Recovering from Open Carpal tunnel release hand surgery this is day #7

OK. day of surgery, started flexing fingers and wrist. Continued with pain meds for 2 days, icing every 2 hours and doing finger flexations. Today is day 6, rewrapped hand twice, keeping it clean; incision is about 2 inches long. Doing everything that does not hurt. Minor pain, no pain meds. Toughen up!  Anesthesia wears off in a few days; push the water and exercise. Driving, cooking, living life.   

Hi I have just found this group, my husband is schedule for this surgery the 5th of January!  I was wondering how soon he will be able to do things and if he will need prescription pain pills?  We are going to a ballroom dance competition in February which the dr said he will be fine for, but my husband didn't ask him how soon we will be able to practice!  It is not his dominate hand but it is his left hand for dance hold!  Just curious what people think?  thanks!

Hello. I'm now 9 days post op having had open carpal Tunnel release on my right hand.

I was told to start moving my fingers (making a light fist then straightening my fingers) 10 times every half hour starting straight after the surgery and to elevate my hand for the first 2-3 days. During surgery I got to see inside my hand and move my fingers so I could see how it all worked inside and appreciate why I needed to move it.

My hand was then put in a fairly heavy padded bandage with a dressing over the wound straight after surgery and I was told to remove the bandage on day 3 and change the dressing. I was told I could then leave the bandage off if I wanted.

I did exactly as I was told.

I stayed at home the day following surgery but then started walking 2-3 miles each day since.

Ive left the bandage off when sitting still or just walking about the house but put a light bandage on when out and about or when busying around the house. Ive done this mainly to remind myself to be careful and avoid knocks (I'm very clumsy).

Today was the first day I've been out walking with only the dressing on and no bandage.

I've put the bandage on in bed- again to remind myself to be careful and avoid knocking it in my sleep.

Spoke to my car insurance company and they say I can drive when my Doc says I can. I haven't driven yet as I don't think I'm safe to do so yet. I reckon another week or so.

So .. how is the hand now? Well.. the horrible numbness & tingling in my hand & fingers and the excruciating pain in my hand & arm disappeared straight after surgery. The hand was very stiff and sore for the first few days so I kept myself topped up with painkillers so I could move the fingers as I'd been told to do. Since then I've stopped taking pain killers as it's sore but not so much that I need pain relief.

I can now make a good fist, Straighten my fingers well and flex & extend my wrist well. It hurts a bit and I'm careful not to push it too far (I can feel when enough is enough). Rotating the wrist is a step too far just now. I can use the hand for anything that doesn't put too much pressure on the hand and lift light things with it.

The wound is tender as you'd expect. The stitches come out tomorrow so then the next step begins.. I'll ask the specialist nurse at the hand what to do when she takes the stitches out.

I'm seeing my GP the day after and I'll get his advice on driving.

I have 2 very hands on jobs (physio Rehab support worker and Auxilliary Nurse) so I've been told I'll need 6 weeks off work by my bosses and colleagues ( they should know 🙂 Again I'll discuss with my Doc at my appointment.

So far i feel my recovery is going well.

I hope you feel better soon.

I'll update after my stitches are out and I've spoken to my GP

Hi I will been have left hand carpal tunnel in a month I will  If after carpal tunnel surgery do have cast to protect u have bend with ace wrapped Around left hand 

Ive had cts for over 20 years. Had surgery last year May, 2017. After sugery, the humbness disappeared, that night. So I am an armwrestler and grip is very important to this sport. So I went to therapy. Surgery kills your grip. I lost at least 90+% strength in my surgery hand. But I worked at it and took up this new sport that attacked the grip directly. Called gripsports. In this sport you work you finger and hand strength to extremes. In the 4 months of traijing in this grip sport, Ive recovered about 40% of my strength. Mind you, after surgery I couldnt even open a peanut butter jar. I had alkost no grip strength. Now, after working at it several times a week, my grip strength is at a point where I exceed the normal grip for a 60 year old and have rhe same grip strength of a 20 year old. So, i was told by my therapist that it takes at least a year before full recovery takes place, the pinkie and ring finger being the last. I notice a steady, but slow, improvement of my grip. I believe you can recover all strength in your grip after carpel tunnel surgery and even exceed your precious power in your hand. But it will take hard work and determination and a mental approach in which you put all failure out of your mind. The body is an amazing organism capable of rebuilding tissues and compensating for other shortcomings. The key, I know, is to work hard and never say I cant. I plan to build the strength in my hand to levels that exceed what strength I had previous to CTS.