carpal tunnel and trigger finger surgery

[Da Chooch]

planning on getting these procedures done on both hands. has anyone undergone these procedures before? if so how long was the recovery to play drums again?

[patdrums]

Chooch-

Have you exhausted ALL of your options? Luckily, I've never had any problems with my hands but I know several guys who have---some were in your same exact position and were getting ready to go under the knife. There's a guy in Nashville who works for the Tennessee Titans named Dr. Preston Wakefield who specializes in something called Active Release Therapy. He urges ANYONE planning on having surgery to see him first. I know two buddies who were headed to the O.R. and they saw him in a last ditch effort to avoid getting cut. They both said he examined them closely, did some serious trigger point massaging on their arms (they said it was NOT pleasant and hurt like a bitch but they managed to get through it) and when he was done, they cancelled their surgeries. They both said what he did was positively miraculous and they are pain-free to this day. He gave them some specific stretching exercises to do before they play and both of them are totally fine now.

There was an article on him in MD a few years back if I remember correctly. I've never had to see him but if I were in that spot, I'd see him just based on what he did for my buddies. Just a thought..... There may be someone near you who knows the technique and can possibly save you alot of pain, money and recovery down-time

[jhall]

Agree with Pat! Get this book.. http://www.amazon.com/Your-Carpal-Tunne ... 1558535918

Seriously.. look into this. It deals with both trigger finger issues and CPT. The incidence of needing the surgery is higher AFTER getting it the first time.

best of luck!

[piccupstix]

Chooch...another A.R.T. endorser here. In my case it worked great. I had painful issues with both hands (not trigger finger, though) and saw lots of "specialists." After learning about Active Release Techniques I found a practitioner locally and set up a series of appointments. After a few visits it cleared up considerably. Between that and better technique I was able to stop worrying about it and get back to the music. I was given a set of excercises that I do daily and I've never returned to serious problems. Good luck with whatever direction you pursue.

[gretsch-o-rama]

Yeah I had some nerve/muscle fusing in my trad hand and it healed 90% after a.r.t... I would highly recommend this as a cheaper and more effective alternative...

[ED_W]

I suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger problems for many years. I tried Acupuncture, ART, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy with little relief from any of them. Cortisone injections for trigger finger did help but the relief was only for six months then the problems would come back. The injections were very painful too. Over time I ended up with trigger finger in all ten digits because I am prone to tendon problems, not from bad technique. if you opt for it,the day surgery for both carpal tunnel and trigger finger is quite simple and effective and you will feel the relief from carpal tunnel after the anesthesia wears off. General anesthesia is not required, a nerve block works great too. You should allow about six weeks before you really get back to playing drums and some occupational therapy is a big help after the surgery. My only regret about the surgery is that I waited so long to get it. My hands have been trouble free with no numbness or sticking fingers for five years now. You should be aware that if you wait too long for carpal tunnel surgery you risk permanent nerve damage.

[langmick]

What exactly is trigger finger? Is it a finger sticking in place or fingers just taking a weird shape from a lot of practicing.

Chooch, you should try massage, and if you don't, exercise and stretch.

Getting old has crappy effects on the body, I'm finding...you have to keep on moving.

[ED_W]

When you have trigger finger or thumb, the finger gets stuck after you bend it . Sometimes its very difficult to get the finger to straighten out even when you try to straighten it with your other hand. It happens because the tendon develops a nodule and gets caught in the sheath tunnel.

[langmick]

Wow, ok. Not a fun deal. I can see something like that needed something painful done to correct it.

It is not liek arthritis, I'm gathering.

[Da Chooch]

Ed - after more than a decade of different excercises, accupuncture, splints at night, cortizone shots, stretching excerses, massage therapy, i've finally decided to undergo this procedure. i am still in waiting as to see what is covered and what my part of the bill is for me in regards to the procedure. i am amazed that the procedure takes about 15-minutes and only needs local anesthesia. i think the advent of newer and innovative treatments was i willing to go through with it. the doctor even told me the same thing. if i keep going on without this procedure i will have permanent nerve damage in the future.

trigger finger feels like someone jabbed an ice pick in between your joints and just left it there. then, your whole finger swells up almost double it's size (at least it does for me). the pain is so excruciating and i hardly slept that night. i've been having more problems with ea. finger to where i think it'll end up all ten digits as well. though i only plan to cover the index, ring, and middle finger and the carpal tunner for ea. hand. believe it or not, i am SO excited. i know, it sounds crazy but that's how much of a nuisance this condition of mine has become. i really thought i would need to find another kind of vocation as well as never play the drums again.

thank you all for your suggestions and thoughts. i will keep ya'll posted once i'm done.