Carpal tunnel surgery and back to playing

[peterk]

It looks like there is a carpal tunnel surgery (both hands) in my near future.
To those mandolin (or violin) players who had such procedure done, what kind of impact on as well as recovery of my hand dexterity should I expect ? I am not even sure what gets affected most....the picking hand or the string stopping one ?

[Jim Garber]

Is there any way to avoid surgery like PT or, at least, to have arthoscopic done. Whatever you do find the best hand doctor you can.

[EdSherry]

Is there any way to avoid surgery like PT or, at least, to have arthoscopic done. Whatever you do find the best hand doctor you can.

Unfortunately, about a year and a half ago I developed carpal tunnel symptoms in my left hand (no problems with the right one). I had surgery last August for both the carpal tunnel and the cubital tunnel. The surgery apparently went fine, but I didn't experience any relief of my symptoms: still numbness and tingling from my wrist down, so I haven't been able to play. I've tried physical therapy, but no relief yet. My surgeon thinks it may be related to my Type II diabetes.

[UsuallyPickin]

I had surgery in my left hand. It was about ten days before I could play a little. It was about two months until I was back to playing and mostly pain free. No more binding sticking tendons. Numbness was never my problem. Six months down the road I was glad I had the surgery. The noting hand is much improved. Though I admit to hanging on for several years with cortisone shots and anti inflammatory meds. Good Luck .... R/

[peterk]

Gents, thank you for your helpful feedback.

[Pasha Alden]

Good luck with the surgery. May the symptoms dissipate.

[peterk]

Thank you Pasha.:)

[Paul Busman]

Good luck! Most of the time, the surgery is quite successful. This might be a good time to take up harmonica for a musical fix while you recuperate.

[Mandoplumb]

I had the surgey a few years ago,don't remember how long before I could play again, it wasn't long. I still have tingling always will but the true numbness is gone. My hands would become so numb that I would drop my pick and not know it till I noticed no sound coming from my mandolin. The surgey also helped the stiffness in my hands,doctor said that was not coming from the carpal syndrome but after surgey the fingers moved better, not like when I was 20 but better than before.

[peterk]

Thanx Paul.
Mandoplumb, good to hear your procedure was successful. True enough, sometimes I can't feel the pick either....what a way to play.:grin:

[sgarrity]

Best of luck with your surgery. I'm fighting cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms in both hands but after an EMG they still don't know what is causing it. I find doing some specific stretches really helps. But sometimes my little finger just doesn't want to work.

[Ron Cox]

Shaun and anyone else, you may have a sublaxated/pinched nerve in your neck (generally C5/C6). I have had carpal tunnel release surgery a few years ago and still had the occasional tingling to full on numbness. My diagnosis showed a narrowing of the foramen (hole in spine) where the nerve goes out to my arm. Ortho surgeons won't touch it till it gets really bad, and I am on a daily anti-inflammatory to keep the symptoms in check. About three times a year I also get a shot right into the spine. My last one was six months ago. This may or may not be the case for you, but numbness is usually a reaction to lack of blood flow, or loss of nervous connection (impeded or pinched) somewhere between the brain and the affected area. If you have had the surgery and still are suffering the symptoms, your orthopaedic would or should start backtracking to the source.

Like I said, this may not be your particular case, but if it hasn't come up in conversation with your doc, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Just my .02

To anyone contemplating the release surgery, the procedure is really quick, but prep and post take much longer. I had no pain from the surgery after just under a week (went back to work with the stitches still in). Only difference I felt in flexibility was touching my thumb to pinky just felt weird, like I was doing it at a different angle, but nothing bad. My Kung-Fu Grip (not light grip) wasn't 100% for a few weeks and the Doc said there were no special excercises to do. I did cold-cock myself with my deadened arm right after my surgery while trying to get dressed. Funniest thing you ever saw.

[peterk]

Best of luck with your surgery. I'm fighting cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms in both hands but after an EMG they still don't know what is causing it. I find doing some specific stretches really helps. But sometimes my little finger just doesn't want to work.

Shaun, I hope there is a remedy of sorts available to you soon. My condition began to rapidly deteriorate last summer. Then I started playing the mandolin. That has arrested the worsening of the numbness, and perhaps even improved the condition somewhat. I try to do as much tremolo as I am able to, and also I am making my finger stopping action quite energetic, which is partly a legacy of my violin playing days. Also, pushing myself to play fast while trying to stay out of the tendonitis risk zone. Alas, the hands tire quickly, the fingers do not move all too well, but the regular daily playing/practice/exercise regimen does help some.

