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carpel tunnel release... should it really take this long to heal????

Posted , 4 users are following.

jina75215
jina75215

Hi I had carpel tunnel release a month ago on the 8/4/15 and I had the normal stitches the nurse who was seeing me at my GP surgery said that I will have the stitches removed after four weeks.. And now four weeks have passed I went to have them removed today but they still haven't healed...😞... I still cant use my hand as its very sore... The nurse has put steri stitches on now it feels really sore.. She's saying its normal???? Is this normal I did try and book a hospital appointment with my consultant but still haven't had a reply. I'm sure I should be able to use my hand now and return back to work... I'm really confused in what's going on with my healing??? Has,anyone else been through this please let me know.. Thanks

Jina

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • jo10507
    jo10507 jina75215

    Posted

    No, it shouldn't take more than two weeks. The pain will be from having the stitches in too long, they'll be growing in to your flesh.  My assumption is that what looks like it's not healing is the skin peeling. It makes it look as though it's not healing. Join "I survived carpal tunnel surgery" on Facebook, they're really helpful. Go back and get those stitches out! btw I'm a retired nurse.
    • jina75215
      jina75215 jo10507

      Posted

      Hi Jo

      Thanks for replying the nurse has,put in two steri stitches... The cut is open I can see it and feel it too. I tried booking a appointment with my GP but the nurse told the receptionist I don't need to see him... I wish I never had the opp now tbh... Thanks

      Jina

    • laura3110
      laura3110 jina75215

      Posted

      I had mine done on 1st April .....stitches were removed after 2 weeks and it still looked like parts were open. It's definitely taking a lot longer than I expected as I was told I would be okay to return to work in 3 or 4 weeks.....still off and still unable to do quitell a lot with that hand 😣

      Maybe you would find more relief with a small dressing than the stitches?

  • jo10507
    jo10507 jina75215

    Posted

    Did the nurse take the stitches out or are they still there? If they're still in then it can't be opening up. If they're out then cover it for a day or two, then start massaging it with vitamin E cream or Nivea, etc. you'll be surprised how much better it will look. 
    • jina75215
      jina75215 jo10507

      Posted

      Yes stitches were taken out today after four weeks 😞.. Thankyou I will do this 😊
    • Wini69
      Wini69 jina75215

      Posted

      Sorry Jina I replied to your earlier comment and didn't see this one. I've been gently massaging bio oil (not baby bio flower feed oil, don't want you sprouting) into wound. It did still look open in places but turned out to be dead skin. That's now gone and each day it's getting better.

      Gentle exercises, massage and no overdoing the grabbing, lifting, pulling and pushing stuff.

      I do hope you recover quickly now. You won't regret it once you've passed this milestone.

  • Wini69
    Wini69 jina75215

    Posted

    Hi Jina, sorry to hear you are still having problems. The stitches are very tight and the wound heals quickly. It is very unusual to wait 4 weeks before stitches are removed, usually it's 10-14 days! I can't help thinking that the skin is healing over the stitches which in turn is causing the wound irritation, hence the state of it.

    What exactly were you instructed to do by the surgeon who performed the operation? Did they give you a telephone number to ring if you are worried? My hand was done same time as yours and it's brilliant.

    Were you given instructions to exercise the fingers by closing to a fist and opening again, wiggling fingers etc?

    Do you have a walk-in centre near you?

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