Carpal Tunnel Surgery

[Marilyn]

I'll be having carpal tunnel surgery next week. They are doing the right hand on Thursday, June 4th and the left hand on Thursday, June 11th. I should be back at work on June 5th and again on June 12th. Then I have to take off again around the 17th to have the final splint taken off and everything checked out. I'm not supposed to drive with the splints on, or lift anything heavy but other than that, they said i should be able to do office work the next day. I'm having the Brown Procedure, so it's minimally invasive, and supposed to have a very good rating for a successful outcome. Here's a link to their website. http://www.brownhandcenter.com/home/

Realistically since I'm having one hand done at a time, I will probably be driving on the 8th until my next surgery on the 11th. They have to tell you not to drive, but actually, with automatic transmission, there is no reason that I can't.

[DianaB]

I'm sorry that you've been having trouble with both hands, that's not fun but it sounds like it will be really easy to recover from surgery!! I'm surprised at how quickly you'll be back to doing things!! I haven't heard of this procedure. Remind me of the days when it gets closer and I'll be praying. Otherwise I tend to forget.

[donna1990]

Good luck to you. You do what the Doctor tells you.

[Janet]

After all this graduation stuff I'm going in to have my hands checked too Marilyn. My thumbs and pointer fingers are so numb it's driving me crazy.

I hope it doesn't take you long to get back to normal. Keep us informed if you can.

[judy]

I hope the surgeries go well Marilyn. You aren't missing a beat, are you? Right back to work and driving. Good for you!

[Marilyn]

Thank you all for your well wishes. Feeling a little anxious about this, but know it's going to go well and will be all over before we know it.

Janet, it sounds like you have carpal tunnel problems, too. Hope all goes well for you, too. I waited a little too long and have a little nerve damage in my right hand. They think that after the surgery, the nerves will regenerate. If they are dead, they are gone, but if they are merely compressed, they will regenerate in otherwise healthy people.

[Blueyes]

I hope your surgery goes well, and your hands recover fully!

[Gina]

After all this graduation stuff I'm going in to have my hands checked too Marilyn. My thumbs and pointer fingers are so numb it's driving me crazy.

I hope it doesn't take you long to get back to normal. Keep us informed if you can.



Marilyn good luck to you, everything will work out fine. I wish you a quick recovery.

Janet have it checked out. I to suffer with carpal tunnel, lately my hand gets very numb and the feeling wakes me up during the night. So I am back to wearing the splint to bed and taking my vitamin B-6 once again. That helped me in the past.. I have it in both hands but one has been bothering me lately.

[Marilyn]

Marilyn good luck to you, everything will work out fine. I wish you a quick recovery.

Janet have it checked out. I to suffer with carpal tunnel, lately my hand gets very numb and the feeling wakes me up during the night. So I am back to wearing the splint to bed and taking my vitamin B-6 once again. That helped me in the past.. I have it in both hands but one has been bothering me lately.

Gina, your symptoms are just like mine. Don't wait too long to have a nerve study done. The damage can be permenant if you wait too long. I have lots of reasons for putting it off myself. I'll report back after the surgery so you will know better what you may be getting into.

I've had two nerve studies done. They aren't pleasant, but not really bad either.

[Janet]

Marilyn good luck to you, everything will work out fine. I wish you a quick recovery.

Janet have it checked out. I to suffer with carpal tunnel, lately my hand gets very numb and the feeling wakes me up during the night. So I am back to wearing the splint to bed and taking my vitamin B-6 once again. That helped me in the past.. I have it in both hands but one has been bothering me lately.

When I worked at Frito Lay...there were people there getting the surgery done like crazy. I was never bothered by it. Now after all these years I'm having the numbness and it drives me crazy. Trying to turn pages or even sit and pay the bills is so annoying with numb thumbs...lol. I need to get it checked and now that school is out it will be much easier. I just don't understand what can be causing it for me.

[Marilyn]

When I worked at Frito Lay...there were people there getting the surgery done like crazy. I was never bothered by it. Now after all these years I'm having the numbness and it drives me crazy. Trying to turn pages or even sit and pay the bills is so annoying with numb thumbs...lol. I need to get it checked and now that school is out it will be much easier. I just don't understand what can be causing it for me.

