Carpal tunnel

[reallemons1]

I just had surgery for carpal tunnel on the left hand and in two weeks will have surgery on the right. The doctor said my left hand is severe (I am left handed) and my right is moderate. For anyone who has had this done, how long was your recovery? How much did it help? While recovering I still am caring for our 150 chickens, 4 goats, and 5 horses. I'm doing okay with the one hand but wonder if I need might help when the other hand is done.
Thanks

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I haven't had the surgery but, that seems to me to be close together. I would see if your doctor would agree to space them apart further. Tell him of your chores and ask if you will still be able to do them after the second surgery. I know there are limitations on what you can do and how much you can lift for awhile.

Good luck with both hands.

 

[chickadeedoodah]

I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand (I am right handed) about 12 years ago. I don't remember the recovery being bad. I was back at school in a culinary lab class the next day. Although I could not participate. I was sore for a few days afterward and it was a pain to use only one hand for a while. I think I too would see if your Dr. could schedule the surgeries farther apart.

The surgery worked pretty well but not 100%., When I was pregnant it came back, and then went away after delivery. And still at times it feels funny but it doesn't fall asleep and wake me up several times a night anymore.
Hope that helps.
Good luck!!

 

[spatcher]

I had both hands done a few years back, 2 weeks apart also. Trying to think how long the recovery lasted. Seems like they were bandaged after surgery for a week to 10 days each time. Hands were pretty mobile when the bandages came off but then again I wasnt doing what you are. Just like arthritis they will hurt sometimes with weather changes but for the most part, better than they were! Let your pain guide you! If they hurt, ease off! Best advice I can give you.

Tim

 

[nccountrygirl]

I kad both hands done in the early 90's. I was out of work about 8 weeks with each one but it took a couple of years for the nerves to knit back in the palm. I am left handed and that hand was more severe and was done first, they had to come up my wrist about 3 inches. Good luck, in my case it worked like a champ.


Edited to add: My hands were done 1 yr. apart

 

[DuckyBoys]

I had both o f mine done about 8 years ago and they were 6 weeks apart. My complete recovery literally took about 1-2 years. My mom on the other hand just had her second surgery 2 weeks ago and she has almost complete mobility back. So I guess it really varies.

By complete recovery I mean being able to bend my fingers back to the same distance before surgery and not have my wrist ache when I needed to do things like stir a bowl of cake batter. I was certainly able to go back to work (per the workers comp Dr.

) 2 weeks after the second surgery.

Oh and as far as how much it helped - IMMEDIATE relief! It was awesome.

 

[illinichick]

I just had both of my hands done last July and August and I'm sorry that I waited that long! Each time I was only bandaged for the first week, went another with the two stiches and then was "home free". the numbness and pain that I had at night went away immediately. the swelling and pain stop after a couple of days and then I was using my hand to support things that I was picking up. I used a gallon ziploc bag to put over it, to shower that first week, no big deal.

 

[reallemons1]

Thanks for all of your advice. I just had the surgery on tuseday, bandages were removed on thursday and with the exercises am improving quickly. Now I have 5 stitches and a brace with a pad to protect them. Still have a lot of brusing and swelling even halfway down my arm. My fingers were totally numb and I lost a lot of strength in my thumb before surgery and Dr. said it may be 6 months for that to improve. He assures me 2 weeks is far enough appart. If it's not I'll cancel, its my body. The constiant finger tingling is already better.

 

[illinichick]

I didnt have that much bruising, just in the palm of the hand. My left hand's carpal Tunnel wasnt as bad, but the surgery for it was worse. go figure. It sounds like you waited way too long to have the surgery, so it probably will take longer to get rid of the symptoms. I sure dont miss things "flying" out of my hands, like full bowls of cereal on the kitchen floor. I think my family was more ready for me to get it done than I was!

 

[Portia]

I wish you luck on both surgeries and recovery. The results and recovery times vary considerably and are highly individual. I don't know what kind of brace they gave you, but use it. In fact use it for strenuous work even after you feel you are healed because it will deter and further compression in the carpal tunnel exaccerbated by repetitive use and further thickening of the tendons that travel through the tunnel. I don't see many people for rehab post carpal tunnel surgery unless there are problems, however I have worked with many individuals who have recurrence of their symptoms years afterwards if the movements that stimulated CTS in the first place continue without adjustment or external support to limit strain.