another carpal tunnel question

[petpalswi]

ok. so I had been dealing with the pain and discomfort for a while ( it had gotten worse the last 6 months or so). my hands, my wrists, my elbows, all the way to my shoulders. visited the doctor who did xrays and nerve tests. moderate to severe was the diagnosis. had surgery on the right wrist january 7 and the left wrist january 21. so things are going okay. still a little sore but now I'm really trying to build up my strength. so I asked my doctor if the pain in my elbows would also go away after surgery, he says we will have to wait and see, the two may or may not be related. I played some wii last night, and almost cried my elbow hurt so much. my question. anyone have this? did you find the wrist and elbow pain was connected? did the pain ever go away? or am I going to have to seek more treatment and possibly more surgery for the elbows? I'm trying to get back to work, I cant afford to be off much longer, but I am afraid that I will be in as much pain and discomfort as I was before surgery. I've been stressing, my daughter says that may be hindering my recovery. I dont want to be a baby, but I dont think I can do a good job if I continue to try to work through the pain. any thoughts?

[Particentral]

All of my arm and hand pain was realted to shoulders and neck compression. You likely need a good physical therapist or occupational therapist to look at you and evaluate you. A good massage thereapist that does deep tissue work is a great thought as well. Mine cured my problems. When my hands get tingly (and I was told I needed surgery years ago and opted not to do it) he works on my neck and shoulders and it goes away. Something to think about anyway.

[Particentral]

I wanted to add that I work in pain daily from a knee that needs replacing and a chronic whiplash injury from 15 years ago and fibromyaglia. I keep working. It can be done, but its hard and some days are worse than others. I am stubborn and keep on trucking. Will NOT give in. At shows, you can tell when I hurt cause my dogs dont look as good as they could.

[pinkgroomer]

i have carpal tunnel also. just got surgery in one wrist, the other wrist next week. I have awful pain in my shoulders. At first we thought it was from me overcompensating and the carpal tunnel and all. But as I was talking to the doctor and he feels it is either nerve damage or something with my spine. we're going to take a better look after I recuperate a bit

[Particentral]

i have carpal tunnel also. just got surgery in one wrist, the other wrist next week. I have awful pain in my shoulders. At first we thought it was from me overcompensating and the carpal tunnel and all. But as I was talking to the doctor and he feels it is either nerve damage or something with my spine. we're going to take a better look after I recuperate a bit

And it is possible that that pain is actually from compression and pinching that causes carpal tunnel symptoms. When I was diagnosed my doc literally, before the tests came ack, was saying pick your day for surgery when he found out what I do for a living. A second surgeon over ruled him when he saw my results and decided that (correctly) t was my neck and shoulder issues causing the problems in my hands. SO my point is, its not always as simple as it looks and it is not always CT.

[pinkgroomer]

totally true! They were very ready to set up a surgery for the shoulder before they did some emg test and some other tests i didn't understand. And honestly I panicked the day of my CT surgery. I kept thinking what if it is something else like my shoulder.

[Helly]

You know, when the pain involves more than the wrist/hands, I'd suspect something other than CT. Like thoracic outlet syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, facet syndrome, nerve entrapment, subluxations of the cervical/thoracic vertebrea. Maybe even fibromyalgia. Get a second opinion. See a neurologist and a chiropractor.