Carpol Tunnel Surgery

[kimmikayb]

Can you tell about the recovery for open surgery? I'd like to hear different experiences.

 

[tonilea]

My SIL had the surgery. She had a "very unusual side effect" that caused numbness in her hand. She had been very unhappy with her surgical results.

 

[mrsv98]

My DMom had it on both hands, successively, over about 8 months. She is very pleased with the results. Her hands were almost unusable and she had a weird complication where her hands would turn freezing cold and blue as the pressure was so great.

I will not kid you, it hurt a lot at first. It took at least 6 weeks for hte hand to really become workable again and even then, she is really really good about PT (in fact almost overdoes it) so I think she recovered fairly quickly.

On the whole, she is very glad she had it done, even with the pain. Now in this last year she has also had both knees replaced...I have a RoboMom!

 

[kimmikayb]

My concern is with the long term outcome and the recovery period. Especially how soon I can drive and hold a broom (I clean a museum).

The way I feel today I wish I could get it done right this minute. I am so tired being up in pain and discomfort and waking up with it.

 

[pumba]

my sister drove after she was done taking her pain meds........not a good combo of course.......she could do her cleaning, but put more pressure on the hand that didnt have the surgery.....
Today she is going for the second surgery on the other hand.....this was in very bad shape too....
Hope you or yours has a good outcome too...

 

[EdiePA]

I had it done two years ago. Day 1, minimal pain -- friend drove me home and I took one Vicodin.

Day 2 - drove myself back for wound check. No more pain meds other than an occassional Tylenol.

I was off work for three weeks (doctor's orders), felt I could have gone back in two. Full use of hand, but some "numbness" for the first six weeks. I was back holding a needle and doing cross-stitch in six weeks.

Edie

PS -- It's been wonderful ever since!

 

[kimmikayb]

my sister drove after she was done taking her pain meds........not a good combo of course.......she could do her cleaning, but put more pressure on the hand that didnt have the surgery.....
Today she is going for the second surgery on the other hand.....this was in very bad shape too....
Hope you or yours has a good outcome too...

ok, this is good news. Once I stop taking the pain pills, I should be able to drive.

I had it done two years ago. Day 1, minimal pain -- friend drove me home and I took one Vicodin.

Day 2 - drove myself back for wound check. No more pain meds other than an occassional Tylenol.

I was off work for three weeks (doctor's orders), felt I could have gone back in two. Full use of hand, but some "numbness" for the first six weeks. I was back holding a needle and doing cross-stitch in six weeks.

Edie

PS -- It's been wonderful ever since!

I am so glad you posted this! I was worried about my cross stitch but at this point it seemed trivial to me because I can't do it now. But the thought I'll be able to do it again brings me great joy!

The numbness did go away?

 

[pumba]

my sister....because she waited so long....had alot of nerve damage that may or may not improve.....but she has no pain right now in that hand.....so right about NOW she is getting ready for her second hand surgery.....it is on for 10:45......I called and wished her good luck...

 

[kimmikayb]

So far I don't have nerve damage but they are concerned with it because I'm loosing strength in that hand.

 

[minniecarousel]

My BFF is having this surgery on Monday - on both hands. Her doctor told her she'd be back lifting light weights in 3 weeks. He said that keeping the incisions clean is the biggest concern. She has been wearing the wrist splints at night for years. I know that one hand is worse than the other, but needs both done.

 

[EdiePA]

Numbness was gone at six weeks -- every once in awhile the incision site would feel "funny", but that was it.

Full range of motion and back to doing everything I had given up within six weeks of the surgery.

HTH,
Edie

 

[C.Ann]

I had both hands done - 6 months apart.. Recovery period (out of work due to the nature of my job) was 6 weeks each time.. The relief is immediate - thank God! I was ready to take an ax and chop my hands off..

I'm a lefty and unfortunately waited too long for the surgery, so I have permanent nerve damage to my left hand.. Right hand was fine..

But..........................it comes back.. I didn't believe people when they told me that, but it does.. My surgeries were in 2001 and now I'm having problems again.. The 7 years without problems were great though..

Do it.. You'll be glad you did.. My surgeon had one patient that waited so long he permanently lost all use of his hand.. The only reason they still operated was to relieve the pain..