Your Questions About Carpal Tunnel Operation
Richard asks…
I’m having a Carpal tunnel operation thismorning,?
Need to know if it as painful as it looks? Does it take long for the surgeon to do? Also, how long roughly before I can use my hand again? It’s being done with just local anaesthetic injection.
Many thanks
Thanks for the answers coming in!
Just wanted to add that “Yes” it HAS to be done, as it’s been getting progressively worse over the last few months and to the point I sometimes wake up crying..in the night. I have tried wearing the hand braces but it made no difference for me.
I had all sorts of tests carried out on nerve pathways etc and it confirms Carpal tunnel…so I guess I will just have to wait and see.
A relative of mine had the same op and her Carpal tunnel stopped?
admin answers:
I had Carpal Tunnel Surgery and I was awake for it; had local anesthetic. You won’t feel any pain but you will feel tugging and you will know when they are sewing you up. You will also feel the warmth from the blood overflow. My surgeon actually put a stool over my head and draped the stool with something so that I couldn’t see what they were doing. It was a weird experience; I don’t remember how long it took but my guess would be no more than 1/2 hour.
If I recall correctly it was about three weeks before I could fully use the hand and it was fine. I had the surgery in 1983 and I still have no problems with it but then I didn’t continue to do what caused the problem in the first place.
Sandy asks…
Is the operation for Carpal Tunnel painful?
admin answers:
Yes my daughter has had it done after she fell awkward and smashed her wrist bones, and according to her it is. Who am I to argue with her over that?
Anyway what gives you the idea that any operation is not painful? I’ve had three major operations and I can quite assure you they are bloody painful. And I was on massive doses of pethidine.
It also depends on how high your pain threshold is as well.
Mark asks…
How soon can you use your hand after ‘carpal tunnel’ operation?
Hi, I need some advice please?
I had the operation a week ago, the stitches are still in and don’t come out until Monday. I thought it was only going to be three or four stitches…though I have eleven! The surgeon did say mine was a bad one though.
My shock at hearing i cannot use it for a month and cannot do my daily 2 hours of ‘keep-fit’ is rather depressing!
Any idea?. Also, am I now safe against getting an infection in the wound, seeing as though it’s been a full week without problems? I jave been putting a clean sterile dressing plaster on it daily and it really doesn’t look very swollen anymore, so I guess that’s normal but it is still sore and tender.
Someone the other day, said it can take a year to get better…Surely NOT?!!
admin answers:
Sounds like its healing well. Your out for 6 – 8 weeks. It can take up to a year to be back to absolute normal with no stiffness etc. Vitamin C helps healing faster if you can take it.
Jenny asks…
I have carpal tunnel in both hands. Does anyone know if the operation to correct this is worth having done?
I am an artist and it is so fustrating trying to hold a brush or do much else with my hands.
admin answers:
Have you seen a hand specialist yet ? They are the one’s who can give you the best info on it.. And is it definitely carpal tunnel? I know there are a few other things that can cause similar symptoms,but it usually is CT when both wrists are involved…. …also I know with CT that it helps some if you can change or modify the routine things you do that aggrevate the symptoms….check the link below..I know that they have clinics specifically for musicians,artists and such….folks from around the country go to these guys….and I myself have been a patient of theirs with great success ( 3 seperate problems 3 surgeries)
Mary asks…
i have carpal tunnel,i have been advised to have the operation on both hands,dose it take a long time to heal?
doctors told me 4-6 weeks,but i can’t take that time of work due to commitments.
admin answers:
Hi Colin. I had this CTS operation done on both hands about 5 years ago. I know what discomfort you have, particularly at night. Believe me, the post operation pain relief is well worth the disruption to your commitments. The actual operation only takes about 15 minutes per hand, under local anaesthesia. Your hands will be bandaged for about one week after which the stitches are taken out. There is some discomfort after the op but they give you pain killers for that. I had them done separately with a two month gap. (Who is going to wipe your butt when your hands are bandaged). I was off work for about 4 weeks for each hand. You don’t mention what your commitments are but there is a point where you have to look after your own health and welfare. This condition only gets more painful, not level off if left. Go for it. Have the operation and pick up from where you left off. Believe me It is well worth the inconvenience.
Good luck.
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