Anyone who has had surgery for carpal tunnel, how long did it take for you to be able to use your hand normally?

[Aimsmum]

I had my surgery almost 5 weeks ago and my hand/wrist still doesn't really feel right at all. The scar has healed really well and there is not even really much of a mark now, but my hand and wrist is so weak, sore and swollen still.

I actually went to my GP last week to get it checked and he said that it was more swollen than he would have expected and I also now have a fairly large lump in my wrist so he gave me anti-inflams to take for 2 weeks to see if that helps.

I am back at work, but I can only type with one hand, so my other shoulder is now starting to ache, and I am trying to do simple stuff, at home and work, but the more I do the more swollen it becomes (visibly) then it really aches and throbs for hours afterwards.

To be honest I avoid using it if possible, but not sure if that is the best thing to do either?

I was just wondering really how others felt around 5 weeks after the op?

I think you need the surgeon to take a look at it, and maybe they will refer you to physio for some therapy.

Sometimes with hand surgery you can get a reaction to it that causes pain and swelling after - the worst thing to do is not to use it, but you need to work up to it

Thanks CMOT, the GP said if the swelling hadn't gone down by next week he would refer me back to the hospital, which could take months, but probably worth getting done then, if the swelling doesn't go down.

I tried to self refer for physio (quickest way to go about it apparently) but after a phone consultation with a physio, who then put me on hold to speak to a hand surgeon, who told me that they wouldn't do physio for months yet if at all as the op was so recent. Although I presume if my own surgeon recommended it then it would be different??

Bumping to see if anyone else was rubbish at 5 weeks but then miraculously better at 6 weeks!

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