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What can I realistically expect during recovery?

Posted , 9 users are following.

Ram2645
Ram2645

I am scheduled for surgery in two weeks. Does the following description of recovery realistic ?

"When you get home the anesthesia will start to wear off and you may experience some discomfort in your palm or fingers. You probably would have been given a prescription for pain medication, and if you feel uncomfortable you should take it as needed. Keeping the arm elevated will help decrease swelling and decrease pain. Ice packs can be used to help decrease swelling and can also help with the pain. 

Although there will be a bandage about your wrist, you should have full use of your fingers and should be able to use your hand for basic activities such as eating, dressing and using the computer. Dressings stay on for usually no more than a week, and stitches come out between the first and second week.

Two weeks after surgery you should be able to return to most of your activities except those that require direct pressure on the palm. By six weeks there should be no restrictions on your activities. However, it is not uncommon to feel a little bit of discomfort with more aggressive activities such as push-ups even up to 4 to 6 months after surgery."

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  • johnnylane
    johnnylane Ram2645

    Posted

    Ive been having major surgeries since 1976.  every three yeras i ithn it averages out to be.  Medicine has been improving every trip i make.  used to be medevil.  I bet 20 years before even worse and 20 years from now even better.

    Still, some expereiences are worse than others.  Bettyer no surgery than any. But at least its available.

  • mark26805
    mark26805 Ram2645

    Posted

    Hi All, great to hear from everyone and how we all vary. I had operation on my right hand yesterday and today I'm typing again. I'm still in bandage and going very easily on the keys.

    Hated the actual op. and won't be in a rush for other hand! I only had pins and needles when riding my bike or from sleeping with hand under the pillow. So not really bad, but "electric shock test" showed my right hand was acute, so they operated.

    Needles in hand to put asleep were worst part, but during the op. it occasionally felt like red hot wire pushed up my finger..... I am terrible with low pain barrier. Afterwards fingers could wriggle but felt numb.  By evening could feel my outside fingers again, middle two still numb at tips. Did not need pain killers to sleep and in the morning all fingers felt much more like mine again. I could make a weak fist and thumb could easily touch first two fingers. Just occasionally I pull fingers apart (by mistake - catch on clothing) and there is a jolt of pain up the finger.

    Later same day drove my car on a short trip, luckily in UK gear stick on my left side!!!! Not particularly safe, but wife was stuck after train problem!!!!

    Now in the evening I'm typing this with all fingers working through bandage.

    Bandage off tomorrow morning, then light dressing for a few days. Stitches due out in 14 days after op.

    Feeling great!!!

    • shirley49794
      shirley49794 mark26805

      Posted

      glad to hear u are doing so well.  had surgery on rt hand 1 week ago and is still pins and needles!! I am getting tired of this!!

           your friend in Dallas texas

       

    • mark26805
      mark26805 shirley49794

      Posted

      In the words of Monty Python "We are ALL different". Dr's do this operation for our own good. They believe it will help and is for the best. In the UK I did not pay a penny for this service and believe our Dr's to be doing the job to help humanity. If they wanted to make money they would all be plastic surgeons.

      Some take a year for the benefit, a few are worse not better after the op. Unfortunately that's the percentage and the gamble we take to get better. I was never that uncomfortable, just pins and needles, I hope I continue to improve. But for those thinking of taking the op., yes it's slightly uncomfortable (I think childbirth would be lots worse) but we go back and trust those same Dr's every day and I for one applaud them. THANK YOU ALL DOCTORS In the UK.

      49 year old male in England.

    • Ram2645
      Ram2645 mark26805

      Posted

      Yikes Mark!  Sounds like you may have not gotten enough freezing !  OUCH !!.  I did not feel a thing during the surgery other than the needle to freeze which lasted a very short time. I also was getting some kind of sedative through IV to keep me relaxed....which did work !  You will love having that big bandage gone.  smile  I'm glad things are going well for you.  You will be amazed at how each day brings so much improvement and you find yourself doing things you could not do the day before.  Wishing you a very comfortable recovery !  
  • Ram2645
    Ram2645

    Posted

    Yoohoo....stitches came out today and from tomorrow no more bandaids and can shower without a hand covering !  The incision looks great and will be scheduling my second hand for as soon as possible. Next visit to the surgeon is in 3 weeks.
  • shirley49794
    shirley49794 Ram2645

    Posted

    Rena glad to hear u are doing well.  How long did your fingers tingle after surgery?
    • Ram2645
      Ram2645 shirley49794

      Posted

      I have been lucky Shirley.  The pins and needles I had before surgery were gone right away following the operation.  I have not had any nerve sensations caused by the surgery as of yet.
  • mark26805
    mark26805 Ram2645

    Posted

    I should be taking the bandage off now.... but I'm on my own and a bit "scared" of what I may find!!!! Dr. said there was a spare pad under first bandage which I should use to replace the first one if it looks bloody.

    So if it doesn't look bloody, I presume I leave alone and in place....

    It really is good to hear how everyone has reacted differently with different worries and conditions, shows we really are all different.

    I will keep my phone close and remove bandage now!!!!

    I'm a grown man and should not be this nervous!!!!! lol

    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 mark26805

      Posted

      Be brave you will be delighted with what you find. Remove the bloody dressing and replace with the new one.

      easy peasy

      lets hear you've done it. (I kept my fat dressing to use at the airport a few days later bu it did not get me an upgrade!)

      Regards Elaine 

    • mark26805
      mark26805 elaine02726

      Posted

      Thanks elaine02726, took bandage off to find a small dressing over the base of my palm. Very small patch of blood, less than 10mm x 20mm taking up maybe 20% of padding. So i have not replaced it yet with the new patch. I think Dr told me to replace if necessary. Whole wrist feels a bit weak from just 48 hrs support. Occasionally when i stretch my arm out full extension, I get a shooting pain along middle fingers. Otherwise feels great.

      Best wishes, Mark

  • Ram2645
    Ram2645

    Posted

    Hey all!  Popped in to update you.  I am so pleased with the recovery of my left hand that I'm having the right done on Friday...it will be 3 weeks since the left.  Hope all of you are doing well.

    Also wanted to let you know that .I have just started a new group on FB  called Carpal Tunnel Surgery Recovery. If you're on FB do come and join us ! smile

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