To Have Carpul Tunnel Release Surgery - Recovery Time Question

[justinbarrow]

I have to have open carpul tunnel release surgery next week on my main hand that I use and wanted to ask if anyone on the forums has had this done or know someone who has had it done and most important to me how long was the recovery.

I have heard horror stories of not being able to wipe your own bottom and other things so just looking for a bit of advise. I asked the surgeon and he told me it could take up to 2-3 months for recovery but then when I asked my GP as I was concerned he told me 1-2 weeks which has confused me. Its done as a day thing and the procedure is around 10-15 minutes. 
 

Thanks for any advice as everyone

Edited 8 May, 2015 by justinbarrow

[Sparkly]

I used to work in Laparoscopic surgery instruments.

The new minimally invasive techniques in all surgery mean recovery times are much reduced on what they used to be.

As it stands although not laparoscopy (abdomen surgery) my Mother had carpal tunnel release surgery in both hands, she worked as an accounts secretary and was back in the office in a week

[justinbarrow]

my Mother had carpal tunnel release surgery in both hands, she worked as an accounts secretary and was back in the office in a week

 

Thats good to hear

[GentleGiant]

It really depends on you following the recovery advice, I have a friend who tried to start doing everything she wasnt supposed to as soon as she got home, and it buggered her up for nearly 6 weeks.

[AlanRHB]

My girlfriend had carpel tunnel surgery a few years ago and can understand Gentle Giants comment as she said the relief was immediate ... a couple of weeks off work afterwards.

Alan

[octavia5]

I was referred for this surgery but was concerned about recovery times and post op ability.  In the end I went to private phisio  and got some good exercises and recovered full mobility without pain in an about 6 weeks so never had the surgery

[Dragonrider]

I had my left hand done just before christmas and the right one beginning of April. Follow the docs advice re creams or bio oil rubbed into the scar, pressing harder after a week or two, after the stitches come out. Keep up with mobility with a "squeeze ball" but don't use 'force'  to quick. Relief from "pins and needles" was immediate and i can now sleep well. mine took 7 mins for first and 8 mins for other. No real bother with them at all. was most impressed with the staff at the hospital.

[justinbarrow]

Well in the end I had it done yesterday, they did it by local anaesthetic so I was awake and did it by open procedure. Last night was sore but not to bad today although still a bit of pain mainly where the incision was made, just got to keep fingers moving, It wasn't as bad as I thought just typing with left hand is a pain. The whole thing took just 7 minutes.

 

They did pick up on my blood pressure being quite high so had to get something for that today, least its done now and as Dragonrider says, the hospital staff were great. Have to have the other hand done when this one heals.

Edited 13 May, 2015 by justinbarrow

[Llanigraham]

Been away so missed this.

 

I had both my hands done on the same day at the end of July last year; not recommended as I ended up with 2 "boxing gloves" for a week!! Very difficult to do lots of things! Bandages came off and the stitches were out 2 weeks later.

 

Recovery time can be variable. Due to my job as a (mechanical) signaller on the railway I was signed off until October, however I'm still off! Problems with my right hand mean that I cannot form a fist with that hand and still cannot grip anything properly with it. If they offer you physio then do it!! I was told it could take 6 months to get full use back and friends who have had the same op have been told up to 18 months. A lot depends on the extent of damage before the op; mine was severe!! 

 

I'm due to see another Consultant next week because I now have problems with my ulna nerve in one hand that wasn't there before the op, and am now off sick with depression. However I will say that the treatment I did get at the hospital was first rate. I was even asked did I want to watch them doing the op!! No thanks!!

[justinbarrow]

 

Recovery time can be variable. Due to my job as a (mechanical) signaller on the railway I was signed off until October, however I'm still off! Problems with my right hand mean that I cannot form a fist with that hand and still cannot grip anything properly with it. If they offer you physio then do it!! 

 

Sorry to hear you are having a tough time with it, I haven't been offered physio but have looked up some exercises (squashy balls and things) I hope you manage to get sorted and it all works out.

[seboni121]

I've had both hands done over 10 years ago and they said they where not allowed to do both at the same time , first was done at ysbyty Gwynedd where they hit a vein and nearly bleed to death ! , they had to open it up again to stop the bleed , under my bed was swimming with claret , this was the old fashioned incision where they cut the cartalidge this type takes longer to recover from, the right hand was the latest /better way so an incision at the wrist and boring the appature larger to accommodate the vessels in the wrist , this procedure takes less time to recover from this was done at gobowen hospital which is the place to go ! , my left hand doesn't feel as strong as the right hand because ysbyty Gwynedd ****ed up !

[Auric Goldfinger]

Off Tpoic

 

" Yo Seb, how's it going "

 

Back on topic

[AlanRHB]

I've had both hands done over 10 years ago and they said they where not allowed to do both at the same time , first was done at ysbyty Gwynedd where they hit a vein and nearly bleed to death ! , they had to open it up again to stop the bleed , under my bed was swimming with claret , this was the old fashioned incision where they cut the cartalidge this type takes longer to recover from, the right hand was the latest /better way so an incision at the wrist and boring the appature larger to accommodate the vessels in the wrist , this procedure takes less time to recover from this was done at gobowen hospital which is the place to go ! , my left hand doesn't feel as strong as the right hand because ysbyty Gwynedd ****** up !

 

I believe that Ysbyty Gwynedd is actually the better of the hospitals in the Betsi Cadwallader Trust now Seb... I lost two wives, (2002 and 20012) in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd ... both registered cause of death  sceptisemia on the death certificates.

The first Florence, after succesful breast cancer surgery but contracted post op infection (Glan Clwyd is now a filthy hospital) and the second Eirwen, due to a misdiagnosis of gangerine by their vascular consultant, ... they finally made a correct diagnosis when too late to treat, three days before I dragged her out of there to die at home in my arms the following day, as was her wish... not bitter at all .... :(

I was advised not to sue by a solicitor, as they would drag it out for years and cost me thousands until I gave up due to lack of funds...

 

Have you heard about the latest scandal to emerge about Alzhiemers patients neglected in their psychriatic section ... http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/ysbyty-glan-clwyd-shocking-tawel-9345691

 

My lady friend Pam is a specialised dementia carer in a care home in Berkshire, and the regular checks that private home has to have by the authorities, and constant refresher courses by the staff  make sure that nothing like that is likely to happen in that industry these days... complaints by relatives fell on deaf ears at Glan Clwyd ... are hospitals self regulating ?

 

Alan

 

sorry for off topic folks ... rant over. but this was at the time of Eirwens suffering at their hands in the surgical ward.

[seboni121]

Off Tpoic

" Yo Seb, how's it going "

Back on topic

Hi auric hopefully your fairing well ?im Still off, totally lost my mojo ! I'm permanently under a bloody grey cloud been off now for 7 weeks and no end insight, sorry back on topic , if any issues with bones just get yourself to gobowen it's the sports injury capital Edited 31 May, 2015 by seboni121