Carpel Tunnel Report
I accomplished my nerve conduction test yesterday.
My experience: "unpleasantly ok." If you can imagine someone taking a blunt instrument (like the one they use to test reflexes) and sharply hitting you several times, that was what it felt like to me. It hurt, but was not excruciating, and it did not burn. I was a little achy afterward, and tired, but it seems like pain makes me tired, so perhaps that is just me. My left side was more painful than the right (my right side is worse, so perhaps the nerves are more clogged up). It's not hard to imagine, though, that someone who has a low pain-thresh-hold, or who has not experienced much pain, would find the test a little more severe.
There were no needles involved, which a couple of people had made me expect, but mine was done with electrical shocks. As I was laying there, I kept thinking, "Someday, history will look back and find this barbaric!" Oh the joys of being on the front-end (assuming it IS new-ish) of emerging technology! And for a little bit of irony...that evening as I channel-surfed, what did I come across but "The One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." I always HATED that shock-treatment scene! Now I know why!
The results: Of course, I have to wait. But, he was willing to say he is fairly certain my right hand does have carpel tunnel. The left side is not as bad, and he has to look more closely at the results. And, I had to chuckle...the nurse gave me my follow-up appointment and I had to say, "Sorry--that's not going to work for me." For most people, they would be out of town or getting their hair done. Me: I'm having surgery that day! But, on August 30th, three days after my surgery, we should get the results.
The treatment: Surgery is a possibility, but we don't know yet. Cock-up splints, yes--though they are unpleasant to wear at night, in my experience. If it does result in surgery, it is just a day surgery...a little snip to the tendon, and voila'--done! Not so bad, except for the cost of it.
My experience: "unpleasantly ok." If you can imagine someone taking a blunt instrument (like the one they use to test reflexes) and sharply hitting you several times, that was what it felt like to me. It hurt, but was not excruciating, and it did not burn. I was a little achy afterward, and tired, but it seems like pain makes me tired, so perhaps that is just me. My left side was more painful than the right (my right side is worse, so perhaps the nerves are more clogged up). It's not hard to imagine, though, that someone who has a low pain-thresh-hold, or who has not experienced much pain, would find the test a little more severe.
There were no needles involved, which a couple of people had made me expect, but mine was done with electrical shocks. As I was laying there, I kept thinking, "Someday, history will look back and find this barbaric!" Oh the joys of being on the front-end (assuming it IS new-ish) of emerging technology! And for a little bit of irony...that evening as I channel-surfed, what did I come across but "The One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." I always HATED that shock-treatment scene! Now I know why!
The results: Of course, I have to wait. But, he was willing to say he is fairly certain my right hand does have carpel tunnel. The left side is not as bad, and he has to look more closely at the results. And, I had to chuckle...the nurse gave me my follow-up appointment and I had to say, "Sorry--that's not going to work for me." For most people, they would be out of town or getting their hair done. Me: I'm having surgery that day! But, on August 30th, three days after my surgery, we should get the results.
The treatment: Surgery is a possibility, but we don't know yet. Cock-up splints, yes--though they are unpleasant to wear at night, in my experience. If it does result in surgery, it is just a day surgery...a little snip to the tendon, and voila'--done! Not so bad, except for the cost of it.
Labels: Carpel tunnel
posted by Beverly @ 9:33 AM
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