Anyone had carpal tunnel surgery?

[tigercat]

It seems that both hands are severe and need surgery. They are doing the right hand first and then later the other one. It is being done on the 24th of August. By my choice as I have to look after my three grandkids all summer long. I was told that I was not under any conditions to use the hand that was done for about 8 weeks. That is a long time but I also don't want to do anything to cause it to not work. I am freaking out about this as I am also disabled and am really unsure how the heck I will manage with only one had for sixteen weeks. Different hands but only one hand available. I don't know if they will be doing one right after the other I am going to call the office on Monday and ask that question.

The other problem is that my shoulder has been really sore. I saw the orthopedic surgeon and am having an ultra sound done. He is not sure but thinks that I may have a tear in the shoulder. If it is than I will need surgery on it. Have no knowledge on recovery time on it as it hasn't been confirmed. This shoulder has been a problem and I have already had 3 cortision shots already. The last one in Oct. of 2016. The other time was about 4 yrs. before. It was doing fine until I almost fell and caught myself with that arm.

I am not a very happy person right now.

 

[dazedx3]

Wow..... are you my twin? I too have had terrible pain in my shoulder, had a cortisone shot and it is much better,I really hope it lasts. And I just had my right hand carpal tunnel release done on Feb. 21. My left will be done on March 21. I also do childcare and I am hoping to go back in 8 weeks. The first surgery wasn't too bad, off meds in 2 days, able to move all fingers almost immediately. Now it is still painful, probably because I am over doing it. My stitches are being removed on Mon. and hopefully all is well, it looks like it is healing well. I feel improvement already.... my hand doesn't go numb every few minutes like it did before. The dr. said I have quite a bit of muscle damage from letting it go so long, so i might not have complete relief. Any questions, and I'll see if I can answer.

 

[Pooh2]

I had both hands done, three weeks apart. I was in the surgery center for less than 3 hours each time.

The hand was wrapped in a heavy ace bandage type set-up for about 5 days post-op, then the stitches came out and just a band-aid covered the incision for another week or so. I was encouraged to start using it right away, but of course not lifting anything heavy.

I am surprised they told you not to use it at all for 8 weeks. I have two family members who had release surgery who were also encouraged to start gently moving the hand as soon as tolerable to avoid stiffness. I was peeling apples for applesauce (with gloves to protect the incision and the apples!) about 3 weeks post-op.

It took a few weeks for the ache to wear off. The strength returning takes awhile to come back but if your hands are really bad, you probably do not have much strength in them now.

I put the surgery off for a few years. Wish I had it done much sooner. It was a tremendous relief from the pain and the recovery and down time was not bad at all.

If you can possibly get at least one hand done before babysitting the kids this summer, you may want to consider that to get the healing under way and get your anxiety behind you. My kids were in elementary school and it was completely manageable. I was driving them around and making creative one-handed dinners by the end of the first week.

Shoulder surgery on the other hand, is a long and painful recovery. I have had rotator cuff tears repaired on each side, about two years apart. The right side was tougher of course than the left as that is my dominant hand side.

I was in a sling that keeps the shoulder completely immobile for 6 weeks. I started PT almost immediately. The PT takes the arm out and gently moves and stretches it to keep it from freezing. PT will continue for 4-6 months.

For several months after each shoulder surgery, I slept in a recliner to keep the arm positioned correctly. Sleeping is tough for the first few months.

They do a nerve block for surgery (as well as put you under) so it did not hurt much the first 24 hours. Start the pain meds before the block wears off. That's all I will say about that! Keep with the ice for the first few months, it helps with the pain and inflammation.

Take things one step at a time and get your hands taken care of first. The relief is almost immediate.

The shoulder surgery is tough but if you get to the point that your arm is not useable and in pain, the surgery will be worth the hassle.

I wish you luck and speedy recovery!

 

[tigercat]

I have also not done anything for my hands for a long time. In fact 15 years too late. It was when I was sent to a neurologist for something else that he tested my hands. Because I have fibromyalgia and Hashimotos I deal with pain and other things that sometimes it is hard to think that something might be not because of those two things. It seems that my hands are really bad.

My shoulder is going to have to be looked at hopefully soon but I will have to see. Since we still don't know why it is hard to figure out what will be done. It is getting really bad now. I don't think he will give me another shot as it is to soon as well as the fact that I have already had several shots. It is not good to get to many shots.

I am not sure why he said 6 to 8 weeks but he was really insistent that I not use my hands. I think he was worried that I would over work it as I seem to keep going even with pain. I will have to see. It really isn't an option to get it done before the kids come though. I have them from 8:30 to about 7 at night. They are getting older and can help me more but we are at my house the whole time.

tigercat

 

[Sadie22]

You need to put your own health and well-being first. Whoever is caring for these kids now cannot dump them on you in your condition. I know they are your grandchildren and you want to spend time with them, but would caring for children when you have so many disabling conditions really be best for them? What if one suffers an accident? Could you really deal with that in your condition? Schedule your own care now. When scheduling, find out what options there are for additional care for you during your recovery period. After you are in better condition, you may be able to consider helping with child care. Three kids 24/7 is too much.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I also am surprised that they told you not to do ANYTHING for 8 weeks. From the time I was wheeled into surgery to discharge was maybe 1 1/2 hours for me. I couldn't use that hand at all for about a week, then there were some things that took time. For example, I remember going to WDW 3 weeks after surgery, and the restaurants pre-cut my meat because I couldn't yet do that. And when I went shopping for clothes, I couldn't squeeze clips on those pants hangers. When I went back to the surgeon at 6 weeks out, he said I didn't need PT, as he said some people do, because I'd almost gained full use then.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister is coming up a yr post op and she still has soreness. Her CT was really awful though, she let it go on 5yrs too long.

