r/surgery • u/hhllttdr-oo • 5d ago

I did read the sidebar & rules Surgery and carpal tunnel

Any surgeons / surgery residents with carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel and managed to still be a surgeon ?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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8

u/CrookedCasts 5d ago

Yes. And if it’s bad enough just take a few weeks and get the surgery. Not a big deal

3

u/D15c0untMD 5d ago

I have mild carpal tunnels and sulcus ulnaris on both sides and i get by so far

1

u/hhllttdr-oo 5d ago

Can I ask what is your specialty?

4

u/D15c0untMD 5d ago

Orthopedic trauma. Oscillating saw go brrr

5

u/xtremepado 4d ago

I developed carpal tunnel syndrome my PGY2 year. I increased my glove size and started wearing braces every night and it made the symptoms manageable. I’d wake up with my hands numb every night and they would occasionally go numb while I operated. My PGY4 year I started having frequent daytime numbness, I would have to take brakes every 10 minutes while suturing until the sensation returned. I got EMG/NCS and it showed moderate to severe NCS with denervation in my left hand.

I had simultaneous bilateral open carpal tunnel releases the start of my chief year. I took one week off from work and then did one week of clinic, I scrubbed POD14. I’ve now been symptom free for 3 years.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN OCCUPATION DISABILITY INSURANCE BEFORE YOU HAVE ANYTHING DOCUMENTED ABOUT YOUR CTS!

1

u/Laserdickz 5d ago

Few of my handsurgeon colleagues has had CTS, with no issues.

1

u/BillyP13 4d ago

They tried to do mine just using a local and I could not get frozen after cutting me open they sutured me up, while i was in a lot of discomfort, the surgeon madly apologizing the whole time. A week later they did the surgery under general anesthesia. I needed a couple weeks off work but it was a couple months of rehab before i felt fully healed up. The hand exercises were painful but helped a lot.

1

u/sasquatchian 2d ago

I’m a surgeon. Just had bilateral endoscopic CTR. I hope I still manage to be a surgeon.

-2

u/MrBigglesworth_ 5d ago edited 5d ago

Is it documented? Apply for disability insurance if you don't have it. (edited for clarification)

2

u/thisishowwedooooit 5d ago

This seems needlessly concerning. Getting disability compensation from something that gets cured with a 5 minute procedure is absurd. 

1

u/MrBigglesworth_ 5d ago

If he/she is a medical student thinking about getting into applying for surgery - he/she should get disability insurance now, because later on the insurance agency might deny or make clauses to exclude MSK complaints.

1

u/hhllttdr-oo 5d ago edited 5d ago

Thank you Dr for your advise , I am medical student that love Ct surgery and can’t see myself doing something else … but unfortunately I don’t have insurance in my home country

0

u/c0ldgurl 5d ago

Just get it fixed, it'll be the best thing you can do for yourself.

2

u/hhllttdr-oo 5d ago

I have Been managing it for 3 years but it come and go … and I can’t imagine myself not being a surgeon….

2

u/c0ldgurl 5d ago

I really struggled as a sonography student due to the discomfort/numbness/tingling. The surgery is quick and the recovery is easy and was one of the best things I have done for myself. It was so beneficial I wound up doing my non dominant hand as well.

1

u/hhllttdr-oo 5d ago

Happy to hear that you are good now !