[teardrop]

I wish you well no matter which route you take.

I have no experience with puggers. I do, however, have experience with carpal.

You didn't mention if you had an Electromyography performed. This test should tell you the severity of your problem.

I had numbness and tingling...especially at night when my arm would "fall asleep". This progresssed (and it will) into tingling and a slight weakness in my left hand. When I went to the doc he showed little concern until he ran the elecrtromyography. At that point he said my condition was "severe" and that it was imperative that I have the surgery...or risk permanent nerve damage and possibly loss of use of my hand in the future.

I HATE all of this kinda stuff...so I was reluctant....but when he said "we should do it Wednesday" and it was Monday...I knew he was serious about taking care of it BEFORE other complication arised. I've learned from my DDD/back/neck problems that this stuff generally DOESN'T get better on it's own....and that "P/T" will only take you so far if you are >truly< injured/damaged/etc. Like the pills, it's a band aid in most instances and the problem will resurface...possibly with more damage than before. If P/T were a fix there would be no surgeons...

Surgery went well. Recovery went well. (P/T went well) Hand/wrist are fluid now and there's no numbness whatsoever. Being that I'm left handed....this is good.

Thankfully the wife has great insurance and that aspect of the challenge was the least of my worries.

best of luck

teardrop

[Denice]

AmeriSwede, on 16 July 2012 - 04:10 AM, said:

clay lover, on 16 July 2012 - 01:13 AM, said:

The pain hasn't hit yet, just the tingling and numbness. The goal it to prevent or stall the surgery. I went to the Dr because I was having nausea, dizziness, ringing in my ears, and numbness in my lower arms, mostly on the left. Thought I was having a sneaky heat attack. The diagnosis was a severe sinus infection with fluid in my ears, hence the dizziness, therefore nasea. The carple tunnel was just a bonus diagnosis. All a surprise to my since I don't have any pain in my arms. Dr. said,"Just wait, you will."

I also had the tingling and numbness in my hands (10 years ago) that often bothered me while sleeping as well. Mostly after a good day of work, with clay or hammering (construction). Though the health system is different here in Sweden the human body and its maladies remain the same. When I inquired of the Doctor what my options were he laughed and said they try not to use the 'knife' here when it isn't necessary. He sent me to a physical therapist, who also happened to be a ceramist. She gave me a cloth/velcro wrist splint (similar to what a professional bowler might wear while bowling). She told me to especially wear it at night and try to wear it while working, if possible, for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I was to do five specific and different hand/wrist/whole arm stretching exercises (minimum 15-20 minutes - three times daily but it would be better if I could do them every couple of hours). Also take rest periods more frequently when doing repetitive work utilizing the same hand-arm movements (a good time to do the stretching exercises).

The results of my adherence to this regiment after two-three weeks was... no more tingling and numbness and with the continued practice (albeit now and then but only a couple times every day or two for a half hour) I've not had any reoccurance of the tingling and numbness in these past 10 years while I continue to do the same amount of wedging clay and hammering, if not more.

My advice would be to save your $ from a surgery fix unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary.... see a physical therapist about doing some positive hand/wrist/arm exercises that will help. If this works out in your favor, as in my case, the money saved from surgery and being out of commission for weeks while recuperating, should more than adequately pay for your new pug mill, a gift to yourself... The average lifetime cost of carpal tunnel syndrome, including medical bills and lost time from work, is estimated to be about $30,000 for each injured worker.


An added note regarding the two different medical systems.... since our system in Sweden is part our national health care, the government foots the majority of the bill (from taxes) so it obviously is going to look for the cheapest (for government efficiency) means of remedy. My thinking is that if the medical industry here (as the doctor stated) doesn't believe the fix should be with the scalpel but can be alleviated with a change of 'lifestyle' and exercise (more holistically sensible) then why choose the more expensive surgery elective (which doesn't always remedy the ailment) without attempting the alternative first?

Either way... clay lover ... as I and I'm sure others on this site have been faced with the CTS problem, I wish you the best on a quick recovery!

Rick I had carpal tunnel that sounds just like yours and have had severe tennis elbow and have never had a doctor recommend surgery, they hand me a exercise pamphlet and tell me to try this first and then we'll try a physical therapist. I have had three different doctors and have good insurance, I don't thinks it's a cheapest treatment or budget issue, I think it's the doctor's way of thinking. My neurologist for my MS only believes in FDA approved drugs, he doesn't want to talk about other treatments such as specialized nutrition, he said I could pursue it if I wanted it wouldn't hurt me. I'm with you on trying the lifestyle and exercise first.

[Marcia Selsor]

I got the de-airing pugger for the same reason. Wedging irritates my wrists. I had the bilateral carpal tunnel surgery in 1982 or so and do not want to repeat that. I Like the bailey pug mill because I change from raku to porcelain and I can easily clean the aluminum casing spotless for the porcelain.
The de-airing part does save my wrists.
Marcia

[Joy pots]

I have a small Peter pugger, deairing. I pug up my recycled clay about every 2nd week. I recycle by putting the trimmings into throwing water & when soaked I mix with a drill then dry it to consistency on a plaster bat. Works great and is perfectly soft for me to throw since I have rheumatriod arthritis. I also wear neoprene wrist bands to help relieve tension on my wrists.

[clay lover]

just curious, but why did you not go for the mixer, so it could take care of the recycle too?

[justanassembler]

Marcia Selsor, on 16 July 2012 - 03:57 PM, said:

I got the de-airing pugger for the same reason. Wedging irritates my wrists. I had the bilateral carpal tunnel surgery in 1982 or so and do not want to repeat that. I Like the bailey pug mill because I change from raku to porcelain and I can easily clean the aluminum casing spotless for the porcelain.
The de-airing part does save my wrists.
Marcia

Ive heard reports that the aluminum reacts with the PH in certain porcelains, have you found this to be the case? The reports I heard were that it oxidized or pitted the aluminum causing bits of it to be released into the clay...

[clay lover]

That question is what I've been researching. The SS modle of Peter Pugger is $1,500 MORE that the aluminum. There is much discussion on the clart threads on this. I will call PP later when they open and see what they say. Some one the clayart say they have had pitting using stonware as well. ??
Any one here using aluminum barrel with problems?

[Marcia Selsor]

I have not found any adverse effects from the aluminum on the porcelain, but I clean the inside of the mixer when I am finished. There is a lot of clay in there.

Marcia