Carpel Tunnel

[Katie T]

Update post 12

I read through old posts but didn't find the question I had so sorry if it has been posted and I just missed it.

For yrs now I have been dealing with carpel tunnel issues. Both wrists but only my right (dominate) hand is the worst. I have tried chiro which helped a little in the early yrs, wrist brace at night (can.not.sleep.without. or the pain wakes me and it hurts so bad I can't go back to sleep). Nothing helps

My hand goes numb when I drive, hold the phone, use the computer, hold my children, sleep, wash my hair in the shower, write, pretty annoying. The pain at night will radiate up to my elbow.

I have seen my family dr several times and I finally can not deal with it anymore so he sent me for tests. I have moderate slowing/damage to my nerves that run through my wrist. I also have a bump (maybe a cyst maybe a ball of tendon I think he said) but the surgeon doesn't feel that is the problem but will take a look during the surgery and remove if necessary.

I feel I gave it a good shot before even considering surgery but now that it is scheduled ( July 6th) I am really nervous. I have never had surgery first off and have little ones who will make it harder to use one hand for a time.

I was wanting to hear from people who have had the surgery, or have friends and family that have and get their perspective on it. Were they happy with the results? Wish they would have never done it? How long was the healing till they could function like normal? I don't know what I want to hear, maybe I just needed to get it all out there. I worry too much. If you made it to the end thanks for listening and any perspective you can give me.

[FishBounce]

Like you, I tried everything under the sun to eliviate my CTS. It got to the point I could no longer take care of my own hygeine and that's when I went for the release surgery.
It was done 12/08. Best choice I ever made! The recovery was easier then I thought it'd be. Today, my tiny scar is not easily visible. I have pics I took of the days and weeks following the surgery if you'd care to see them.
By the time the huge wrap came off, I could function normally. So maybe 5 days? The surgery itself was quick and actually relaxing. I was under twilight sedation so even though I woke twice, the nurse squeezed my "good" hand and I dozed off again seconds after. When I woke, the pain was entirely gone! I could feel my fingers again! Honestly I bawled like a baby just to be out of the burning pain I'd lived with for nearly 4 years.

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by FishBounce

Like you, I tried everything under the sun to eliviate my CTS. It got to the point I could no longer take care of my own hygeine and that's when I went for the release surgery.
It was done 12/08. Best choice I ever made! The recovery was easier then I thought it'd be. Today, my tiny scar is not easily visible. I have pics I took of the days and weeks following the surgery if you'd care to see them.
By the time the huge wrap came off, I could function normally. So maybe 5 days? The surgery itself was quick and actually relaxing. I was under twilight sedation so even though I woke twice, the nurse squeezed my "good" hand and I dozed off again seconds after. When I woke, the pain was entirely gone! I could feel my fingers again! Honestly I bawled like a baby just to be out of the burning pain I'd lived with for nearly 4 years.

Thank you that is just what I needed to hear! If it isn't too much of pain I would love to see the pics. Thanks again!

[Purple*Lotus]

I had the left side done in April of 09 and the right side done August of 09. I am very happy with my choice. Recovery wasn't too bad. I was not able to do the dishes for about a week, but other than that I did not notice anything too difficult. I am a teacher of small children so I do a fair amount of cleaning up after kids, picking them up, etc. I did not need physical therapy at all for recovery.

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by Bunnyflakes

I had the left side done in April of 09 and the right side done August of 09. I am very happy with my choice. Recovery wasn't too bad. I was not able to do the dishes for about a week, but other than that I did not notice anything too difficult. I am a teacher of small children so I do a fair amount of cleaning up after kids, picking them up, etc. I did not need physical therapy at all for recovery.

Thank you, I am hoping I don't need physical therapy as well. With kids who has time!

[FishBounce]

Sorry it took so long for my reply! I had to pour through my Photobucket to find the pics.

Here's 6 days post-op, the day after the huge bandage came off.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...DSCI0852-1.jpg


This is about mid-way in the initial recovery. Maybe 15 or so days post-op.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...DSCI0864-1.jpg


And this last one is 36 days post-op.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...m/DSCI0884.jpg


I tried to take one yesterday of how it looks now but nothing showed up! lol
My scar is white and about 1cm long. I rarely notice it myself these days.

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by FishBounce

Sorry it took so long for my reply! I had to pour through my Photobucket to find the pics.

Here's 6 days post-op, the day after the huge bandage came off.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...DSCI0852-1.jpg


This is about mid-way in the initial recovery. Maybe 15 or so days post-op.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...DSCI0864-1.jpg


And this last one is 36 days post-op.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...m/DSCI0884.jpg


I tried to take one yesterday of how it looks now but nothing showed up! lol
My scar is white and about 1cm long. I rarely notice it myself these days.

Wow! It did heal quickly and is smaller than I thought it was going to be! Thank you so much for going to the work to find those pictures! That gives me lots of piece of mind that it will feel better much quicker than I had thought. The surgeon said 6 months to fully heal and so I had envisioned much worse. lol

Thanks again!

[FishBounce]

No prob. Any questions you have about the recovery process, I'm glad to answer.
For the 6 month thing, that may be that he's taking all factors into consideration. It took about 5 months til I could really bear weight on that palm comfortably (think leaning on a counter). I assume that's what they mean by complete recovery because I heard the same thing too.

[Purple*Lotus]

FishBounce, your incision was a lot smaller than either of mine! My scars are still visible, but no one notices but me, even when I show them.

[FishBounce]

Bunnyflakes, that's what MIL says too. She's got the old school incision going from mid-palm to about 2in past the wrist. *shudder*

[Purple*Lotus]

Mine isn't as large as your MILs, but still bigger than yours.

[Katie T]

So wanted to come back and update in case anyone was doing a search about this.
I had the surgery on 7/6 and did just the beer block so no general sedation. Everything went really well. The pain isn't too bad even. They gave me 15 days of vicodin and the first night I took a half a dose because I was worried I would wake in the night in horrible pain. I slept fine and woke with pain but it wasn't too bad. I haven't had to take anything since either.

I go in to have the stitches taken out tomorrow and am nervous about that hurting but overall I am relieved that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Thanks for everyone's kind words, they helped a lot!

[FishBounce]

I was just thinking about you! I'm so glad it went well. I was freaked out about having my stitches out too but it was easy. Stung a little bit but nothing compared to the pain of having carpal tunnel.