Help - need advice urgently ****

[Golden Dakota]

I would desperately like advice on 2 matters.
The first: Until 3 weeks ago I was riding and enjoying my 2012 Goldwilng trike. Then disaster struck. Simultaneously got severe pain in both hands and wrists. Woke up in the morning and it felt like somebody had poured gas on my hands and ignited it and then run over both of my hands with a truck! Seriously, this is not an exaggeration of what it feels like!
Since then I have been getting the same severe pains every night when I wake up - usually about every 2 or 3 hours throughout the nights. My doctor has put me on Morphine pills and even they only knock me out for about 3 hours then the whole process starts again.
To cut a long story short, I have been to the ER at the hospital, had MRI, CAT Scan, X-Rays and nerve conductor tests in the hands, seen 2 neurologists and a neurosurgeon - bottom line, I have severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and need to have the Carpal Tunnel nerve decompression surgery done on both wrists as soon as possible. Right now I can't even hold a newspaper and read it, never mind ride a motorcycle!
So I would really like to know if any other long time Bike/Trike riders have gone through Carpal Tunnel surgery, and how long it took for their hands to recover back to normal so that they could ride again. The surgeon is recommending having the second hand done 1 month after the first.
The second: I have heard vague references to something that can be done to reduce the pressure required to pull in the clutch. Does anybody know about these devices, and do they work - it would obviously help tremendously while my left hand is recovering fully.
Well that's it - I would really appreciate any advice if anybody out there has gone through this procedure.

[mhgoldwing]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Really sucks. Hope the surgery and rehab goes well. Don't push it! Follow instructions!

As far as the clutch goes the only thing I can think of is the Pingle electric shifter. From what I've read it works pretty well - good equipment. I'm sure someone on here has first hand knowledge and hopefully they'll be along soon.

Take care!

[Trikerbobbilly]

I have had carpal tunnel surgery on one of my hands, recovery depends on the type of surgery done and you. Everyone responds a little different to surgeries and the recovery time just depends on how quick your body heals. The two types of carpal tunnel release surgery are full open and laproscopic. Having the laproscopic surgery depends on the size of your hands and your doctors willingness to do the procedure, recovery is usually about one to two weeks with minimal use after as little as three days. If you have full open surgery it can take one to six months depending on how quickly you heal up. Just remember as with any surgery there can be complications including permanent nerve damage, make sure your doctor goes over all the complications that can occur, they tend to skip over that part when discussing the surgery.

[dogman513]

I had my right hand done back in the 80s, From what I remember it wasn't a big deal. Small incision they just snip some bands to release pressure off nerve. Don't recall being off work to long...waiting for stitches to come out the worse part so you can get on with things.

Never heard of someone having this where it just comes on out of the blue with that much pain. My was just slowly progressive with numbness some pain in arm. Wore a small splint that bends wrist slightly back for awhile to see if that would cure it. It didnt so surgery it was. Good luck to you..

[nucseal]

Have any one of the surgeons suggested cortisone injection around the tendon sheath? Wrist brace? Hope you are seeing a hand surgeon.

Surgeon should be doing conservative treatments first.

Nuc

[oneup]

if your doctor or specialist isnt answering these questions i suggest you find a new doctor or specialist. while some of us have had experience with this type of surgery, we are not specialists, can only speak from limited experience, of ours or friends outcomes.
good luck.

[cavie]

had both done. couple weeks you'll be good to go. wanna know what really sucks? 2nd rotator cuff surgery. 10 weeks no ride.

[Condor Spirit]

From your description, it sounds like this came on suddenly? If so I would be getting a second opinion. Carpel tunnel as a rule is caused by repetitive motion type things. It's a gradual process with the worst being actual carpel tunnel, usually requiring surgery. If you haven't been using an anti inflammatory and wrist braces while you sleep, this may provide some relief. (although morphine sounds way more fun to me)
If you Google easy pull clutch you will get a variety of options to choose from, most about a $30 fix.
Do let us know how your progress with your wrists.

[msocko3]

Like what others have said, I've never heard of carpel tunnel just hitting like a ton of bricks right out of the blue. I had the surgery some years ago on my right hand, though it was carpel tunnel, found out it wasn't when the surgery did nothing for me. As for the clutch, I've not run across an easier clutch pull then what the GL1800 already has.

[Rosy]

My hands do the same thing at night, but no surgery for me. I go see my chiropractic doctor and he works on my neck and back. I have a bad disc in my neck that is causing the problem, football injury, could be, or some time smashing my head into the sand while body surfing.
Some people had surgery and it worked fine, others I know, still had problems. Get a second opinion like someone said, it can't hurt.

Rosy

[Bikerbozo]

Good luck with whatever surgeries you get. And don't forget a battery tender for the trike, since it sounds like it may be a while.

[Blue Pearl]

OK here I go with my 2-cents. I had the CTS surgery. It did not help in fact, it made it worse. After going to doctors who said this and that and all the diagnostics you went through..... has any one mentioned:

1. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
   
2. Blood pressure/cholesterol
   
3. Cervical discs degeneration
   
4. Taking large doses of B-6 or eating foods with it.
   
5. Possibility of a B-12 deficiency
   

I ended up with having my neck fused in the c-4, c-5 area. It has helped and that was after years of suffering. CTS surgery is the less invasive of the surgeries. It is where they go into your hand and make a cut on the tendon that goes across the base of your palm. They cut that because tendons are less elastic than muscle. Once cutting scar tissue will form. The scar tissue is elastic by the nature of what creates it. BUT I would not have both hands done at once. in my opinion, it would make it harder to wipe yanno? Make sure it works before you have the other hand done...Being you have the problem with BOTH and it came on like it did, I seriously question the diagnosis.

Best of luck to you.
((Healing Hug))
~Blue Pearl~

[scribe5]

My wife had both hands done about 10 years ago---never had a problem since. I would think in 10 years, they have made the procedure even better. Best of luck.