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3wks post carpal tunnel surgery

Posted , 12 users are following.

nannycoop
nannycoop

Hi, I am on wk 3 after surgery, scar is clean and dry but still sensative with some bruising still coming out. I have arthritis in my tumb joint and the surgeon wants to shave some bone off that next!!.I  am still getting pain up my arm, restricted thumb movement with a lot of pain in it. I also have all my glands up in my armpit on arm that was operated on, has anyone else had this??.. I have driven for the first time today and my arm is aching all the way down to my hand.Im also still getting a lot of pins and needles in all my fingers. I am due back at work in a week.. What I would like to know is is all this a normal part of recovery?? sould I be pain free by now??. Any reply would be great . thank you x

3 likes, 19 replies

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  • elaine02726
    elaine02726 nannycoop

    Posted

    Hi

    sorry to hear you are still suffering. I am 7 weeks post op. and went through several low periods feeling it should be better. 

    I am still getting odd pains in my hand and arm and quite a lot of sensitivity around the wound.

    I have 3 pieces of advise for you

    1.try not to use your hand and arm too much.

    2.Massage the wound area with cream using small circular movements .

    3. Try and reeducate your nerve endings by touching the wound with lots of different textures, I have cotton wool, toothbrush, rough face cloth and emery board by the chair where I sit in the evening.

    it will get better, think positive and good luck

    Regards Elaine

     

    • nannycoop
      nannycoop elaine02726

      Posted

      Thanks Elaine, its good to get advice from someone in the same situation.  Just wondered are you back at work yet?. I work in a coffee shop lots of lifting, food hot drinks and dishwasher trays. A bit worried about starting back on the 4th of June. X
    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 nannycoop

      Posted

      Hi June

      i am lucky enough to be retired. However I am doing everything I want , lots of gardening and shopping. I flew to Dubai at 10 days and joined a cruise ship there and toured the Middle East for 3weeks. I covered the wound in sandy/dusty areas but apart from the sensitivity I think I am completely recovered. Having said that I keep dropping things and I have read this is common. Can you get signed off for a couple more weeks. I have visions of you dropping trays of mugs!

      Regards Elaine 

  • aly05913
    aly05913 nannycoop

    Posted

    Hiya. I replied to Louise s post with all positive things.but I must add that I'm still getting pain in my hand.like occasional shooting pains that happen randomly.but my doctor told me to expect that. You must remember that nerves have been cut and need time to heal. my scar is itchy and I was told it's a sign that the nerve endings are mending. hold on in there.I'm driving but I lead with my left hand as uncomfortable to feed the wheel with my right. I can't hold a full kettle of water or push down on my hand yet.but again I was told that. Keep your chin up. 
    • nannycoop
      nannycoop aly05913

      Posted

      Hi thank you for taking time to reply.. I agree the pains are very random and weird lol. I think i am just impatient.  But each day one more new thing is acomplished. Xx
  • deb98919
    deb98919 nannycoop

    Posted

    Hi 

    Interesting to read all the reponses.  I had surgery 12 days ago - went back to work after a week (but frustrated that I'm relying on others to transport me).  Today all my old symptoms are back again - numbness in hand and fingers and pain in wrist and side of hand.  I wasn't given any formal advice on post-op care apart from the need to keep moving my fingers.  I'm not driving because someone else told me that I would not be insured for 3 weeks and also I think I would struggle due to lack of strength. I think (after reading some responses on this site) that

    I need to rest my hand a bit more - I've just been pushing myself to keep using it to try and regain strength.

    Thanks to anyone who has posted advice.

  • nannycoop
    nannycoop

    Posted

    Hi just catching up. Im 4 wks post op and still not back at work.  Stitches have healed fine but scar area still swollen and sore.  Im driving but its uncomfortable and I am still getting  a lot of pain in my thumb hand and wrist.  I also have swoll glands in the same armpit.  But apat from all that im fine lol. Would love to know how others are doing at this stage. Xx
    • terry28340
      terry28340 nannycoop

      Posted

      hello nanny coop,

      post op 1 month out right hand had surgery for carpal tunnel release have a hard red knot at the incision that feels like infection and it is worrying me to death.

      I went back 10 days out and told the nurse that  I have an infection. I could just tell ...it was swollen it was red it was hot and then ...she just looked at it.... said no infection put a bandaid over it and told me to go on...not worry about it.

      I have just called the Dr's office and said that I need to be seen because I think there's something going on there and I need to see the surgeon not the assistant which they tried to get me to see. We'll see what happens ...maybe mine is just what they call the after effects but if it is this is different than anything I've seen from anybody else By the way I am a nurse and that makes them a little bit harder to get along with.... they think that nurses know it all.. No I just want to heal so I can go back to work.

      Cheers and God Bless.

  • nannycoop
    nannycoop

    Posted

    Hi just been back to consultant for 6 wks check. Realuaed I have only just been asked the questions I should have been asked before they decided to operate. They are have you had your hand xrayd and have you had nerve conduction tests. The answer to both is no!!!!!.. . As I told him about numbness and pain I'm still getting he noticed weakness and muscle wastage in my little finger.  This was there pre op but not comented on !!!!. I now feel I have had this operation before any proper checks. It was all so rushed from seeing consultant to operation.  I am now waiting to go for nerve conduction tests !!!!!. I wish I had never had op done as my hand is worse now.  I am back at work this week to see if I can do my job. I cannot afford any more time off work.  Anyone having this done, make sure you get all tests done first !!!!!!
    • A303101
      A303101 nannycoop

      Posted

      O my gosh... i no all about the process for this i found my own neurologist.  But i only know 2 people that had carpel tunnel surgry ago I'm now ready reviews, and info about after. ...,and it worries me.... 
  • denise14219
    denise14219 nannycoop

    Posted

    Had surgery 5 weeks ago everything is healing fine , but still have pain n my fingers and sometimes all the way to my elbow , and pain keeping me up at night again , not sure if this is normal , doctor told me to do what I could , listen to my body ,now do I call him or just wait 
  • Cden44
    Cden44 nannycoop

    Posted

    Hi, I am now just over nine weeks post op. I am still having pain in the palm of my hand mainly to the left of my scar, and the scar is still quite painful. I would say that I have around 70% of my grip power and still get get quite a bit of pain from my thumb joint. When I bend my wrist Palm towards Arm) I feel like I have something hard and painful in my wrist and the wrist is still slightly swollen. I am hoping that all of this clears in time. I hope this info is useful
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch Cden44

      Posted

      5yrs on 95% grip power but better than when grip was better if know what I mean, at least not suddenly lose it and drop things anymore. Pain took several months but I have a low threashold to pain. With My sister it was about 12 wks. Yes is does clear with time and although boring patience is the key here
  • nittyp
    nittyp nannycoop

    Posted

    This monday coming will be week 3 for me ive had a look at scar its raised and still painful im hopin that subsides abit after ive had the stitches out on monday. I got work pestering me at moment to see when im returning work feeling abit stressed over it as i did say at time ill be off for a while but dont think they thought i was serious 😔
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