You are lucky to have the diagnosis. I suffered with increasing numbness in both hands and was told it was of arthritic origin. Luckily, after eight years I came across a neurologist with sense. Have the operation when the permanent numbness becomes intrusive. It is quick, local anaesthetic, painless, heals rapidly and is heavenly afterwards. I went out one morning to touch a frosted window pane for the sheer joy of feeling it melt beneath warm skin for the first time in years.