Just read all the posts here re: Carpal Tunnel. Also read a bunch of questionable "recollections" elsewhere about Jerry Garcia having same.
I last saw Jerry in 1994. We both had issues in our hands. We both thought, 'Carpal Tunnel' and so did the doctors. Around 2002, I found out what I had was actually Dupuytren's Contracture. Still a fairly unknown medical issue in the hands and/or feet...and often misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel. What I saw in Garcia's left hand (knowing what I know now) sure looked like a case of Dupuytren's, though more advanced than what I had. It can start with hard nodules and/or hard lines popping-up in your hands/feet.
My Dupuytren's was very slow in coming to the point of hindering my ability to play instruments. It is in my little finger and palm (left hand). Three weeks ago I finally had the least invasive surgical option called "Needle Aponeurotomy". Research it, and definitely consider it as opposed to major surgery. I was able to lightly play some minimal guitar within a week. At 3 weeks, I can chord fairly well, do medium tempo leads, and at about 75% of my previous abilities. It's a slow recovery when you're itching to get back to playing.
FYI: My surgeon (in the Netherlands) is a scientific researcher in Dupuytren's, and correctional plastic surgeon. He helped develop the routine of injecting your blood platelets into the 'work area' immediately after your Needle Aponeurotomy. It aids in healing and may also help reduce scar tissue.
Anyway, I suggest the following:
* Make sure your doctor knows the difference between Carpal and Dupuytren's Contracture. DC is hereditary in people of direct Northern European ancestry.
* Do not wait to have it treated if you feel any restriction or your finger(s) begin to curl and not able to fully flex.
* DO YOUR RESEARCH for a competent, experienced surgeon. Needle Aponeurotomy is an outpatient procedure. Mine took less than 5 minutes. But make sure you find someone with a track record. You may only get one shot at it.
I had a long hard ride finding my surgeon...almost a year of research in every facet of this damn thing. Learned a lot in the process. Just hope I can help others.
I hate when that happens. Once I went to the doctor because I thought I had the flu. Turned out that I had broken my big toe. I was shocked to hear that.
I once went to the doctor for a sinus infection and he ordered a colonoscopy. That baffled me but my wife thought it made perfect sense.
I went to the doctor and said, it hurts when I do this.
The doctor said...then don't do that! Best money I ever spent. 
Just read all the posts here re: Carpal Tunnel. Also read a bunch of questionable "recollections" elsewhere about Jerry Garcia having same.
I last saw Jerry in 1994. We both had issues in our hands. We both thought, 'Carpal Tunnel' and so did the doctors. Around 2002, I found out what I had was actually Dupuytren's Contracture. Still a fairly unknown medical issue in the hands and/or feet...and often misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel. What I saw in Garcia's left hand (knowing what I know now) sure looked like a case of Dupuytren's, though more advanced than what I had. It can start with hard nodules and/or hard lines popping-up in your hands/feet.
My Dupuytren's was very slow in coming to the point of hindering my ability to play instruments. It is in my little finger and palm (left hand). Three weeks ago I finally had the least invasive surgical option called "Needle Aponeurotomy". Research it, and definitely consider it as opposed to major surgery. I was able to lightly play some minimal guitar within a week. At 3 weeks, I can chord fairly well, do medium tempo leads, and at about 75% of my previous abilities. It's a slow recovery when you're itching to get back to playing.
FYI: My surgeon (in the Netherlands) is a scientific researcher in Dupuytren's, and correctional plastic surgeon. He helped develop the routine of injecting your blood platelets into the 'work area' immediately after your Needle Aponeurotomy. It aids in healing and may also help reduce scar tissue.
Anyway, I suggest the following:
* Make sure your doctor knows the difference between Carpal and Dupuytren's Contracture. DC is hereditary in people of direct Northern European ancestry.
* Do not wait to have it treated if you feel any restriction or your finger(s) begin to curl and not able to fully flex.
* DO YOUR RESEARCH for a competent, experienced surgeon. Needle Aponeurotomy is an outpatient procedure. Mine took less than 5 minutes. But make sure you find someone with a track record. You may only get one shot at it.
I had a long hard ride finding my surgeon...almost a year of research in every facet of this damn thing. Learned a lot in the process. Just hope I can help others.
Somewhere, there is someone who will know what the problem is. I saw Dr.'s for numbness in one finger for months. A rheumatologist was sure I had psoriatic arthritis, an MD and director of physical therapy said no you don't can't that Dr. read an x-ray? He thought it was tendonitis. Fed up, I finally saw a hand surgeon, who told me it was caused by either a tumor or tendonitis. If it was a tumor it would be very bad. An MRI revealed severe tendonitis, physical therapy and changing jobs took care of the matter.
Check out your specialists, what are their areas of expertise, and don't accept shabby medical care. Demand the answer and the truth. If the person you have consulted doesn't know or gives you meds that don't work and fix the problem, see somebody else.
