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ulnar Nerve transposition surgery revision with radial nerve transposition

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Posted 9/14/2016 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
Last Thursday I had ulnar nerve revision surgery as my first was not successful and this is a new doctor that used a different method however both were moved and placed under the muscle. I also needed radial nerve transposition according to my doctor. It didn't go exactly as planned as he had to cut the muscle for the radial nerve and I didn't know this prior. After surgery pain was not too bad and they put me in a soft cast or splint from just above the elbow to about half way down my forearm. He originally told me the cast could come off in a few days but changed that now until 2-3 weeks. The cast is hitting the elbow when I move and that feels like I hit my funny bone every time I move my arm. I did have quite a bit of swelling but with ice and elevation it went down. Hurts to move my fingers some but not to the point of pain meds. Under My sutures is stinging but I had this happen before and they told me it was normal nerve regeneration so not worried about that. My biggest issue is my wrist has started really hurting the past 24 hours. It's sort of bent down and when I do try to pull it up he hurts my forearm ( not really hurts more like causes a severe cramp or Charlie Horse feeling) I almost feel like it caused by the cast. Has anyone every had both surgeries or have any idea if this is normal?
Posted 9/14/2016 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dlongterry22 & welcome to the forum. Personally, if this were me I would be calling the drs office & ask to be seen ASAP. If they give you any grief about coming in then ask to speak to the nurse or PA & let them know what is happening so they can speak to your dr. Sure, it could be the caste but you don't know that for sure, this is why I say contact the dr.

We have had several folks come through here that has had this surgery. If you would like to read their posts you can type in your surgery in the search located at the top & pull up those older threads. We do ask that you do not post on those older threads because there is a very good chance that member is no longer active here at Healing Well. You can actually click on a members name & it will bring up their most current posts & you can check the date.

You will have possibly a lot of strange sensations in that arm for awhile because the nerves are waking up & nerves have to heal on their own. Time will be your best friend with the nerves.

Keep us posted. Take care.
Posted 9/14/2016 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you and I have read a lot of the other post and learned a lot from them. I have looked a lot on the next and haven't found really anything on doctors performing both of these at the same time. This is my 2nd surgery on the ulnar nerve so I understand the waking up :) thanks so much for replying!
Posted 9/19/2016 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dlongterry 22 and welcome to the forum. I'm not on as much as I used to be so I apologize for the delay in responding. I hope you've been back to the doctor about your new symptoms. I had ulnar nerve transposition done back in 1996. I had considered revision surgery but my surgeon explained that there were some drawbacks for my case that led me to decide against it.

I will tell you that when I was casted (with a plaster cast) it remained on for about 6 weeks! The day after surgery, I had to 'run' to the doctors' office to have it cut, as the swelling was causing so much pressure my hand was turning blue! They didn't remove the whole thing, just cut it into two, sort of like a clam, and then wrapped it in ace bandage to keep it in place.

Let your arm rest. Don't try to be moving it or use the hand. Everything needs to rest and heal.

I look forward to your next update and hope that things have improved in the meantime.
Posted 9/19/2016 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thank yes they did the same for me they cut it. I go back again on Thursday as well. I feel it's doing better than my first one other than I have pain in my wrist and shoulder I didn't have before :(
Posted 9/21/2016 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again. Could be the shoulder and wrist pain are caused by position. Since you had so much done, I wonder which positions they had to place you in to get to the areas that needed to be worked on.

I used pillows to help support the arm while recovering. One square one behind the upper arm so that it wouldn't "hang back" when laying down...one across my belly to rest the forearm on. It also helped to keep a rolled up hand towel in the armpit area.

As for the nerve pain...the only medication available back then was Elavil, not usually prescribed any more. Nothing in my experience has ever really helped with it anyway. When I use my hands and arms alot, I still get nerve pain, just not the "zaps" that I used to get after surgery. It's been so long now, I can't even remember when they stopped, only that they eventually did.
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