Hi everyone,

I guess I am either scheduled for surgery on
this coming tuesday, or in a few weeks. not sure depends on what the doc says. Have any of been through surgery or had the new mini carpal tunnel release?
I think I'll probably be getting the mini release done as I know the docs office now performs this.
What happens after the surgery? How long before you can return to work? Or in my case work and school? How long before you can write or drive?
And what do they put on the wrist to protect it from over use right after the surgery and before they take the stitches out?
thanks much.

Erica T.

Well, i had the surgery on both of my hands. I wasnt allowed to drive until the stiches came out. They will put an ace bandage or splint on your hand to prevent you from banging it.Of course, every doctor is different. My uncle had it done but they didn't open his hand as much and he only had a bandaid. Whether he did that himself I'm not sure. Anyway, you will be limited to only one hand. It will take at least 6 weeks before you can start using it again and a full year for total recovery. It's not as painful as it sounds. Don't listen to everyone,everyone person is different. I had immediate relief from burning/tingling . It was alot easier on me when I had my left hand done then my right because I am righty.Good luck and don't be nervous.
Carol

Thanks so much Carol,

Sounds as if I am just the opposite of you as i am a lefty and use that hand constantly at work, writing, driving etc..
I'll let you know how everything turns out for me. And what kinda surgery I had or am going to have when I find out!

Thanks Again.

Erica

You don't need surgery....try massage. With carpel tunnel you basicly have an inflamed tendon which is putting pressure on your nerve...tendonitis...massage can help to break down any scar tissue and help with inflamation, which causes the pain.
I would definitly hold off on surgery....try calling around to physio clinics and places like that, they usually have a massage therapist on staff.
You of course can go through with the surgury, but it doesn't have a very high success rate......and it can take quite some time for you to heal enough to use the hand. Condsider the alternatives before going through with it.

Hi everyone, Well, I guess everyone is different because I had surgery on my right hand ( my dominant hand) just this past Tuesday 11/28, and I was using it the next day. I drove myself to choir practice on Thursday (two days after surgery) and then had a full day of errands today,even took my dog to the vet. I am sore and it does sting a little with the stiches, but I just take my pain meds and do what I have to do. I plan to be back at work on Monday. I haven't had too much trouble with typing today. I am trying to be careful, but I am not used to being lazy and lying around on pillows and just doing nothing all day. I guess I am a bad girl, but hey, I'm a nurse, and you know what kind of patients we make!! (the bad kind). I really think I am doing OK. Nobody needs to be too worried about the surgery. After 15 years of pain and numbness, I can already tell a big difference!
Cynthia

PS to my other post..... One thing that really helped with the pain in my hands, arms, shoulders is Celebrex. I started taking it a few months ago, and found it relieved quite a bit of the pain, since there is a correlation with arthritis. I also take a diuretic for my BP and know that increased fluid causes more pain and numbness. When I am careful with my sodium intake, I feel better. Nevertheless, I knew I needed to go ahead with the surgery since I had already lost quite a lot of grip strength and still had the numbness at night or when using appliances like a hair dryer.
Please feel free to email me privately if you want to know more about the surgery. I had my orthopedic surgeon do it and he used a scope. Less trauma that way. My email is memphis28@hotmail.com

Hi all! I had surgery on my right (dominant hand) five days ago. I had the traditional "Open Technique." The Doc made a cut about an inch or so in the wrist/palm area. The procedure took about 30 minutes in all. After closing the cut, he applied a bandaid, piled on some gauze, then wraped it up tight in a long strip of gauze. I was told to keep wiggling my fingers to keep the blood to them flowing and to keep my hand elevated above my heart for 48 hours... to reduce swelling. I drove myself home from the surgery (using my left hand).

I was given 30 days off from work and a bottle of Tylenol 3. I only took a total of 4 tylenol. The pain was very bad for the first 24 hours, then hardly any pain after that. I had to loosen the gauze wrap, because I had a bit of swelling and the wrap was cutting off blood flow to my fingers. After loosening the wrap all was good. I started using my right hand with my computer mouse 2 days after surgery. I'm using both hands now to type this (5 days after surgery).

This morning I unwrapped the hand and removed the dressings (as directed by the Doc). The bandaid over the wound had only a minute amont of blood on it. I cleaned up the site well with antibacterial soap and blotted dry with a clean cloth. I have only a bandaid on the stiches now; stiches come out at day 10.

At day five my fingers are a bit stiff and I have a slight numbness just around the surgery site on my palm, but am told this will go away in time. I use the hand for small things (typing, computer mouse, etc.) but still use my left hand for everything else. I don't want to overdo it and pop a stich or anything. I can write using my right hand, but have to use a light grip on the pen or it hurts a bit.

I'm already looking forward to getting back to work, being one not to stay idle.

Good luck to all getting the surgery. :wave:

Rob :cool: