GazzaB's blog: "Health Update"

I have finally received a report from my consultant regarding my carpal tunnel syndrome. He has confirmed despite that my nerve conduction tests were normal that I do have carpal tunnel syndrome. While I was in hospital with pneumonia I had an x-ray of my C-spine to check for a cervical rib but none was present. My thyroid tests were normal. For the moment I am not having many problems with my condition. Because of this I have been advised not to have any surgery at this time as it might produce pillar pain which might interfere with my work and cause me to have a few months of work. When I next have pain I will have further steroid injections and if necessary after that I will have surgery.

I currently have pneumonia, it started with a cold a week ago when I got back from London. I was admitted to hospital on Wednesday night straight after seeing my doctor. Luckily for me the antibiotics that they administered to me via a drip worked quickly. Within hours I was moved to a different bed and by Friday I was staying on my third different ward. I could hardly say that I enjoyed my time but at least I only had to stay three nights in hospital. I had been told that I would probably have to wait until Monday to be allowed to go home. Our hospitals only seem to work five days a week! My consultant on Friday morning had stated that I could probably be able to go home on Saturday if I was able to improve using oral antibiotics. On Saturday morning I was feeling much better and I managed to get permission to go home. I will see my local doctor in the next couple of days. I have antibiotics to take for another four days. I have been told to expect to take a couple of weeks of rest before going back to work.

Just an update on my health problems. I went for my nerve conduction tests. Turns out that I don't have any problems with my nerves. This implies that I do not have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This probably means that I have some other form of Repetitive Strain Injury. I received a letter from my hospital today and my next appointment with my consultant is on the 11th of March. A fair wait, hopefully I will find out what the problem with my arms are now. Anyway they have been much better lately as I have been resting them more and not spending so much time on here chatting lol

Yesterday I visited the doctors surgery twice. One in the morning to see about my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome problems. I have now been referred for decompression surgery at my local hospital. I have been informed that the waiting time for this kind of procedure should not be long. In this case I may well be looking at surgery before Christmas this year. The recovery time differs for each patient but I have been informed that for me this will be somewhere between two weeks and three months, quite a wide time-scale! From my point of view the sooner the better as I may be requiring time off work around this time. I have increasing problems with my arms so I would very much like to have my surgery and get back to normal now as soon as possible. Later in the day I saw my other doctor regarding my blood pressure. I had been suffering from a constant dry throat from August until the start of October. This was diagnosed as being caused by a water tablet which I take to accompany my blood pressure tablet to aid in lowering my pressure. I have not taken the water tablet for the past four weeks now. As my blood pressure has now levelled to a point which is acceptable and not increased without the aid of the extra tablet, I can continue without taking it. I will go back in three months and have another assessment regarding this then.