I saw the Upper Extremity Specialist yesterday. It was a long and very thorough appointment which left me in a lot of pain and I am still very sore today.
The Specialist advised me that I am suffering from a Ulna Nerve Entrapment/Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on both elbows. Basically, the ulna nerve is compressed and irritated from my elbows being in a 90 degree position from typing all day long. This has resulted in the numbness in my pinkie and ring fingers and has contributed to the lack of motorary function of my digits.
As for the sharp, intense, shooting pains that I suffer from in the back of my hand can also be a result from this nerve entrapment but more in like is more an infliction due to soft tissue damage in my muscles and extensor tendons due to over use by my speed typing. This may not be fixed and quite possibly be something I may have to live and cope with for the rest of my life.
After discussions with my man, a close friend and co-worker and my mother; I am a bit more at ease. This is something that can not be helped - just like my other surgeries could not be helped either. I have not asked for these circumstances and as a result am not at fault. If I decided to delay or prevent these surgeries I would then place myself in a position to be placed on permanent long term disability in the next few years.
My hands are my livelihood and are a necessity in any one's life. It could possibly mean my job (which is very, very unlikely) vs. my quality of life ... kind of a no brainer on that decision.
The best thing is: we have now found out a huge portion of what the cause and that it is fixable. Now we can move forward and work at resolving this issue step by step.
The Specialist advised me that I am suffering from a Ulna Nerve Entrapment/Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on both elbows. Basically, the ulna nerve is compressed and irritated from my elbows being in a 90 degree position from typing all day long. This has resulted in the numbness in my pinkie and ring fingers and has contributed to the lack of motorary function of my digits.
As for the sharp, intense, shooting pains that I suffer from in the back of my hand can also be a result from this nerve entrapment but more in like is more an infliction due to soft tissue damage in my muscles and extensor tendons due to over use by my speed typing. This may not be fixed and quite possibly be something I may have to live and cope with for the rest of my life.
The specialist highly recommends that I have an Anterior Submuscular Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve (surgery) on both of my elbows - which means two more surgeries to be added to my list. Here is the zinger of the whole situation: on average one has a 12 to 16 month window to correct a compressed nerve before permanent damage sets in. It has now been eight months since the onslaught of my symptoms and issues with my hands. As a result, I have been scheduled to have my left elbow done in February 2012. We are doing my left first as this is the side that is worse.
My stomach dropped and my heart got saddened at this information. It is not that I am afraid of surgery (lord knows I am a pro at this by now) but that concept of missing more work (especially when my absences are being monitored for another seven months) was enough to make my nauseous.
I fully understand that this has to happen and that I need to have this surgery to prevent further damage and disability but it doesn't ease my conscience with the fact that I have to inform my work of this news.
My hands are my livelihood and are a necessity in any one's life. It could possibly mean my job (which is very, very unlikely) vs. my quality of life ... kind of a no brainer on that decision.
The best thing is: we have now found out a huge portion of what the cause and that it is fixable. Now we can move forward and work at resolving this issue step by step.
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