Hi Dene,

The numbing symptoms of CTS can happen if the median nerve is entrapped anyplace along its pathway from the neck to the hand.  This means that a muscle spasm pressing on the nerve as it comes out of the neck will cause the finger to tingle or go numb.

Pain in the wrist often comes from the muscles of the forearm being tight and in spasm.  The tendons of the flexor muscles (underside of your forearm) pass through the carpal tunnel along with the median nerve.  Research has proven that when the tendons are tight they press on the nerve within the tunnel and cause both pain and numbness.  In order to release the tension on the nerve you need to treat the tight muscles so they will stop pressing on the nerve.  Also, the thumb muscle originates on the roof of the carpal tunnel, called the flexor retinaculum.  When this muscle is tight (very common because we use our thumbs millions of times a day) it will pull down on the flexor retinaculum and cause pressure on the nerve.

The resolution to each of these problems comes from just treating the muscle spasms and therefore taking the tension off the tendons.  Even after surgery your girlfriend can still treat the muscles.  I would imagine that this is one thing that wasn’t done prior to surgery, and if the muscles are the cause, only treating the muscles will be the cure.

Go to: www.aboutcts.com to read more information about each of the muscles that causes CTS symptoms.  Look at the section called “Anatomy Lessons” for graphics that explains this problem.

I have been working with patients and teaching them how to self treat the muscles for 15 years.  It has been so successful at helping people that we are currently working along with the National Institute of Health to prepare a full two-year clinical research trial to scientifically prove what we have already proven with thousands of individuals.

The good news is that the odds are very high that your girlfriend will find relief.  Her major stumbling factor is the scar tissue that is forming because of the surgery.  Vitamin E has shown to be good at preventing scar tissue formation, it may help her to lessen the threat of scar tissue filling the wrist area.

Let me know if you need more information, I’m happy to help you.

Wishing you well,

      Julie

-----Original Message-----
From: Dene Bebbington [mailto:d_bebbington@...]
Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2003 7:30 AM
To: repetitivestrain@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [repetitivestrain] Surgery for CTS

Last November my girlfriend had surgery (in her left hand) for a severe case
of CTS. That operation wasn't successful because she continued to suffer a
lot of pain and pins/needles, and nerve tests showed only a minor
improvement. Three days ago she had surgery again and the surgeon said that
the nerve was still compressed - which we suspected. We're hoping that
things will get better now, but she's been suffering a lot of throbbing pain
since the op. Is there anyone else who's encountered this, if so how long
did it take for the throbbing to ease off? I think she's worried that the
pain is a sign the op hasn't resolved the CTS, though I wonder if it's just
because the nerve has been compressed for so long.

Any responses much appreciated.

Thanks,

Dene