Jim, age 81, has struggled with carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands for more than 40 years. Prior to retiring, he worked construction, often breaking up cement using drills and power hammers. The relentless vibration of those tools really took a toll.
His symptoms were most prominent at night: “By the time I got into my 40s, I wasn’t sleeping at night,” says Jim. “The tingling and numbness would wake me up and both arms felt like they were dead.” He tried everything to get back to sleep. He would shake his arms, hit them against a wall, and even submerge them in ice trying to regain normal sensation.
Soon the symptoms started to impact his daily life, too. Even seemingly small things would bother his hands. “I read a lot of non-fiction, but I’d sit with a book and about a page and a half into it, my hand would go numb. I’d have to switch hands back and forth.”
When driving, Jim found himself needing to switch hands holding the steering wheel because of the numbness. Despite all of this, Jim has remained dedicated to staying in shape and even now, he challenges himself to do a hundred pushups daily.
Surgery Was Not an Option
That’s why, when he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in the 1980s, he resisted carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery. Then, the only option was open release, an invasive procedure that would take weeks or more to heal. The prolonged recovery time was a non-starter for Jim.
“I would have to take time off work. I couldn’t work out or hit a golf ball. It wasn’t the expense or the pain that stopped me, it was that I didn’t want to not be able to participate in life.”
So instead of surgery, Jim tried other treatments including vitamins, braces, acupuncture, chiropractic, and a lot of over-the-counter pain medications.“ (I tried) anything that would work and some minor degree of success, but overall, it was futile.” None of them gave him any lasting relief.
He knew he would eventually need surgery, but he kept putting it off. That is, until he heard from a friend about a CTR technique that uses ultrasound guidance. He was astonished to hear that his friend was able to play golf within weeks of his procedure.
Carpal Tunnel Release with Ultrasound Guidance
The innovative approach uses Sonex Health’s UltraGuideCTR™ and real-time ultrasound guidance — a less-invasive technique that offers a faster recovery than traditional open surgery. It can be performed using a local anesthetic, typically doesn’t require stitches, and because of its small incision, the area heals quickly.
After hearing about his friend’s success, Jim was eager to try it and reached out to his friend’s orthopedist, Dr. Christopher Gayton. Concerned about being able to continue working out, Jim felt reassured when Dr. Gayton told him that within a few days to a week after the procedure, he should be able to continue his routine.
“I started with wall pushups for a few days, and just four days after the procedure, I did a hundred real pushups. I thought I’d have to deal with carpal tunnel syndrome for the rest of my life, but this ultrasound technique has been a miracle.”
Back to Sleep with No Problems
Following CTR with ultrasound guidance on both wrists, Jim says he experienced immediate relief from the tingling and numbness. In fact, the first night following treatment, he slept the best he’s had in almost 40 years. What’s more, he’s delighted that his downtime was minimal.
“Immediate relief, I was able to sleep right from the very first night [since the procedure] with no problems. It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in almost 40 years.”
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