Janet, duh..... You don't understand what could be causing it. You're the top poster on 4wt. We're wearing out your hands!!!!! LOL;)

[Janet]

Janet, duh..... You don't understand what could be causing it. You're the top poster on 4wt. We're wearing out your hands!!!!! LOL;)

ROFLMBO!!!!! Is that really it? I just saw on the news about something called cellphone elbow....I tried to find it on the news site, but couldn't. Maybe I should look into that program that you speak and it types....LOL....maybe that would help.:)

[judy]

ROFLMBO!!!!! Is that really it? I just saw on the news about something called cellphone elbow....I tried to find it on the news site, but couldn't. Maybe I should look into that program that you speak and it types....LOL....maybe that would help.:)

I saw that cellphone elbow story too. Doesn't the bluetooth take care of that?

You do get carpal tunnel from computering. I hope you don't need surgery.

[Janet]

I don't care what I need as long as I get to keep using the computer...LOL

[Gina]

I don't care what I need as long as I get to keep using the computer...LOL


Janet I hope that you have one of the mouse pads where your wrist is elevated. I am using that and yes you are a computer queen.. lol

Marilyn saying a prayer for you today, good luck...

[DianaB]

Marilyn, I'm just wondering how you're doing. Did your surgery go alright?

[judy]

I hope the surgery went well Marilyn, and that you aren't in any pain.

I'm sending you hugs.

[gja1000]

Marilyn, I hope your surgery went well!

[Gina]

Hi Marilyn, just checking in, hoping all went well. I am sure you will not be able to post yet. Your in our thoughts...

[Marilyn]

Hello, Everyone!! Thank you so very much for all your well wishes and prayers. The surgery went very well. Couldn't have asked for better. Everyone was so nice to us, and went without a hitch. We were there at 8 a.m. and were on the way home by 10:30 a.m. They put a long lasting local anesthetic in my hand to help eliminate pain and two of my fingers are still a bit numb from it. I have a splint on my right wrist so it's kinda hard to type. Have not needed any pain pills. Can't get my bandage wet, and I'm not supposed to lift anything over a couple of lbs with my right hand, so I'm pretty restricted on what I can do. They did give us some big long plastic gloves tape over the bandage when I shower which is working very well.

We go back this Thursday for them to remove the splint and bandage from my right hand and do the surgery on my left. I'm alergic to the adhesives used on steri strips so they closed my little cuts with a stitch. So they will be removing my stitches, too. They have been so thoughtful of everything, trying to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Even gave me a long stemmed rose when we left, and called us when we got home to make sure we made it okay and see if we had any questions.

The only bad thing was that we got a call a couple of minutes before they took me back for surgery that a very special and dear friend of ours had just passed away. She had been in the hospital for 3 weeks, part of the time in ICU, but was doing better. This was, of course, very sad news. They gave us a few minutes alone before taking me back.

Typing is getting a little easier as I go, but not sure how I'll do after Thursday. Will try to read your posts so can catch up with all of you!!

[gja1000]

I'm so glad everything went well. I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I hope the second surgery goes just as well! :)

[Janet]

Good to read everything went so well. If you can't type...just send us a smiley or something to let us know you're doing okay until you get full use again.

[judy]

I'm so glad the surgery went well. I hope Thursday goes just as well, and with another flower for you. How nice that is.

I a so sorry about your friend, Marilyn.

[DianaB]

I'm glad that things went well too. It certainly sounds like you were well taken care of by the surgical staff. I'll be praying that all goes just as well tomorrow when you get the other hand done.

[Marilyn]

Second surgery went very well. It's so good to have the bandage off my right hand!! Since you all like pics, i'll try to post a couple. They are a little blurry, but you will get the idea.
[/ATTACH][/ATTACH[ATTACH][ATTACH]5237]

The purple spot in the center of my palm, and the one at my wrist are the incision points. The other spots are just purple ink that i can't get off. There is some bruising and swelling, but it feels pretty good.

YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG THE BANDAGES ARE, AND i HAvE TO KEEP IT CLEAN AND DRY. sorry about the all caps, an oops.but i'm not up to retyping.

This is a much better procedure than the open one where they cut from your wrist to your palm.

[judy]

That is some big cast Marilyn! The other hand looks pretty good. Are yoiu in any pain?

It's good that it's all over!

[gja1000]

I"m glad to hear that everything has gone well so far! I hope you heal perfectly and continue to do well!

[Janet]

Thank you for the pictures Marilyn. It make it so much easier to see what you've had to go through. I hope you're not in any pain now. Do you have to wear any kind of bandage on the hand in the first photo. Looks like you will be able to heal fairly quick since they didn't have to do the cutting you described.

We miss you when you're not here, but don't overdue the typing until you're able.

[Marilyn]

There is pain in my right hand when I move it certain ways, but I'm sure this is to be expected, and the incision at my wrist is a bit tender. There is also some numbness in my index and middle finger that I sure hope goes away. My left hand is still a little numb from the anesthetic, so I don't know what it will be like yet, however I have a feeling that the end result in my left hand will be better than the right. It seems to be feeling better more quickly than the right. But time will tell.

