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Author Topic: Surgery for carpal tunnel??  (Read 3321 times)

earlyrolling

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Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« on: December 27, 2018, 04:56:26 PM »
I seem to be experiencing some degree of constant numbness in my thumb and index and middle fingers, which sounds like carpal tunnel.  Has anyone had the carpal tunnel surgery done to relieve pressure on the median nerve by cutting the ligament pressing on it?

If you did, did you have open surgery or endoscopic surgery?
Did you discover that your bowling was impacted by the surgery? If so, how?

Note: I think the carpal tunnel is due to work habits (not bowling).

Thanks.

 

SVstar34

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2018, 06:33:24 PM »
I'd personally say bowling is secondary to your overall health and livelihood. I'd go see a doctor just to get a diagnosis first and see what the best options are in your case

leftybowler70

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2018, 08:51:53 PM »
Great recommendation.

charlest

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2018, 12:54:18 PM »
I seem to be experiencing some degree of constant numbness in my thumb and index and middle fingers, which sounds like carpal tunnel.  Has anyone had the carpal tunnel surgery done to relieve pressure on the median nerve by cutting the ligament pressing on it?

If you did, did you have open surgery or endoscopic surgery?
Did you discover that your bowling was impacted by the surgery? If so, how?

Note: I think the carpal tunnel is due to work habits (not bowling).

Thanks.

I had the open surgery in 1995 on the right hand and endoscopic in the early 2000s on the left hand. The right hand had the larger scar but I've never had trouble with it afterwards; the left hand had the smaller scar, of which the orthopedic surgeon was so proud (schmuck!), but I had problems with it a few years later, in that it became slightly numb again.

After rehab. I had zero problems bowling with the right hand. No loss of ball speed or loss of revs or loss of feeling.

Not sure how much yo have researched this problem, but get it handled soon. AS the swollen tendons press and compress the nerve fibers, there's a larger and larger probability that you will do them permanent, unrecoverable damage.

Mine was caused by typing; I was a programmer and typed a lot daily, including writing documentation. When I first got carpal tunnel syndrome, I had not been bowling for 8 years. I started bowling again about 6 months after I had surgery. I had stopped bowling to a leg/hip problem much earlier.
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earlyrolling

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2018, 05:03:32 PM »
I had the open surgery in 1995 on the right hand and endoscopic in the early 2000s on the left hand. The right hand had the larger scar but I've never had trouble with it afterwards; the left hand had the smaller scar, of which the orthopedic surgeon was so proud (schmuck!), but I had problems with it a few years later, in that it became slightly numb again.

After rehab. I had zero problems bowling with the right hand. No loss of ball speed or loss of revs or loss of feeling.

Not sure how much yo have researched this problem, but get it handled soon. AS the swollen tendons press and compress the nerve fibers, there's a larger and larger probability that you will do them permanent, unrecoverable damage.

Mine was caused by typing; I was a programmer and typed a lot daily, including writing documentation. When I first got carpal tunnel syndrome, I had not been bowling for 8 years. I started bowling again about 6 months after I had surgery. I had stopped bowling to a leg/hip problem much earlier.

Thanks for the reply.  So after the surgery, it took you 6 months to make it back to the lanes?

earlyrolling

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2018, 03:29:39 PM »
I forgot to ask if anyone went the cortisone shot route and found that to do the trick?

charlest

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2018, 07:26:37 PM »
I had the open surgery in 1995 on the right hand and endoscopic in the early 2000s on the left hand. The right hand had the larger scar but I've never had trouble with it afterwards; the left hand had the smaller scar, of which the orthopedic surgeon was so proud (schmuck!), but I had problems with it a few years later, in that it became slightly numb again.

After rehab. I had zero problems bowling with the right hand. No loss of ball speed or loss of revs or loss of feeling.

Not sure how much yo have researched this problem, but get it handled soon. AS the swollen tendons press and compress the nerve fibers, there's a larger and larger probability that you will do them permanent, unrecoverable damage.