[peterk]

Shaun and anyone else, you may have a sublaxated/pinched nerve in your neck (generally C5/C6). I have had carpal tunnel release surgery a few years ago and still had the occasional tingling to full on numbness. My diagnosis showed a narrowing of the foramen (hole in spine) where the nerve goes out to my arm. Ortho surgeons won't touch it till it gets really bad, and I am on a daily anti-inflammatory to keep the symptoms in check. About three times a year I also get a shot right into the spine. My last one was six months ago. This may or may not be the case for you, but numbness is usually a reaction to lack of blood flow, or loss of nervous connection (impeded or pinched) somewhere between the brain and the affected area. If you have had the surgery and still are suffering the symptoms, your orthopaedic would or should start backtracking to the source.

Like I said, this may not be your particular case, but if it hasn't come up in conversation with your doc, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Just my .02

To anyone contemplating the release surgery, the procedure is really quick, but prep and post take much longer. I had no pain from the surgery after just under a week (went back to work with the stitches still in). Only difference I felt in flexibility was touching my thumb to pinky just felt weird, like I was doing it at a different angle, but nothing bad. My Kung-Fu Grip (not light grip) wasn't 100% for a few weeks and the Doc said there were no special excercises to do. I did cold-cock myself with my deadened arm right after my surgery while trying to get dressed. Funniest thing you ever saw.

Thank you for that insight, Ron. Your condition seems more challenging than mine, and I wish you all the best.

[belbein]

Peterk: I wish you much luck and a quick recovery with the surgery if you decide to have it.

I don't know how old you are, but if you're over about 40, just know that it might take you longer than you expect to recover fully. Of course, if you're over 40, you already know that from experience. Perhaps some of the "hands tire quickly, fingers do not move all too well" is from age, not CTS. But in any case, it sounds like you're approaching this intelligently.

I like the idea of taking up another instrument while you're recovering. I guess it won't be drums, eh? But harmonica is a good suggestion. It's a cool instrument. And if your background is all strings, it will challenge your mind in a completely different way.

[peterk]

Thank you, Belbein. Getting older, way beyond my juvenile 40s, on its own certainly compounds playing challenges.

[Jesse Harmon]

Not meaning to hijack, but could someone give an explanation of "cubital tunnel syndrome"? I have been experiencing a sharp pain on the top of my right wrist when I try to play with a little volume. I studied the threads on technique and I don't think it is a technique problem. I am a life time guitar player and picker. Good luck with this what ever you decide peterk. I also have been enjoying fooling around with a low D whistle which I love the sound of and it gives my wrist and hand a bit of a stretch without any real strain being involved.

[tkdboyd]

Is there any way to avoid surgery like PT or, at least, to have arthoscopic done. Whatever you do find the best hand doctor you can.
+++ to what Mr. Garber said.
Don't overestimate the surgeon's abilities. If you can go to hand specialist do so.
I went to an Sports Med. MD, well regarded. Big mistake. The Dr. did the full "butterfly cut" rather than the endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Waited until I asked about PT, before I learned anything from the Dr. about how to do anything to rehab it the hand. Be very, very proactive with the Dr. about what you do, what your expectations are, etc...ask for PT recommendations in advance, and then listen and follow their advice.

[peterk]

Thank you Jess and TKD.
The input I have received here is more comprehensive than I had expected, it is much appreciated, and most of it is making me somewhat concerned.
A had seen a neurologist whose specialty was electromyography. He diagnosed the bilateral carpal syndrome, right hand severe, left one medium to severe. He is also setting up my initial appointment with a neurosurgeon resident in the same hospital to talk about the surgery. I am thinking of having the worse hand (right hand, picking) done first, and then see how that goes before I'd go for the left hand procedure. I wouldn't wanna get into a situation where from my impaired playing at present I'd "progress" to no playing at all for months on end. Obviously, there are also many things other than playing the mandolin which one does, and which require manual dexterity or tactile sense.

[tkdboyd]

Well, duh...I also forgot to wish you luck and much success with whatever procedure(s) take place. Heal Well!

[mugbucket]

I've had the procedure on my right hand (strumming), and a couple of trigger finger procedures on both hands. All have been successful, and like the previous posts reccomend - do your homework.

One piece of advice, little things become big things during recovery. Like brushing one's teeth - I nearly knocked a few loose until I decided to move my head and hold the brush stationary...:grin:

Cheers & I wish you well with speedy healing...

Ski