I am definitely sleeping better. Not waking up with my arm numb as before. I really think when all is healed that I'll be fine, just a bit worried about the numbness in the two fingers on my right hand. People tell me that it will go away. Just hope so.

Ready to get back to normal activities!!!

[judy]

It sounds good!!!!

[DianaB]

Your hand looks a lot better than I was expecting!!! I hope that everything continues to heal well!!!

[Marilyn]

Your hand looks a lot better than I was expecting!!! I hope that everything continues to heal well!!!

My hand is looking even better now. The bruising hasn't all gone away yet, but the incision at my wrist is healing very well. I found a little piece of stitch that they had missed. It was lose, so I pulled it out, and it's looking much better. My two "numb" fingers seem to be getting some better. I have the feeling mostly back in them, they just have that stiff feeling like they are puffy, but don't look like they are.

My fingers on my left hand are fine. They all woke up and feel normal. I get the bandage off on Wednesday & am anxious to see what it looks like.

It's frustrating not having full function, but this will all be healed and over very soon. I'm just impatient.

[judy]

It sounds like you are healing beautifully Marilyn. No more discomfort! It really is wonderful.

[Marilyn]

Today I visited the doctor, and he took the bandage off my left hand. He said that I'm doing really good!! I asked him about the two fingers on my right hand that are still kinda numb/prickly, and he said that this is to be expected and once all is healed will go away. He said it should be gone within 4 to 6 weeks. He also said that my hands will continue to heal and adjust to the surgery over the next six months. I should see progressive improvement.

The cut on my left wrist is a bit red and tender, but now that the air can get to it, I know that in a couple of days it will be healing nicely.

I have friends who had the open carpal tunnel release where they cut from your wrist to your palm, and they have scars and tell of longer healing times. My hands look good and the skin healing will be over very quickly.

It will take time for my hands to return to total normal function though. I can't squeeze very hard, like to squeeze out a sponge. Have to be careful pulling or pushing on things and can't lift much yet.

My carpal tunnel symptoms have almost completely gone. No longer am I waking up at night with my arm(s) numb. I can wash my hair without my hands going numb. It's sooo nice.

I'm thinking in a couple of weeks, I should be in pretty good shape.

Overall, this has not been a bad experience at all. Inconvenient, yes, but actually pretty easy.

The yorkies need a good brushing and bath, but that will have to wait a little longer.

Just wanted to report on all of this since some of you are experiencing some of the same symptoms that I was. If anyone has any questions, please ask. You can pm me if you wish.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers going through this. By the way, typing is not a problem now, so hopefully I can finally catchup with all of you!!!

[DianaB]

Marilyn, I'm so happy that everything is going so well!!!! It sounds like a procedure that needs to be checked into if you have carpel tunnel.

[Janet]

I'm so glad that your hands are healing so well.

[Gina]

Marilyn so happy to read that your progressing and you will be fine in a few weeks. Your surgery sounds like it was a success. You will be back to normal in no time and pain free ..

[Marilyn]

Still healing and improving daily. And still to reoccurrance of any of my carpal tunnel symptoms. My hands still hurt a bit and can't lift much. I'm washing and folding clothes and putting things away. Hubby is taking care of all the heavy housework. The house looks good right now. Melissa and Garrett are away for the weekend celebrating their 1st anniversary, so we are getting a lot done!!!

[Gina]

Still healing and improving daily. And still to reoccurrance of any of my carpal tunnel symptoms. My hands still hurt a bit and can't lift much. I'm washing and folding clothes and putting things away. Hubby is taking care of all the heavy housework. The house looks good right now. Melissa and Garrett are away for the weekend celebrating their 1st anniversary, so we are getting a lot done!!!

Wow ! It's a year already.. Happy Anniversary Melissa & Garrett!

[judy]

Happy First Anniversary Melissa and Garrett!

:love032::love032::love032:

[Marilyn]

Awwwww, thank you, ladies. They should be home in a couple of hours. I'll be sure and pass along your wishes!!

[DianaB]

I can't believe that a year has gone by since they were married. Tell them Congratulations from me as well!!! Tell Melissa that we miss her on here!!!!!!

[gja1000]

It does just seem like the wedding was only a few weeks ago - my how time flies!!! :)

[Marilyn]

I passed along your well wishes. I've encouraged Melissa to drop in here once in a while, but she's busy on Facebook and elsewhere. She's really online too much as it is. Maybe later she'll have time to visit here again.