Mary Ann Rosseter, 52, likes to stay busy. And she has had no problem doing so as the secretary on a busy floor at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

But 15 years of computer work and lifting charts had taken their toll by July 2008. She was experiencing pain and numbness in her arms and decided to have a test to find out why. Steven Marino, M.D., a neurologist at Jersey Shore, performed the EMG and quickly diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome. He recommended physical therapy at Jersey Shore as a first step.

“I wanted to avoid surgery and was hopeful therapy might work,” Mary Ann explains. “It started very well and I was able to do it right at the hospital. My therapists were all excellent.”

At the same time, however, Mary Ann suffered from an attack of gout, a type of arthritis. “It was like I couldn’t use my hand,” she says. “The carpal made it worse.”

Same-Day Surgery
After talking with friends at the hospital, Mary Ann decided to see a hand specialist. That led her to Jersey Shore’s Christopher Doumas, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with advanced fellowship training in hand reconstruction.

“Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist,” says Dr. Doumas. “It can be quite painful and cause the numbness like Mary Ann felt.”

After examining Mary Ann carefully, he recommended a same-day surgery procedure called a carpal tunnel release. “This is a very common surgery,” he explains. “We cut the tissue around the wrist to reduce pressure on the median nerve. We have very high success rates in getting a complete recovery for patients. Mary Ann is a good example of this.”

Says Mary Ann, “The orthopaedic surgeons here are so good, and it really was easy. I came at 7:30 in the morning and was home by 10:00 a.m. The staff at the Amdur Ambulatory Care Center is great.” (See page 19 for more on ambulatory care at Jersey Shore.)

Quick Recovery
While the procedure was quick, rest and therapy were important next steps. “I was able to start therapy the second week after the procedure,” Mary Ann says. “My therapist and physician assistant were really good. By the fifth week, I was thrilled to return to work.”

Since then, her recovery has continued smoothly. She is enjoying life at home in Wall and looks forward to plenty more productive work years ahead. “I can’t even see the scar. And my hand actually has better functioning than before surgery. I’m not dropping things anymore.”

As Dr. Doumas concludes, “Mary Ann had a great outcome. There is no limit to the activities she can resume now.”

To view the full article, click here.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Meridian Health/MeridianHealth.com/1-800-DOCTORS