Anyone had nerve testing to diagnose Carpel Tunnel?

[ajksmom]

My 14 year old daughter has to have them. She has been hurting in her wrist and hand for a couple weeks. Doc thinks it's a strong possibility that it's carpel tunnel. The did xrays and they show no injury, so it's most likely carpel tunnel and it's in her right hand. She goes on Nov. 20 for the nerve testing.

Anybody have any experience with what is involved? I have it in my hands too from years of sewing in a factory but never had the testing. It's better since I am no longer employed in the factory. But since Amanda's is in her right hand I'm not so sure it will get better on it's own, if that's what is diagnosed.

TIA Debbie

[jaybird]

No, but I'm facing them as soon as hubby's healed up from his surgery. There's different types of nerve testing, nerve induction, nerve conduction, emg's (electromyography)... My sil just had testing done a few months ago to confirm her carpal tunnel. I think some involve electric shocks, some involve sticking needles in. I'd just play it down to your dot (no sense in distressing her) and read up about it on the web. There's a great carpal tunnel information site I linked to when I was reading about ulnar nerve damage (which I have)

http://www.carpaltunnel.com/

www.ctsplace.com

[ajksmom]

Thanks Jaybird, I just replayed the message that I received this morning and it is called a nerve conduction study. When the reg. doc talked to her about it she said something about the electric shocks being part of it. She is not really nervous about it, we are just worried that is what it is.
I hate to think of her having it she is only 14, but the doc says that it does happen. Hope everything goes okay with your testing.

[ajksmom]

Yeah my aunt did the shots too, but eventually ended up having the surgery. She had it on both hands but at different times.

I checked out the site that Jaybird told me about and learned some good info.

[gobs101]

I had the nerve test done on both my arms several times. To say the least its very uncomfortable especially when it gets closer to where it hurts. They stick very fine sharp needles in several areas of your arm along where the nerve runs. Most do not hurt till they stick them in the thick part of the thumb area. OUCH!!! The electric shocks are just that again it depends on your pain tolerance and level. Mine is high, but that hurt. They shock the nerve area agin it's not really too bad till it gets closer to the area where it hurts more. The tests take about 30 to 40 mins total. Take a couple of tylenol before you go. Thats what my dr told me and it wont be as bad. Hope this helps. And good luck to your daughter!!

Ps if she needs carpel tunnel surgery check out plastic surgons they do such nice clean work vs orthepedic surgeons who do it differently.

[fatesfaery]

Originally posted by ajksmom
My 14 year old daughter has to have them. She has been hurting in her wrist and hand for a couple weeks. Doc thinks it's a strong possibility that it's carpel tunnel. The did xrays and they show no injury, so it's most likely carpel tunnel and it's in her right hand. She goes on Nov. 20 for the nerve testing.

Anybody have any experience with what is involved? I have it in my hands too from years of sewing in a factory but never had the testing. It's better since I am no longer employed in the factory. But since Amanda's is in her right hand I'm not so sure it will get better on it's own, if that's what is diagnosed.

TIA Debbie

I had nerve conduction tests done 4 years ago. It's probably the hardest felling I could try to describe, it doesn't hurt in a normal way, it feels weird. Your arms jerk uncontrolably,It's really uncomfortable.

I had surgery on both hands, both were done by an orthopedic surgeon. One incision took 9 stiches, the other 10. I was really worried about the scars at first, but they're harly noticable now. It just looks like I have very long lifelines.

If she has to have surgery on both hands, I would make them do them separately. I worked with other women who had them done together, and they were virtualy helpless.......I prefer to wipe my own behind, so I had mine done one at a time.

Cortisone shots are painful, my Dr had his nurse spay some sort of numbing spray while he was doing the injection. The shots were great, they just wore off after about a week.

[jaybird]

Fishy, my mil had both hands done 10 years ago or longer and has been totally pain-free ever since. My sil had one hand done 4 months ago and her other done 2 months ago and she wishes she would have done the surgery sooner. I'm sure you know, with a sister in the medical field, the complications that can come if you neglect the problem. Ignore it, it will go away is my motto, but the other day when my entire right arm paralyzed on me from the shoulder down and I had to use my left hand to pry my right hand's fingers off the leaf blower, and had to physically use my left arm to 'move' my right one, I had an awakening. :D I'm pretty sure your sis would be more than happy to tell you all sorts of things about carpal tunnel, medial/ulnar nerve damage, entrapped nerves etc. ;) Please don't ignore the problem. At least ask your sister for some strengthening exercises. And make sure you see someone that specializes in hand disorders...when you do go.

