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Carpal tunnel decompression (release)

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sharron57477
sharron57477

I think I'm being impatient (I usually am!) but I had my op on Thursday, and the surgeon said some patients fingers return to normal immediately after completion of the procedure, some a few days later, months later, or some never get it back.....

I am of the still waiting type I think, my fingers and thumb are as numb as they were.  I have had CTS before for years on and off, and surgeon could see that when he opened up the wrist, and I saw it for myself, tough '?tendon'.

What are your experiences of this please?  

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • doreen44684
    doreen44684 sharron57477

    Posted

    Hi Sharron

    my experience is that my fingers especially my middle finger took a couple of months to feel better - my op was last august and my hand is only getting the strength back in the last 2 months  i am in my 70's and have arthritis in my fingers so maybe not the best guide but i had pain in my palm for a few months which did not help the fingers - hope your experience is better - everyone is different - Doreen

  • alpine
    alpine sharron57477

    Posted

    He;llo Sharon 

    My numbness took a couple of weeks to go but the improvement was good. I've had both wrists done, my Mum had the same problem but she would say it was arthritis, years ago no one talked about CTS. Trust you will find a big improvement.

    Regards, Ken 

    • sharron57477
      sharron57477 alpine

      Posted

      thanks Ken.  I wanted to be with the patient who walked out an hour later with fingers and thumb back with full blood supply! 

      Watch this space..........

      Sharron

  • nancy71417
    nancy71417 sharron57477

    Posted

    My thumb got significantly MORE numb post op. I was pretty scared. Gradually after several weeks, the numb area shrank down to a small strip but still it was on the pad of the thumb, the part you really need. Then after a few weeks it was completely gone unless I over-did it. Now, it's been just about perfect, it took at least 3 months to get OK. (I had one spell on October) after dragging a roller suitcase across miles of cobblestones, but that's not my normal activity) My surgery was in June.

    Numbness and tingling didn't bother me a whole lot, it was the ungodly pain at rest at night and sometimes in the day.

    From everyone I have talked to and my exeperience you get worse at about 3 weeks so try to be patient. There is a LOT going on in a small area and it takes time to heal. Use your hand some but don't overdo, don't stress it by heavy lifting.

    • sharron57477
      sharron57477 nancy71417

      Posted

      I'm only pottering and doing little jobs for now and don't get stitches out till Friday.  As I mentioned, this flared up from using crutches, and I went to shoulder clinic for a top up injection and asked if the numbness could be from the shoulder (I have a rotator cuff tear too), he tested me and after scraping me from the ceiling, he said as I had already lost muscle tone as well as the numbness in thumb and 1st 3 fingers, textbook (I had had actual wrist pain when it first started, but it subsided).  I know it's uber early days.  I'm sure it'll be fine. Thanks Nancy

      Sharron

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