Just had NA with Dr. Pess last week to release MCP contractures on 4 fingers of my right hand. The release worked fine and my hand is flattened out, but yesterday I started having some problems that are worrying me. I'm getting intermittent "electric shock-type" zapping pains that go through my hand and up my arm - very much like the "zzzzzzz" pain you get when the needle comes too close to the nerve in N A. It seems to happen when I use my hand in a way that puts pressure on my index finger or wrist - even very light pressure, such as thingd like washing my hands.

I had my NA under local anesthia, but he did inject a nerve block into the nerve in my right wrist. So I'm worried that this might have caused a problem - either damage from the injection into the nerve itself, or damage because the needle got to close to a nerve and I couldn't feel it to let him know.

I'm of course hoping that this is just temporary and will go away soon... but would love to hear from anyone who has experienced this or is otherwise knowledgeable about it. I'll also call the doctor's office when the open on Monday, of course.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

Maddie

Maddie; Obviously impossible to diagnose by forum but it sounds to me like the doctor may have just nicked a couple of nerves. In my experience numbness is a concern but if you are getting sensations that are like and electric shock that's OK. It will pass. Might take 2-3 months but nothing to worry about.

Thanks to everyone for your reassuring answers! It is a little over a month since my NA with Dr. Pess, and the "nerve pain" I described is almost gone. I occasionally still feel a little tingling in my left index finger, but nothing like the frightening electric shock sensations I was getting for the first couple of weeks after the procedure.

I especially appreciated the comment that recovery would not be linear. It was very reassuring to me to remember this advice during the first couple weeks when I could barely use my left hand and it didn't seem to be improving. And it proved to be accurate - after about two weeks, my hand started to get a lot better very quickly.

Also -- my NA was successful - at least so far. I can now lay my hand flat again. Diligent about wearing my splint nightly, so I'm hoping it will last a long time. I'll give a more detailed update at a later point.

Maddie