EMG and Carpal Tunnel

[kidblast]

Tomorrow I go to see how the Carpal Tunnel I have has progressed with this EMG test.

 

Nothing has really changed for me, I still get the numb hands at night sometimes, and in the mornings, I notice it a bit. (numbness on finger tips when working or playing piano or guitar on weekend mornings) I don't beleive it's gotten much worse seems aout the same as it has been I think. I first started noticing this some years ago.

 

Anyone have this recently? I had it about 12 years ago. they wire you up around your neck, and arms and hands, then send small electrical charges down your nerve system to see how your extremities respond. It was strange but it wasn't horrible. I hear some folks don't tolerate it all that well.

 

My Doc did some screens last month and doesn't think it's advancing, but thinks it's time to check again. No one wants permanent nerve damage right, especially guys like us!

 

Just wondering if advancements have changed it so curious if anyone's gone recently and can share what was involved..

 

My brother in-law had it pretty bad, both hands were operated on last year (he also plays) and for him it was life changing, said his hands feel great. the surgery is nothing like it was 10/15 years ago. It worked and no more issues for him.

 

again just curious... I think I know what to expect.

[Jinder]

I feel your pain, literally-I have chronic bilateral CT. I manage it via hydration, avoiding alcohol, nicotine and caffeine (three things I survived on in my 20s!) and being careful around intense vibration or shock to the hands/arms.

 

It’s a miserable thing, and something that involves a lot of work to stop it interfering with my playing. I’m very wary of the operation though, I have two friends for whom the op was unsuccessful and made the issue worse, and another for whom the op cured the CTS but reduced his grip strength to the point where playing bass for more than 30mins causes too much muscle fatigue in his hands to carry on.

 

I’ve had the EMG, what a weird test!! I don’t have any significant nerve damage at the moment. Next step is cortisone injections.

[FemmeParallell]

i wish you both the best! i dont have CT but i do have tendinitis on my left hand/arm and a cyst on my right wrist and have to be careful all the time, sometimes i hurt myself during sleep, if my left thumb gets "open" a lot i get this sting and feel pain for 1 or a few days..its really frustrating =( i have felt numbness on my left hand once when the tendinitis was at its full last year and had to take therapy for 3 months

Usually i dont play for long periods of time and play like 2 to 4 times per week

i really hope the best for both!

[Murph]

Wishing you the best my friend.

[kidblast]

Thanks for the response guys.

 

Jinder: I've had the shot, back in 2005 and that did help for quite a while. Maybe you get some relief.

 

And you're spot on. Vibrations and impact does aggravate the symptoms. Like chopping ice in the winter time, or if I have some work to do around the house that involves a lot of physical strength from the hands. Pounding (using a hammer) is the worse. it will flare up for a few days if not longer but it does eventually subside.

 

When I first checked into this, the surgery was a risk and it was a pretty gruesome process. I've found that lately is far less invasive, very small incisions, with only a week of recovery time instead of numerous weeks of healing. There's a hand specialist here who has working on both my bro in-law and the music director for our Church (same doc) in both cases, it was a success. this is all he does. I guess for ppl around here, HE'S the guy..

 

Anyways, for you may be worth checking into, get a consult and see maybe. Yours sounds worse than mine.

 

FemmeP: Man, that's a tuff one too.. A keyboard player friend of mine has this problem and it keeps him sidelined for weeks at times. Drives him insane, like many of us here, he's been playing since he was a young kid, and he is a very good player.

 

Murph: thx man! I go at 9.. not too worked up about it, I'd like to know what the score is.

[uncle fester]

Fingers crossed for you!

[blindboygrunt]

Scary thoughts. An ailment that stops guitar playing , well I would be crushed

 

There’s worse things out there , but I could happily deal with a foot problem

Guitar is what keeps me sane

 

 

 

Good luck with it all kid.

[kidblast]

thx Grunt, I so agree, not being able to play due to some disability in the hands would be life changing and not in a good way.

 

 

Test is done, the symptom has not progress to where there's a risk of permanent nerve damage right now. Right hand worse than left. (I can agree w/that)

 

Still borderline surgery at this point. It's my call to or not to. Probably letting it ride for now. Surgery always has it's own set of risks.

[MissouriPicker]

No CT as far as I know, but I do have a bit of arthritis now in my hands that I didn't have a couple years ago. I just turned 71 and my doctor told me "welcome to getting old." Anyways, he put me on some anti-inflammatory pills, but I don't always remember to take them.....Think I forget them because it really doesn't bother me much. Not even this last winter. Almost sorry I even mentioned it to him, because now my wife is on me about taking my pills....lol.....My dad is 95 and if it wasn't for the arthritis in his knees he'd still be doing most anything he wants. Life changes and so do we. CT is nothing to joke about. Ray, I hope your's is real mild and you don't ever need surgery. [thumbup]

[kidblast]

No CT as far as I know, but I do have a bit of arthritis now in my hands that I didn't have a couple years ago. I just turned 71 and my doctor told me "welcome to getting old." Anyways, he put me on some anti-inflammatory pills, but I don't always remember to take them.....Think I forget them because it really doesn't bother me much. Not even this last winter. Almost sorry I even mentioned it to him, because now my wife is on me about taking my pills....lol.....My dad is 95 and if it wasn't for the arthritis in his knees he'd still be doing most anything he wants. Life changes and so do we. CT is nothing to joke about. Ray, I hope your's is real mild and you don't ever need surgery. [thumbup]

 

 

 

thx Larry

 

It could be way worse with CT and other things as well, so I'm very lucky to have a moderate symptom at this stage. Arthritis aint a joke either, no cure for that other than dealing with it and carrying on.