time was. My right hand (dominant) was worse & I think took a bit longer to recover than the left. I used my fingers as soon as I was able. had a big pressure bandage on for 5 days but after that could use a pen & use my fingers for a lot of stuff except grasping tightly or lifting. My grasp took maybe about 2 months to feel 'normal'. My surgeon said physio was only for folk who didn't use their hands. A friend once told me of a woman who didn't use her hand after cts surgery & it ended up like a claw! This story came to me about a week after surgery & scared the pants off me so I used my hand like it never had surgery! (except for lifting/grasping).

'White Finger' is common where I live as it used to be a mining area. A lot of the ex- miners are being encouraged to make claims as it's now recognised that the problem was caused by the vibrating tools they used.

I think everyone's recouperation time varies due to the nature of our jobs. Being at college managed to get mine done in the breaks. Building work might mean you'll be off a good few weeks unless they can find some really light work for you. On the board I've seen lots of people say 4-6 weeks for recovery time.

Evelyn