healing time? - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

wildkittycats · 01-20-2001, 08:53 PM

I was diagnosed through an EMG with Carpal Tunnel and did receive a shot in my right hand. That has helped greatly but I do need to have surgery. My doctor tells me that recovery is about 6 weeks! I can not miss 6 weeks of work plus what would I do without use of my hand, watch TV all day?

If anyone could tell me what their post surgery experience was like I would appreciate it. Plus can you get both hands done at once? Were you able to use your hand at all? How soon could you type, use the mouse, etc? Could you write at all? Could you pick up light objects? etc etc. Thanks!

cwalker · 01-21-2001, 10:01 AM

I do not recommend getting both hands done at once. There are many surgeons who won't do it that way either. I knew one man who did have both done at once but he was off because of workman's comp and didn't care how long it took to stay off work. He is married and his wife continued to assist him with everything, so he wasn't in the same situation that I was.
I am single and I have to do everything myself and have to work, so my time and ability to perform self care is real important to me.
Anyway, I was on this computer almost immediately after surgery. The hand is padded well with the dressing and you are able to use your fingers so you can at least type a little. Thank goodness I had the other hand to assist with pulling on clothes, bathing and bathrooming, etc. I had stocked up on elastic top pants, sweat pants, things like that, so I didn't have to worry about anything hard to get on. At first I didn't bother with putting on a bra but figured out I could fasten it in the front and pull it around one handed. After a couple of days, I was able to do more with the other hand, so everything was easier. I didn't have any trouble with driving. I have an automatic that has the "stick shift" in the floor console and I was able to move that with my left hand. Overall, I was able to compensate well one handed. I had the surgery on a Wednesday, so I stayed off from work the rest of that week, and went back the next Monday. If you do any heavy labor, it would be more like two weeks, I think. I just do paperwork and use the computer, so I didn't have much stress on the hand.
Hope this helps.

Puss · 01-21-2001, 01:45 PM

Hi

I have just had both my hands done last week. I must admit that it is abit of a pain. The first couple of days are really hard. It has been 4 days since I had this. I would only recommend it if you have the help at home. I am a computer operator and am hoping to go back to work in 2 weeks, will just see how it goes. It does make it very hard to do things that you take for granted ie dressing, brushing your teeth, going to the toilet!! I am lucky that I have my kids to help me abit, not sure if they think so. The choice is really yours, just remember that you can't do a thing. This is the first time I have typed, since I have had it done, I guess this is the easy part.