<HTML><HTML>In a message dated 12/16/2003 12:17= :18 AM Eastern Standard Time, randyrush@earthlink.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Anyone out there in our b= usiness had carpal tunnel surgery?  Was it successful?  Did it aff= ect your ability to do your job? </BLOCKQUOTE> Hi Randy! I recommend the surgery highly. I had severe problems in my "hammer" hand. I= didn't worry about it too much until I kept dropping the wrench on fall boa= rds... In anycase, I did my usual heavy Christmas tuning schedule with the a= ctual surgery just at Christmas time when I usually take a couple weeks off = anyway. By the end of January I was back in the saddle with a light schedule= , within a couple months I was back in full business. While I still have occ= aisional stiffness in that hand, my strength is back to normal and I don't h= ave to put up with that nasty prickly feeling, or worse yet, the lack of fee= ling! Well worth the time it took. I also had substantial help from a local medical practice that specializes i= n hand therapy. I credit them for much of my positive result. I can give you= more info about them if that would help you! will wickham</HTML>