Flextend, Surgery, Voodoo... and stretches, for that matter.

Good day,eh! I've got my two cents... thought I'd spend 'em here.

Everyone with CTS symptoms wants a cure, or at least relief. Of that much I'm pretty certain. Most, at some point or another, will explore available options and pick the option(s) that makes sense to them. Some will be happy, some will have regrets.

The fix for anyone will depend on the root cause. Is it CTS? Nerve pinch someplace other than the wrist? RSI? Diabetes? Thyroid or Hormone issues? Previous injury? Voodoo curse? A combination thereof?

If the treatment doesn't match the particular cause of the symptoms, the treatment will fail. Absolute certainty of diagnosis is key, yet difficult to obtain.

Many sufferers will be knocked around by company or WC Doctors for whom an honest diagnosis can be clouded by the financial liability concerns of their respective employers. Others will be swayed by peddlers of various books, creams or contraptions who have financial (rather than medical) concerns as their primary motivation. Other's will be swayed by unverified, or misleading statistical information which will support or refute pretty much any option they research.

The true success stories; the ones that are "cured" and have the most to offer, will often disappear. They (thankfully) get on with their lives. The only people who remain on message boards of this nature for the long term are (a)suffering symptoms/relapse, (b)in treatment/recovery, (c)have a financial interest, (d)are truly compassionate ormalevolent and have lots of time on their hands, or (e)are pornsters or pill pushers.

I've had what is considered a successful RH open release surgery (7 1/2 months post-op). Although I've been diagnosed bi-lateral CTS, I've had lots of time off work of late and am currently symptom free. Has the surgery fixed my RH? Or has the time off work tamed the symptoms in both hands? Have the stretches I've been praising in my posts been the magic bullet? For today it doesn't matter to me. I feel good. It's probably all of those things.

My point? My cure ain't your cure. In a lot of cases it's probably not really my "cure" either. Learn what you can, from sources you trust, and let the buyer beware. Every perspective is valuable to see represented, and questioned.

And good luck to everyone who's still suffering.

Adam.

• The BEST carpal tunnel syndrome resource I've found, yet!