Carpal Tunnel Surgery

[eric54]

Having surgery today for Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Any of you guys had this surgery? Just interested in likely timescale I will be unable to play.

Thanks

 

[ZAP]

I actually did a pretty extensive independent study on CTS surgeries in college. My guess is it will depend a lot on how much work they need to do with the release. They should give you a specific timeline for sure. It will also depend on the approach they use in terms of stitches healing and whatever.

 

[pm4610]

Hopefully, you've explored other solutions before opting for surgery. My dad had the surgery and lost a significant amount of feeling in in his fingertips. There are always horror stories. I had a mild case (loss of feeling and tingling, but no pain), I was able to get relief from a chiropractor, but I think I was lucky.
Juat realized you are going for surgery today - Best of luck- it'll work out fine, lots of people have it with no issue.

 

[KGlennCole]

I've had the surgery on both wrists - the Right in Nov 1991 and the Left in Feb 1992. The R was convential since my R wrist area was so bad.. the L was endoscopic. Hopefully, yours is endoscopic.

I lost most of the 1992 season, plus I still have major problems, especially with the R hand. I have much less than 50% strength in my R... slightly more than 50% in my L.

Word of advice - DO the rehab. I'll repeat.. DO the rehab. Again, DO the rehab. I didn't and I am paying for it to this day. (My job at the time did not allow going to rehab 3x a week, minmum, for >1 hour rehab.)

 

[ZAP]

As a former rehab professional I second the above advice. How did the surgery go? What procedure did they do?

 

[spktho]

Word of advice - DO the rehab. I'll repeat.. DO the rehab. Again, DO the rehab.

x3. Minimize the scare tissue from the surgery.

I'm a chiropractor who was forced to stop practicing do to CTS. I was able to avoid surgery by doing this. I also treated many cases of CTS. I will say that the biggest determinant for how successful the surgery is depends on if the median nerve is actually being pinched at the carpal tunnel. There are many cases were there is an impingement further up the arm. Hopefully your doctor did the proper tests to determine this.

 

[eric54]

Thanks for the replies guys. It was conventional surgery on my right hand. Got to keep hand elevated for 72 hours to reduce the swelling and back to hospital in 2 weeks to have stitches removed. Only thing i have been told is to keep fingers moving. Any other rehab tips?

 

[spktho]

Thanks for the replies guys. It was conventional surgery on my right hand. Got to keep hand elevated for 72 hours to reduce the swelling and back to hospital in 2 weeks to have stitches removed. Only thing i have been told is to keep fingers moving. Any other rehab tips?

Ask your hand surgeon for a referral to a good physical therapist that works with a lot of hand surgery patients.

 

[ZAP]

I do not know where you are but even this little town in Ohio had a hand specialist for rehab. Ask your Doctor and look in the phone book.

 

[KGlennCole]

Thanks for the replies guys. It was conventional surgery on my right hand. Got to keep hand elevated for 72 hours to reduce the swelling and back to hospital in 2 weeks to have stitches removed. Only thing i have been told is to keep fingers moving. Any other rehab tips?

Find a hand therapist. He/she will recommend/use a variety of rehab techniques. At a minimum, get yourself a rubber ball to squeeze.. also, a hand-grip (you squeeze the 2 parts together; they come in varying strengths).

Work hard at it. I didn't as I couldn't make the 3x a week rehab visits due to a very difficult work schedule. My RH is still a mess... can't extend fingers straight.. very little strength.