Tunnel syndrome surgery experience
Author Dr. Tibor Szalontay | 2021.05.03.
Ágnes' post-operative recovery: numbness disappeared in a few days after Tunnel Syndrome surgery
When conservative treatment methods fail, tunnel syndrome surgery is the solution to this common musculoskeletal problem. In advanced stages, this condition is associated with severe pain and can cause clumsiness of the hand. Agnes was unable to sleep from the burning pain when the operation was performed. Dr. Tibor Szalontay, a specialist traumatologist at the Budapest Musculoskeletal Private Clinic, performed the tunnel syndrome surgery on her. In this article we present Ágnes' recovery story.
On the road to tunnel syndrome surgery: early signs
Ágnes is a lecturer at the University of Pécs, and the problems she had to deal with made her everyday life difficult. At first she had minor pain and swelling in her wrist, and then her grip slowly became more awkward. Objects fell out of his hands and he could not use his hands as he would have liked. Her doctor friend suggested she see a specialist. Ágnes went to Dr. Tibor Szalontay, the head hand surgeon at the Budapest Musculoskeletal Private Clinic, for an examination.
Tunnel syndrome through medical eyes
Dr Szalontay suspected a carotid tunnel syndrome in Ágnes on physical examination, which was confirmed by additional tests. This is how the doctor talks about this disease in the video:
The onset of tunnel syndrome is usually months. At first, the patient cannot even articulate what the problem is with their hand. Only later does it become clear that the first three fingers are numb. Sometimes, when a patient comes to see me for an examination, he will talk about his whole hand, and only when asked, or during the examination, does he realise that his little finger and ring finger are not usually numb. Patients regularly complain that they cannot sleep at night. This is because the small amount of water that is present in the ankles during the day is dissipated at night. It also rises to our hands and wrists and creates pressure and oedema there. This makes the complaints worse. If conservative treatment fails, tunnel syndrome surgery is the solution.
The doctor also explains in the recording that, as with any other disease, a triple diagnosis is needed for tunnel syndrome. First, the patient's subjective complaints, second, the objective symptoms and third, the various imaging tests are used to make an accurate diagnosis. The imaging test for tunnel syndrome is called electroneurography.
Tunnel syndrome surgery is the solution to intolerable symptoms
Ágnes and the doctor set a date for the operation, and because Ágnes still had to teach, the operation was scheduled for a month later. This was not such a good idea, as Ágnes's symptoms were getting rapidly worse:
The night-time complaints bothered me the most. I couldn't sleep from the burning pain and numbness, so I was looking forward to the appointment. It's not nice to say „I'm looking forward to the operation“, but my complaints were so intense that I really felt that way.
Advanced tunnel syndrome surgery with minimal scarring
Chief Medical Officer Szalontay says on the record that the tunnel syndrome surgery The idea is to release the tunnel by pulling in the ligament running along the ridge, which releases the nerve from the pressure. The doctor performs the tunnel syndrome surgery by making a very small incision to open up the entire length of the tunnel. This way, the patient will experience minimal scarring after the surgery.
Aftercare and rehabilitation after tunnel syndrome surgery
In the video, Ágnes explains that the doctor made a very small incision on her hand, so the external scar was very small, but the internal surgical area was larger, as a wide band had to be cut. He therefore received 10 suitable ultrasound follow-up treatments, which played a big role in dissolving the internal scar.
The night-time complaints bothered me the most. I couldn't sleep from the burning pain and numbness, so I was looking forward to the appointment. It's not nice to say „I'm looking forward to the operation“, but my complaints were so intense that I really felt that way.
The result of tunnel syndrome surgery
After the operation, Ágnes' pain went away in a few days, she only felt some pain from the wound healing, and the numbness completely disappeared in a few days. At first she was very careful not to overwork her hand. Today, he can use a computer again, his hand is not numb or clumsy and he doesn't drop things. Agnes also advises others to seek medical advice:
I would definitely recommend that anyone who has problems like the ones I started with - joint swelling, pain, unsteady tingling, numbness, pain at night - should see a specialist as soon as possible. He will do his best to ensure that surgery is not necessarily the solution, but if it is necessary, tunnel syndrome surgery is the solution, after which the symptoms will disappear and you will be able to use your hands again.
Specialists in hand surgery:
Dr. Anett Lénárt
Specialist in hand surgery , Head of Department, Chief Physician
Dr. Tibor Szalontay
Hand surgeon, plastic surgeon, traumatologist
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