hand surgery

[bethsha211]

I had surgery done for carpal tunnel and de quervain's tenosynovitus on July 2nd.It didn't seem that painful last week,but now where the doctor had to repair a nerve that was glued down from my first dequervain's operation the pain is getting greater than right after surgery.Around the incision ,part of my hand, and the thumb, I am so numb that it has a dead feeling to it. As the day progresses, I have pins and needles shooting in these areas and by evening it feels as if someone is putting a lit match to my hand,very strong burning feel that is extremely painful.It has been two weeks since my surgery and I get stitches out tomorrow.Has anyone had anything like this done and had this type of pain? I was numb before,but nothing like it is now.

[dipweed23]

If you are experienceing pain like that, and it is bothersome, I'd call the doc's office and find out if it's normal/expected. If it is, then get medication to control it. If not, you need to be seen.
Is their swelling, discoloration, headache, nausia, or fever invloved? Streaks up the arm radiating from incision?
Could be infected/clotted up.
Don't massage it, if it is clotted up it could be broken loose and sent to lungs.
If it was me, i'd have asked those questions on the day the symptopms appeared. I wouldn't want to risk permanant damage or ill effects of something going seriously wrong

[bethsha211]

dipweed23 Wrote:If you are experienceing pain like that, and it is bothersome, I'd call the doc's office and find out if it's normal/expected. If it is, then get medication to control it. If not, you need to be seen.
Is their swelling, discoloration, headache, nausia, or fever invloved? Streaks up the arm radiating from incision?
Could be infected/clotted up.
Don't massage it, if it is clotted up it could be broken loose and sent to lungs.
If it was me, i'd have asked those questions on the day the symptopms appeared. I wouldn't want to risk permanant damage or ill effects of something going seriously wrong

I don't have any symptoms of infection like streaks,redness,fever, or nausea. It seems to be nerve-related,just numb,burning,needles and pins,but oy boy it hurts. I hate to take meds unless the pain is so great I can't handle any more.I usually get that way at nighttime when it is worse.
Thanks for your reply.Will asked the doctor tomorrow what he thinks of it.

[grundig]

Ok I can answer this.
The Ulner nerve in my arm was stretched so thin that 1 more good Tug (for lack of a better word at this time) it would have completly seperated.
I needed a Ulner Nerve transposition.
I thought the problem was in my hand, but EMG (Nerve Study) suggested it was in the arm.
I got the cast off, stitches out, as of yet there is no Improvement, Surgeon say,s you will probly have more pain, numbness tingling, burning than before the surgery.
In about 6-9 month,s these sympton,s will disapear.
Best thing to do when you are experiancing these sympton,s are, Get a prescription for Lyrica, Get a heating pad to releive the pain, If you can get Pain Killer,s that would help.
It,s a long process ,I can relate what your going thru.
Also ,If you can obtain some vitamin B6,Take a 100mg. a day.
People say It,s contiversial, but it work,s.
Also don,t let the hand sit Idle,Exercise it,, but not to the point of PAIN, Discomfort ,Yes ,but not Pain.
Yes it,s get rough, But with the help of my extended family here , I,m getting thru this. ((((( HUGS)))))

[bethsha211]

grundig Wrote:Ok I can answer this.
The Ulner nerve in my arm was stretched so thin that 1 more good Tug (for lack of a better word at this time) it would have completly seperated.
I needed a Ulner Nerve transposition.
I thought the problem was in my hand, but EMG (Nerve Study) suggested it was in the arm.
I got the cast off, stitches out, as of yet there is no Improvement, Surgeon say,s you will probly have more pain, numbness tingling, burning than before the surgery.
In about 6-9 month,s these sympton,s will disapear.
Best thing to do when you are experiancing these sympton,s are, Get a prescription for Lyrica, Get a heating pad to releive the pain, If you can get Pain Killer,s that would help.
It,s a long process ,I can relate what your going thru.
Also ,If you can obtain some vitamin B6,Take a 100mg. a day.
People say It,s contiversial, but it work,s.
Also don,t let the hand sit Idle,Exercise it,, but not to the point of PAIN, Discomfort ,Yes ,but not Pain.
Yes it,s get rough, But with the help of my extended family here , I,m getting thru this. ((((( HUGS)))))

Thanks for the info,Grundig.This is not fun,but it helps to know that others are out there that are experiencing this also. I sometimes feel I am being a big baby about this,though the pain is very real.I wake up almost to the hour every night,because I have turned my hand wrong in my sleep and it doesn't like it.I am real curious to see what the doctor says today.I have pain-killers,but try not to take them until I just can't bear the pain.Will let you know what doc says.
Thanks!

[ksgirl]

I understand not liking to take pain pills, but if you wait until you are in extreme pain, they won't work as well. Try taking one before the pain gets so bad in the evening, say around four or five pm. Then take one about an hour before you go to bed. You might be able to sleep a little better.

[bethsha211]

ksgirl Wrote:I understand not liking to take pain pills, but if you wait until you are in extreme pain, they won't work as well. Try taking one before the pain gets so bad in the evening, say around four or five pm. Then take one about an hour before you go to bed. You might be able to sleep a little better.

Ksgirl, Thanks for the advice!

[capricorn]

Yep, been there with the pill thing. Never wanted to take them out of fear of being addicted. I let the pain get sooooooo bad that nothing worked. Wishing you the best.


CAP

[bethsha211]

capricorn Wrote:Yep, been there with the pill thing. Never wanted to take them out of fear of being addicted. I let the pain get sooooooo bad that nothing worked. Wishing you the best.


CAP

Thanks. Just got back from the Doc. He said that when they opened my wrist, the internal scar tissue from the first operation was on top of the nerve and gluing it down so that it couldn't move. The pain I am having is due to the removal of tissue and I am having nerve trauma from it. don't know how long this will last. I guess we just wait and see:l

[Dallas307]

Beth sounds like you are in good hands-no pun intended-healing from prior mistakes take a bit longer to get through-You can do it!
hugs