Mine was caused by typing; I was a programmer and typed a lot daily, including writing documentation. When I first got carpal tunnel syndrome, I had not been bowling for 8 years. I started bowling again about 6 months after I had surgery. I had stopped bowling to a leg/hip problem much earlier.

Thanks for the reply.  So after the surgery, it took you 6 months to make it back to the lanes?

No. I had not been on the lanes for 8 years prior to the surgery. After I recuperated, I decided to try bowling again. I'd say it took about 3 months before I had been capable of bowling again. And that was with  a leisurely recuperation and rehabilitation. I took it easy because I had no special goal in mind at the time.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

charlest

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2018, 07:28:07 PM »
I forgot to ask if anyone went the cortisone shot route and found that to do the trick?

If you have constant numbness, cortisone is not likely to help permanently. The tendons will swell again for the same reason they swelled in the first place.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

MI 2 AZ

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2018, 01:08:25 AM »
I forgot to ask if anyone went the cortisone shot route and found that to do the trick?

When I had a sore shoulder, several bowlers told me to get a cortizone shot, but I did not want to go that route.  I felt that it would just cover up the pain and not really fix anything and I would rather do without and feel the pain so I knew I had to back off and stop doing what was causing the pain.  If it was masking the pain, then I may do more damage because I don't feel it.  JMO.
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Bowlaholic

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2018, 11:16:46 AM »
+1 for MI 1 AZ's post. 
I had a teammate who had a knee problem resulting in pain when he bowled.  He kept getting as many cortisone shots as he physician would allow trying to avoid surgery.
Then his knee finally gave out one night and he went down.  Had to be carried off the approach as he blew his knee out so bad that he could not walk at all.
He had the surgery, but he never bowled again.  Said his knee never felt the same and he did not trust it.  Sad.

Dave81644

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2018, 04:41:07 PM »
Wife had it done to both hands
Went to a guy who did my partial wrist fusion (not fun by the way)
He has worked on   few NBA guys in town and came highly recommended
Wonderful Dr and a rarity these days
His comments were the same as mentioned above, if you wait, you risk permanent damage
Simple surgery, 10-15 minutes tops
2-3 month recovery, good as new
We have learned the hard way in my home, find the "right" doctor, do your homework
Actually the physical therapy folks knows who is good and who isn't, that's what we found out

CPA

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2019, 11:01:14 AM »
I had carpal tunnel surgery on November 28th.  Just under 5 weeks ago.  Not bowling yet.  I hope to be back by February 1, but we will see.

slowmo44

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2019, 12:17:32 PM »
I recently had a cortisone shot for what was believed to be Carpal tunnel (all the usual symptoms). I had the nerve conduction study, etc. to narrow down the cause of the numbness and tingling prior to getting the shot. I went to a hand surgeon, and he said in his opinion, I should get the shot before opting for surgery. He stated that if I get the shot and it provides relief from the symptoms, then it would be likely that the surgery would offer permanent relief. If I had the shot and the pain continued, then likely the surgery would not be helpful as it basically affects the same area as the cortisone shot.

After I had the shot, my pain has continued. I also was having pain in my forearm, near the elbow and now he is thinking it is Pronator Teres syndrome. I just started physical therapy for that.

There is no substitute for going to the doctor.

Dcb5739

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2019, 10:37:13 PM »
I avoided surgery by using a Powerball Gryo ball. Doctor was amazed , but now lists it as a therapy for those trying to put off or avoid surgery
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themagician

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Re: Surgery for carpal tunnel??
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2019, 08:01:44 AM »
I avoided surgery by using a Powerball Gryo ball. Doctor was amazed , but now lists it as a therapy for those trying to put off or avoid surgery

While not a fix-all those things really do work wonders. I sprained my wrist bad and my PT recommended me get one and use it, and i've regularly used it for years since, great investment for wrist strengthening.

One of my teammates did the cortisone thing and grumbled through a terrible season last year, had carpal tunnel surgery right after the league season ended, and was back at 100% for the start of fall season and is doing great. As mentioned earlier, i'd network with local PT's for a doctor recommendation and let the doc tell you what you need to do.
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