carpal tunnel

[marbil]

i am due to have an operation for carpal tunnel on both of my hands, i was wondering if anyone has had this operation and if they could give me any advice on how they coped at home with both hands in bandages, how long recovery took etc, and of course if it was successful, thank you

[tiggerblue10]

My friend at work had operations on both her hands but at different times. Can't you have one done now and the other at a later date?

[cruella]

Hi marbil
I had that operation done a few years ago.
Each wrist was done at a different time, 3 months apart and even that was difficult.
Stitches are normally in for 10 days each time.
Arm is normally in a sling, but they may do it a different way now.
I found it difficult to even open a bottle of painkillers and a problem with dressing at first.
In fact, it is a bit like breaking your wrist. You will get back to normal after a few weeks. I got relief for a few years.
Hope it is successful. Good Luck.

[e.crespo]

I had both wrists operated on for carpal tunnel in April this year. The incisions required five stitches each and I had to keep them and the bandages dry for five days, showering with a plastic bag over the bandages.
My fingers were fully mobile, and that enabled me to dress myself. After five days I took the bandages off and used waterproof plasters when showering, they were useless.
The stitches were dissolvable and I believe I had to see the surgeon one month after the surgery.
Take care of the stitches when the bandages come off, mine became slightly infected and I was prescribed antibiotics by my doctor.
Good luck, it is a much less invasive procedure now and recovery is quick.

[blackcat77]

I had both hands done together in 1985 and then flew to New Zealand for 10 days! Not actually the best way to recover from an operation! but I found that I could still use my fingers and thumb ok but it was a bit awkward to grip things and I just put plastic bags over my hands to wash myself. I should think that I had 5 or 6 stitches in each hand and they were all fine - I did go to see a nurse out there and she redressed my hands for me. Incidentally I have had one hand operated on again about 1990 as I still had a fairly heavy physical job which involved a lot of lifting, but my hands have been fine since - but I have changed jobs. Hope that this helps.
But no trouble since with my hands

[marbil]

thank you all so much for your information, i have to admit i am dreading the operation as i will be awake, but i am more bothered about being able to look after myself afterwards, i.e. will i be able to manage shower, toilet, dressing, but after reading your replies i feel a little easier, i have bought myself some medical rubber gloves and some extra large marigolds hoping they will suffice with the showering job, i just hope the operation is successful as i have had problems with my hands for a few years now and as i can't have anymore injections then the operation is the next step, once again thank you all

[CheekyChops]

A colleague of mine had both of hers done at the same time a couple of years ago. She said that they only problem she had was that she couldn't lift herself out of the bath as she couldn't put weight on her wrists and so her partner had to lift her out.

Other than that, she had no problem and has alwsys said that she is glad she had them both done at the same time.