She had both areas snipped, the wrist and the elbow. One of her tendons was twisted in her elbow and the surgeon had to deal with that. That is the area that is still sore for her.

She is still limited to the amount of stuff she can do in a day. That being said she is a OCD clean freak so she cleans until she is in pain.

 

[John VN]

As stated, you first AND I do not understand 8 weeks.

EMG results for carpal tunnel were that I waited almost too long and results would not be 100%. I had open release going on 3 years ago with slow improvement continuing. As for shoulder, my issue was bone on bone for many years with ortho shoulder specialist classifying me as beyond severe condition needing a total replacement. I wasn't ready for the extended recovery back then so said no. A friend recommended Dr. John Moor in Sarasota so I saw him for knees first and shoulder second. Addressing the knees first he said that due to my very bowed legs, he would need to realign (cut) the tibia to straighten legs before installing new knees. I have a few years to wait on that.

As for shoulder, he explained everything about replacement but since I was hesitant with response and he asked what my issue was. I replied long recovery time and I soon had a VERY IMPORTANT 100 MILE BICYCLE RIDE I COULD NOT MISS. He saw I would be back on the bike in 2 days. Surgery was Monday, Tuesday I had the sling removed and PT checked stitches and for movement. Waited until Saturday and rode then a 30 mile bicycle ride. No pains meds other than a few acetaminophen.

Get-r-done sooner than later.

 

[goofyernmost]

I had both arms done a few months apart. I don't remember anyone saying that I couldn't use my hands for that long. There were a few days of trying to keep it elevated and not gripping anything, then the stitches came out and a butterfly bandage was put on. I had taken a week off work for that and then two weeks of vacation and went to WDW. I used my hands for everything there, no problems. I was a bus driver at the time and after the three weeks (for each) I returned to work. The process of turning the steering wheel did hurt a tiny bit, but, I worked through it both times and after awhile, it all became fine. That was around 15 years ago and have not had a problem with them since then. My main symptom, however, was that my hands would go numb while gripping the steering wheel or handling silverware. No recurrences since the surgery. It might have been a different type of surgery though. Mine was Macroscopic surgery and once they started it only took about 15 minutes and was not very invasive. If they are going to actually open up your wrists then it might take longer to do and to heal. I'd ask about the Macroscopic route.

 

[tigercat]

Thanks for all the replies. I think if anything the shoulder is a tear and I don't need a replacement thank goodness. I will again talk to the Dr. I confirmed with my husband that I was told the 8 weeks.

I am not sure why I was told this as I have also talked to others and they were not told 8 weeks. I am guessing that there is a reason for it because not all the people he does this surgery on is told that.

I will come back when I find out about my shoulder. I am hoping and praying that it is just something easy to fix and maybe just some medication will take care of it.

tigercat

 

[John VN]

.........I will come back when I find out about my shoulder. I am hoping and praying that it is just something easy to fix and maybe just some medication will take care of it.

tigercat

Good luck, and BTW, it was a MUCH QUICKER recovery for my total shoulder replacement than for tears and other shoulder related problems that require surgery. Hopefully some PT will solve your problem.

 

[dazedx3]

I just got home from having my stitches out, it looks pretty good. The dr. said I shouldn't be lifting anything over 5 pounds for another week or two, oh well that didn't happen,LOL. I am taking 8 weeks off from work, because I am having both done, and I work with babies so I wanted to make sure my strength was back so I wouldn't be a danger to them. If your grandchildren are older, I don't think caring for them would be a problem. You might have to make some adjustments, like I find chopping food difficult and some lifting is somewhat painful but not extreme.

 

[dazedx3]

Oh one more thing, I am not able to submerge the hand in water. I can take showers but can't do dishes. Very sad, right!! Well, it is for my husband I guess!!

 

[tigercat]

LOL dazedx3

 

[goofyernmost]

Oh one more thing, I am not able to submerge the hand in water. I can take showers but can't do dishes. Very sad, right!! Well, it is for my husband I guess!!

There is that, but, and I won't say it to loud so your husband won't hear, they make rubber gloves that can be used in the shower and in the sink when washing dishes. I won't tell him, if you don't!

 

[BearFamily]

I did not have the surgery (although I struggled a LOT with tendinitis and carpal tunnel about 20 years ago and still have occasional problems now) but literally JUST read this link from a physical therapist friend:

http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2017/3/6/CarpalTunnelManualTherapy/

Just throwing it out there!

 

[tigercat]

LOL goofyernmost. Good news. Because of all the comments here I called the Dr. back and asked him if what he said what he said. Both my husband and I heard what he said. But now he said 10 days and then after that no heavy lifting and no repetative motion. Also I can't use my cane or my walker using the hand that is done. He did say what I said earlier but now it is going to be better. I am not as worried about things as I was. Now to pray that there is nothing in my shoulder that needs surgery.
tigercat