As far as the cortisone shots... :eek: I had one last June in my elbow. It was a good thing my dot was there *observing* and held my arm down, because otherwise I'd have clocked that doctor. It was 5 minutes worth of hunt and peck inside my elbow and around the nerves and tendons with a needle. I will NOT do that again. Yes it helped, I was back to normal for 3 months. Now it's worse than it has ever been. Also, cortisone shots can, and almost always do, damage the nerve/s at some point if you have multiple injections.

ajks, after the initial diagnosis, ask the doctor to explain ALL avenues of treatment, including and starting with non-surgical ones. CP surgery is big business. At 14, make sure that you explore all other options before surgery, including physical therapy.

[jaybird]

:D And do you DO the exercises, or are you a non-compliant patient like I am? ;) I have 3 or 4 sheets of exercises somewhere, from my pt sessions...

SHHHH...don't tell the girls!

[ajksmom]

Thanks all,

Jaybird- believe me at her age I will explore all the avenues of treatment. I just don't want her to have to live in pain with this,, she is too young. I hope that it turns out to be something different. I will talk to her about all of this but I don't think I will tell her all of it now, there's no point of making her worry over it for the next 2 weeks.

[nanajoanie]

I've had carpal tunnel for years. I was under workers comp for nearly 2 years. They did the cortisone shots but I too elected NO surgery. Too many of the girls had it and it made their wrists worse. We worked for Sara Lee folding socks, Champion, Ralph Lauren, Gap, Gold Toe. My wrists are certified at only 65% usage. The company doctor and nurse were wonderful to me and I have no complaints about them or the company. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[heartlvrs]

yES! its a Nerve Conduction test...and other than under the arms its not painful....I had the surgery on my left wrist 3 years ago..it went great! Had therapy for two months which really helped...glad I had it done....every now and then if i really over use i get a twinge or so...now its OVERDUE time on my right and am in process to get it done...I pray it does as well...keep in mind..the LONGER YOU LET IT GO THE MORE NERVE DAMAGE IS DONE.....

[wyozozo]

I have to agree w/everything JayBird said....I had ALL the nerve tests after fighting the pain for 5 years. Ignoring it was most likely the DUMBEST thing I have ever done. I ended up having both arms done (carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve transposition). My left arm is better than ever, my right hand is not. This is through no fault of my orthopedic surgeon.I've had 4 surgeries on that arm with little success. I have the use of it and not as much (or should I say different) pain.

As far as cortisone shots, my advice is to stay as far away from them as possible. All they did for me was cause great discomfort.

[wyozozo]

I have to agree w/everything JayBird said....I had ALL the nerve tests after fighting the pain for 5 years. Ignoring it was most likely the DUMBEST thing I have ever done. I ended up having both arms done (carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve transposition). My left arm is better than ever, my right hand is not. This is through no fault of my orthopedic surgeon.I've had 4 surgeries on that arm with little success. I have the use of it and not as much (or should I say different) pain.

As far as cortisone shots, my advice is to stay as far away from them as possible. All they did for me was cause great discomfort.

Good luck to your daughter, I hope all goes well for her.

[shelhop]

I had these tests done awhile ago, in relation to my MS diagnosis. I think they called them evoked potential tests. I got through the electrical impulses portion of the test with minimal discomfort. Mostly, I was just nervous, because I didn't know what to expect. When they did the actual needles, it was nearly painless, right down to the last one he did, right in the meaty part of the thumb. That hurt to the point where I nearly flew off the table. But....he did that one last. When I asked him about it, he said, "Would you still be lying here if I had done that one first?"
Good luck to your daughter. If she can relax, the tests will go much easier. Easier said than done, but it really does make a difference.

[ajksmom]

Again, wanted to thank everyone for all of your wonderful information. Amanda hates needles so I think if she knew that part she would freak out. She says it's not bothering her too much the last couple of days which is good for her. Now it's just a wait and see thing.