Carpal tunnel again! Squidgell?

[lisnic]

I still have it in my left hand :-s

I went to docs and was given cortisone injection 28th may great I thought maybe would cure it for good or maybe at least for a while

Nope - cured my tingly fingers but my thumb and that joint thumb/wrist it has made painful - before it was just almost permanently numb but now I have periods of it being ok numb tingly and painful every night now it's painful again and I require my splints and even holding Ella's bottle hurts

Went back to doc and they said another injection after 8-12weeks - usually 12 but they may do it at 8 - then surgery if that doesnt work/last - not ideal as dh will be back at work and I was really tender after first injection for 2-3 days and I really needed him for looking after kids

He said physio in meantime - my appointment came in - 19th July

So it's progressively being painful earlier And earlier in the day again and I honestly think when dh goes back to work I'll be in quite a lot of discomfort as I'll be doing everything

When I look at these timings it's

Physio 19th July
Injection anywhere between 23rd July and 20th August

And then I'm assuming they would wait the 8-12 weeks again before they would refer to hospital for possible surgery so 29th oct-19th nov

Is there anything I can do in meantime??as if it comes to it by then I'll be in bloody agony probably with a numb hand really don't think I can wait that long and doc did say that they suspect it will come to that which is why I was warned due to how early I got it this pregnancy that the chances of being stuck with it were quite high

If I paid for a private gp or consultant consultation would they refer me to nhs hospital for surgery sooner if they think I need it? I have found a consultant very close in bupa hospital so have that option

Sorry for babble a painful feeling sorry for myself tonight!

[Peridot]

I have literally been in agony these last 2 weeks, mainly at night times...I've been putting off buying the wrist supports as I had previously bought them when I had it with my pregnancies with Thomas & Oscar but have given in as I couldn't find them anywhere.
this pregnancy has been my worst case too.

The wrist supports are amazing - I think you can get them on prescription but I needed them NOW so got them from boots, they are £17 each but it has made such a difference, not 100% better, apparently it can take a while but I can actually sleep now.

I suspect you have done permenant damage to the nerves so will most prob need an op at some point but give the wrist supports a try.

Not sure a private consultant would have you seen quicker in an NHS hospital but an NHS GP will happily give you a referral to a private cons and you'd have to have the op done privately.

[lisnic]

I've got big supports already I have to wear them at night too painful not to

I have bigger substantial night one I can't do much when wearing and a smaller one that I can just about do everything wearing albeit uncomfy and adapted I need to wear in day sometimes

When dh goes I'm just dreading it as just now he can take over

[lisnic]

I'd hate to think the cost of a private op but we would have to pay so I imagine a huge amount

[squidgell]

You have my sympathies, it's not fun. Not sure what advice I can offer really, I was never offered cortisone injections, I had my nerve conduction tests done in August last year which confirmed CTS and then I had my left hand operated on in December. I had my right one done 2 weeks ago. I think round here they are usually done quicker but there was a delay in sorting it out because a couple of clinics were cancelled so mine got pushed back.

I would say though that if you're this uncomfortable with it then keep pushing them to sort it out, keep going back to your GP until you get it sorted . I will say though that if you do need surgery in the end then make sure it's when your DH is at home as do lose the use of your hand while it's healing and you'll need help to look after your LO's. I'm 2 weeks post op now and only recently started to be able to use it in the last few days, I have no grip and its painful to put any pressure on my fingers but it definitely is worth it. Last time I was off work for 7 weeks although some of that was down to infection.

[Booh]

My sister recently had this done at a Bupa hospital, she had Bupa cover, so it just cost her the excess. She said it would have been£1400 otherwise to pay for it.

[lisnic]

That seems really cheap booh