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worrying about surgery

Posted , 5 users are following.

lyndsey1973
lyndsey1973

i was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in my right dominant hand, after having the injection my surgeon desided that the next course of action was the operation, im waiting for a date still but i expect this to take a while as i saw him 18th dec so with the holiday celebrations i expect a delay in even getting the letter, now not only is the tingling and pain keeping me awake so is the worry, im worried about being awake when they do it im very sqemish. Is it very painfull after people keep telling me they know a friend who had it done and its very bad, also the time off from work i will need im 42 and never even had a sick note dont even know who to ask for one is it the surgeonor your gp? The last time i saw my surgeon he said approx 3 weeks off but as i work at a well known bakers and have been told theres no such thing as light duties here, and that wen i get back to work it will be straight back into 3-4 hours making sandwiches and lifting and carrying huge trays in and out of freezers into ovens and serving customers im scared i will go back early as i feel guilty taking time off, anyway sorry for rambling just woundered if anyone has any advise for this scaredy cat :-) ty for listening x

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest lyndsey1973

    Posted

    Hi Lyndsey!

    Injection of what? Cortisone? Did the injection help, meaning diminshing the symptoms, and how much? WHEN did the surgeon decide an injection wasn't enough? Here (in Sweden) a normal procedure is that if you have an injection, you normally won't be back for a year at least to the surgeon, they said. "I won't give both an injection and do a surgery", my male surgeon told me. But I had increased pain and disability, so I had to get an acute injection to make the tendons less swollen - and still having the surgery date 6 weeks later, in case the injection wasn't enough.

    Don't worry about your job. Your health comes first, and second...

    • lyndsey1973
      lyndsey1973 Guest

      Posted

      Yes it was a steroid and anesthetic injection it was good but wore off after about 2 weeks. So i had the injection and saw my surgeon 8 weeks later 19th dec he decided then that i needed the operation as it has the same effects as the injection but hopefully pernament
    • Guest
      Guest lyndsey1973

      Posted

      I see. Since the pain and tingling keep you awake, I suggest you ask the surgeon when the surgery will be. It's no good to wait with these things too long. The longer you wait, the longer the recovery.
  • ruth24786
    ruth24786 lyndsey1973

    Posted

    I had the op done on my left hand on the 6th Dec...You dont feel any pain apart from the odd tugging...but you dont see anything during the op anyways...i suffer with anxiety..the op was fine...nothing to worry about...

    After i had my op the nurse gave me a sicknote automatically..i didnt have to ask for one...I was in pain when the anthestic wore off...always have painkillers handy for afters...id advice anyone having this procedure to keep the bandages on for at least a couple of days after..When i had this done 10 years ago on my right hand...i had a pot on for a week after the op...but apparently they dont do this now..The only trouble ive had this time, is when i went for the sticthes out, the surgeon had put them in too tightly, so when they tugged on the wound...i ended up with an infection...so i was on Anti biotics for a week.  its healing up now....i wouldnt worry too much...

    • lyndsey1973
      lyndsey1973 ruth24786

      Posted

      Ty very much for your reply i will stock up on the painkillers you realy have put my mind at rest i think i was worrying that if i see them doing it i will think i can feel it if you know what i mean, im sure it will be worth me doing this as why stay like this when there is help, im sure i can get brave others have and survived so ty for the reasurance means alot :-)
    • Guest
      Guest lyndsey1973

      Posted

      It differs.

      My hand was actually completely covered up in a stone rock hard stiff plaster bandage for two weeks and I was told to keep my hand up in the air for 24 hours a day, for 14 days (except for the little time I did something with that hand). During night suggested to eventually put it on a pillow beside me up in the air. I've recently started to make positive progress, 9.5 months after the cts surgery... I even got more and more feeling back in the palm now. It was completely gone around the scar and above the scar as well for the first 9.5 months.

      Before the surgery they will measure the blood pressure you have. Why, I don't know. It's a bit painful to get the anaestetic injections in the palm, but it has to be done Then after just a minute, during the surgery, you will feel almost nothing/nothing. The anaestetic will fade away during the same night normally. The next morning they might call you up to see how everything went. I got 7 stitches, from wrist to low center of the palm, 7 cm scar totally.

  • Tazchurch
    Tazchurch lyndsey1973

    Posted

    After the initial sick note from the hospital, which in my case was for 2weeks, you get further ones from your GP.
  • ejj11251955
    ejj11251955 lyndsey1973

    Posted

    Not sure if the procedure differs where you are, but I was given some painkillers and don't even remember the operation--I was basically out without being given general anaesthesia. So wouldn't worry about the operation at all--but the recovery period is longer than most people expect it will be and you can't expect to lift heavy trays or use your hand for fine motions very soon. Sorry . . . but take the time to let it heal and do physical therapy if you can, it does help.
  • dorothy_49
    dorothy_49 lyndsey1973

    Posted

    Hi Lyndsey im pretty much in the same way as you..I see my consultant next Monday. .as to what he he's going to do. I have been wearing a hand brace for work and bed for now 2 months. .I work in a fish shop been there 13 years and also have your fear of doing my job as my dominant hand is used for scoups tongs..etc. As for the sicknote youll get that off your gp.you can have a self certified which u can now download of the Internet for your first week..Are you on fb because I joined a group just the other month ago when I posted on here..its called Carpel Tunnel Surgery  Recovery and theres lots of people on there talking about and showing there hands after surgery giving hints tips drawbacks etc its worth joining its a closed group too. 

    Dorothy

  • ruth24786
    ruth24786 lyndsey1973

    Posted

    Ive looked for the group on facebook, i cannot find it...
    • dorothy_49
      dorothy_49 ruth24786

      Posted

      They actually just changed the name today

      .to Surviving Carpal Tunnel Surgery...its a closed group but dosnt take long to be accepted :-)

  • ruth24786
    ruth24786 lyndsey1973

    Posted

    I found the fb group, very interesting..loads of info on there....worth joining even if its to read other peoples comments...
    • dorothy_49
      dorothy_49 ruth24786

      Posted

      Hi glad u have. .its very informative and friendly group I never knew as many ppl suffered from it lol
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