Monday, September 27, 2004

carpal tunnel

I had carpal tunnel surgery last month.  My right hand had become numb.  My kidney doctor sent me to neurologist who sent me to neurolsurgeon who sent me to surgical center.  In a few days they operated on me.  Operated and sent me home within an hour of the surgery. 

Had a cast on my arm for two weeks and then got sent for Physical therapy to hand specialist.  For three and a half weeks have been going three times a week for therapy.  It consists of heat treatment, massage, manipulation, ultra sound, electrostimulation.

My hand is very weak, and is still numb.  But it is doing some things okay again, like typing this entry.  I make LOTS of typographical errors, but at least I am communicating.

I don't know whether the feeling will come back to my hand or not. I THINK I am glad I had it done, but am not too sure.

Medicare has picked up the bills so far.  The surgeon costs $4100 and I don't know what the surgical center and the anesthiologist nor the therapy cost yet.  The surgeon had done two other operations that morning.

I think I got carpal tunnel syndrome from typing so much, but I am not sure.  There are people who type far more than I did. 

Anyhow, I am back at my computer, slower, but still communicating with the outside world. That is my life, my lifeline, and my love.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wishing you a full and speedy recovery... although I hear it can be a slow and ardious healing process sometime. However, here you are back at it, typing away and letting your voice be heard. Bravo.

Anonymous said...

I had carpal tunner surgery when I was 18.  They said I was the youngest they had ever seen.  I had it for no reason at all as far as they were concerned.  Some people just have a small passageway they told me.  It took me a few months to get total usage of my hands, but numbness and pain never came back in 20 years!  I had it done on both hands!
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