Dual carpal tunnel surgeries allow local electrician to return work

Ten years of constant, severe pain in the neck as well as both shoulders, elbows, and hands left Port Huron resident Terry Boggs unable to move easily, let alone work as an electrician.

“It got to the point where my elbows would ache throughout the night, and I could no longer hold onto a pen or a wrench,” Boggs said.

After consulting with Dr. Steven Heithoff, orthopedic surgeon at Orthopedic Associates of Port Huron, Boggs was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, a common condition characterized by a restricted median nerve in the carpal tunnel, which can cause numbness, tingling, pain, curling of the fingers, and limited range of motion.

“During minimally invasive carpal tunnel release, I’m able to increase the size of a patient’s carpal tunnel and decrease the pressure placed on the nerve,” Dr. Heithoff explains. “This dramatically reduces pain and allows a patient to return to daily activities.”

Fortunately, following carpal tunnel release procedures in both wrists with Dr. Heithoff, Boggs is now pain-free and preparing to return to the workforce. 

"To many patients, undergoing surgery can seem very intimidating and daunting, so it's very tempting to put it off," says Dr. Heithoff. "But especially in the case of carpal tunnel release, the procedure is simple, quick, and can completely restore your mobility and dramatically improve your quality of life. I'm honored to have been able to help Terry reclaim his active lifestyle."