Could this be Carpal tunel syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome... Where Should I Go From Here?

• I have been having pain in my hands for a little over a year and just recently my doctor thought it might be carpal tunnel syndrome. He suggested I have an EMG test done. The results came back and i did indeed have carpal tunnel. I received cortisone shots in each wrist a little over a week ago and have gotten little to no improvement. What should be the next step, surgery? I've been wearing wrist splints at night and they don't seem to help... Could i possibly have another problem as well as carpal Tunnel? If i bend down the first joint of every finger i experience pain and also a clicking sensation in my thumb. Is this common with carpal tunnel or is it something else. I have been tested for arthritis and this is not the case....

• Answer:

  Cortisone injections don't work for everyone and you are limited to how many you can have. If the pain is really bad your doctor should refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon for decompression of the carpal tunnel. It is a simple operation usually done as a day case and is usually successful although whilst you have stitches in your hand you are limited to what you can do. I had both my hands operated on several years ago and have never had any pain since. Good luck.