Re: second surgery

In Reply to: second surgery posted by robin on November 21, 2003 at 16:38:06:

: Has anyone had more than one release surgery?I thought after the first time all would be well.Not ss the pain and numbness has returned and worse.The nerve from my left shoots all the way to neck.How many times will it take??

Hi Robin
How long is it since you had surgery? What Melani said is right. It can take a very long time for the nerve to settle after surgery. It was around 6 months before my first lot of surgery actually felt like it might have worked. After all that handling/bruising it can take a long time to recover.

My surgeon said he wouldn't consider surgery on the same hand for 2 years after the first op. In the UK most surgeons are paid a salary so have nothing to gain by recommending surgery or not. They're not out to make a buck so I reckon that on the whole you can trust their judgement. The surgeon I had didn't recommend 2nd surgery & many doctors I've spoken to since have agreed. More than one lot of surgery just tends to build up the scar tissue which ends up pressing on the median nerve even more.

I think there are times when 2nd surgery is appropriate but I reckon heaps of time should pass before it's considered.

Evelyn