As many of you know, I had the Ulnar Transposition in the elbow, but also had a modified transposition in my hand concerning Guyon's canal, and due to the length of time of numbness, ring and pinkie were also released. Okay, with that said, I still have a swollen pinkie at the 4 and a half week mark. Of those of you that had that surgery, how long till you didn't feel like your pinkie was a sausage?

The palm and top of my hand have returned along with my ring finger, pinkie IS coming back slowly. The fat pinkie is annoying. Input please if you have had this surgery. Also too, (and this might be a big part of this, my ring and pinkie were also released during this surgical intervention. The palm "pulleys" were cut to unlock them - I think that is were most of the swelling is from, but want to see if Guyon's folks are running into this. Thanks!!! Progress is getting better day by day.....

Oops! My bad on "Syndrome" forgot the E....

Okay, week nine has just been past, and I still have a "sausage pinkie" and the area of my palm above the "Palmer's crease" (the first line on your palm below the fingers) is still puffy and swollen. Has anyone else had swelling last this long? Grrrrr... I see my surgeon tomorrow on a follow up, and of course I will bring this up, but just wondering if anyone who has had "clawed" fingers released, and or Guyon's canal in the wrist release had this swelling this long? Thanks.

Okay, saw my doctor/surgeon today on a follow up, and he was not concerned with my "sausage fingers" so far. I was told "The honey moon" was over, and it will take a while for the last two fingers (ring and pig finger) to "feel non swelled" due to the release for the clawing. I have found that if I use ice packs, it is reduced. I guess in the big picture, I can wait and see. He took me off of physical therapy today as well - progress? I will still do "homework" at home so I don't backslide on functionality of the hand and fingers and such. Yup .... baby steps. I guess I have to go back to my favorite phrase, that being "Patience is a virtue"... it is true! Attitude, attitude, attitude.....

Dear Brenda:

I was wondering how do they diagnose Guyon's? How do they know the blockage is there and not somewhere else?

Mike

Mike wrote:

QUOTE:
Dear Brenda:

I was wondering how do they diagnose Guyon's? How do they know the blockage is there and not somewhere else?

Mike

Greetings Mike,

My doctor/surgeon relied more on his physical exam and my reactions verses what the EMG testing showed (which by the way was not highly revealing). The EMG showed minor Carpal Tunnel in my left wrist (I keep it in check with altering my wrist positions, and stretching plus EMS/TENS home treatment on the Medial and Radial nerves - it's working pretty well.

At any rate, I had a very strong positive reaction to the "Tinel sign" testing. Basically Tinel is where your sensitivity is examined. I basically (to give you a picture) had a "funny bone" about an inch and a half above my elbow to about 3 inches below it! As for the Guyon's, I had a "funny bone" there as well. If he even lightly tapped just above my wrist all the way along and down my pinkie, the shocking was almost unbearable!! If I shook hands with someone and they grabbed my hand right, shock central! About 4 weeks before my surgery he had some concern about Guyon's, but right before they brought me into the operating room he tested (tapping) my reactions in my wrist, side of palm and fingers and we agreed on Guyon's release as well. Now that I have returned to using ice at least once a day, my feeling is once again improving in my pinkie, and the swelling is now just the area above Palmer's crease and the top half of my pinkie. I have also gotten more aggressive with my EMS electrode placement fully focusing on Ulnar, Ulnar, Ulnar! Improvement is once again on the up swing.