Joe A Shaw PA-C - 3/21/2009

Question
At age 18 (8 years ago) I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands. I am now facing the same issues I had pre-carpal tunnel release-numbness, tingling, pain, discomfort...Is it possible to get it twice and if so can they do surgery again? Thank you.

Answer
Diana,
It is fairly uncommon especially in the USA to have to have carpal tunnel surgery at such a young age from just repetitive use?. Did/do you have any risk factors such as diabetes, hypothyroid, auto-immune problems?
I would get an internal medicine w/u first to look for possible aggravating factors. Then get NCS/EMG studies. I would try conservative measures..Night splints, stretching exercises, nerve tendon glide exercises..Advil per label etc..
Probably try this 1-3 months,if no improvement then consider release again.
Yes you can get CTS again and they can release it again..but each time you will get scar adhesion formation, which is kind of like spider web scar tissue underneath the skin which can entrap the nerve as well.