AIBU to unload a little about the aftereffects of carpal tunnel surgery and, perhaps, look for sympathy !!

[SaltyDragon]

I've had it before on my right hand, approximately 15 to 20 years ago. I am left-handed and have been controlling the CTS in my left hand with steroid injections because I was too chicken to get it operated on! But, last year my lovely consultant had the absolute nerve to pass away and the department dissolved into chaos.

On top of that, the injection didn't work, didn't even try to work, and my hand got worse until I had pins and needles and screaming pain all the time. So, having been told I would probably be on the waiting list for at least a year (for surgery) I bit the bullet and spent the last of my inheritance from my late mother on having private surgery. Which happened yesterday.

I was prepared for all of this, honest! I mean I did it before and I knew it was going to be tricky this time with it being my dominant hand, but what I had obviously forgotten was how bloody hard it was going to be to do even the smallest thing - like put my bra on !! I contemplated going bra-less but I have way too much boobery going on to do that, think serious trip hazard. So I had to get help from my daughter, who has ASD and gets the ick from body parts!! Anyone got any tricks for loading melons into a bra whilst trying to stretch it over a 'generous' body?

My hand aches big time. I was listening to the surgery and there was a lot of creaking and mutters of 'this is very tight' (and definitely not in a sexy way) so my poor hand is telling me in no uncertain terms that it has been severely abused and is not happy about it at all.

This is me whinging about the ache, knowing full well that I am lucky to get the surgery, that the end results are well worth it and that also, my family tend to be 'suck it up, deal with it and stop bothering us' kind of people. First world problems I know.

You are very funny @SaltyDragon - I hope your recovery is as quick as possible and your hand is good as new. No advice on the bra situation, I've been there before with an arm injury and it is a right pain (in every sense). Do demand sympathy from your family though - let them know you will not suck it up and they need to help you. If you try to do too much too soon you'll slow your recovery.

Good luck!

i've had it, the recovery was harder than i thought it would be because it was so bloody faffy trying to do anything. it ached a lot as well and i still had pain so regretted having it at first. but after 3 or 4 months it settled down and it's not perfect but lots better than it was before.

it will get better keep taking your painkillers and tell your family what you need them to help you with. when you get your physio exercises do them like clockwork as it makes a big difference.

As usual the first post nails it! Got well soon @SaltyDragon x

I'd advise a stretchy vest with secret support in, think you'd be able to 'load the melons' one handed with that.
You have my sympathy ,I had operation on elbow of dominant arm and for two months had to fasten bra at front and twizzle it round but I did have use of my fingers. So difficult doing things with your other hand, grating cheese i still can't do properly as can't get decent pressure pushing down and dont get me started on getting out of bed🥴 so glad nobody was able to see!

not carpel tunnel but I've had two operations now for cubital tunnel where the ulnar nerve is trapped in the elbow. First one was a decompression in 2023 but over time it came back so 1/6 i had another op to remove scar tissue and reposition the nerve and I have to say the first two weeks were so awkward!

I had to keep it bent for 10 days in a sling day and night and then just night time for a further 3-5 days and doing so much one handed is a pain!

I gave up on bras, sod it and generally had easy to wear dresses or big tshirts and it was fine. Washing hair was a pain but after a trial and error I managed to do that leaning over the bath with one hand and then had it cut short as I couldn't be bothered trying to tie it up in the heat!

Tried those waterless sponge things, bloody useless so did a body wash with flannels in the sink until I could shower again

lots of strageic cushions everywhere and a phone holder to save putting pressure on other hand (borderline carpel tunnel), easy cook meals and learn how to use thighs and knees to help open jars! lol

ASD daugter too so no sympathy from her but I've muddled through and just getting strength back now! helps that it was my left arm and I have an auto so could drive after 2 weeks, no chance of that if it was a manual!

Hope you feel better soon!

I resorted to using ninja chopper to grate cheese!

Not much advice, just sympathy. Recovery from CTS operation is shit, I had both hands done in quick succession about 11 years ago.

If it makes you feel any better, it remains astonishing to me that something so quick and with a relatively fast recovery made such a huge positive impact on my quality of life and so far (touch wood) still does. It was so worth it.

I hope this part passes quickly for you, and feel free to whinge as much as you need!

Oh this is a perfectly timed post! I am currently typing with my non dominant left hand as I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand last week. It is hideous how little I can do. Like you, I thought I was prepared. I have two young children, and a husband with a slipped disc so our timing was perfect (sigh). However, my husband insisted he was fine (and he is mostly) because I’ve been waiting for several years to get to this point (physio, more physio, then it stopping but then starting up again, so even more physio, bypassing injections cos it’s severe).

I am so restless cos I can’t do anything. Going to the toilet takes 10 mins cos if I’ve ran out of dresses and need to pull shorts up, I need to allow time. My husband has to be available to wash my left arm in the shower for me, and help me put on my bra (and take it off). I hate it! Oh and summer hols start this week.

Oh and I need to do this again for my left hand.