Hi all!
I had a my first appointment with a physiotherapist (UK, private) yesterday, & it didn’t quite go as I expected.
I had a Nerve Conduction Study a few weeks ago, which confirmed bilateral carpal tunnel. Both sides are a 3 on the Bland scale (according to the letter sent to my GP), though the left is worse (both on NCS & per my own experience). I am right handed. My hands have had numbness/tingling issues for a few years now, which I have generally ignored, but I have DVT in my right arm (diagnosed in January), so I decided ignoring problems is no longer a sensible course of action. I spoke to my GP about the possibility of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, & that’s why I was sent for the NCS. The only finding was carpal tunnel.
My physio did a couple of provocative tests (tapping my wrists, various flexions), but I felt nothing - no changes, no symptoms in my hands... Is that common? I’ve read that you can be symptomatic but have a negative NCS, & that provocative tests can give false negatives. I guess I assumed that if it shows up on the NCS, it should be fairly obvious in other contexts, shouldn’t it?
Physio did find a few things (tight median nerve on the left, various bits of tightness & some lack of flexibility around my neck & shoulders, eg traps), but I can’t help but feel I wasted his time! He asked if I had had any imaging done of my neck - I haven’t, but he had a good feel & couldn’t find any suggestion of any problems. He’s going to send me stretches for now, & some strength exercises next time. I’m just trying to understand what is going on with me, as it’s just not what I expected? If anything, it’s the opposite! Has anyone else had a similar presentation in their tests?