Carpal tunnel release surgery

[Babyramone]

Hi I have bad Carpal tunnel and after pysio, slints, painkillers and two lot's of steroid injections have now got my date for sugery. YEAH (I think).

I have a 5 yr ols and two yr old who is still in nappies though signs for coming off are there.

How did anyone who's had the op find coping with general day to day stuff and looking after small children etc in the days following.

Any tips greatly appreciated.

Have MIL and sister who can help a little.

Are you having both hands done at once or just one?

You won't really be able to use your hand(s) usefully for at about a week after. I think if you have both sides done together you need a carer for around a fortnight.

I had one side done about 4 weeks ago btw. It gives pretty instant relief, but I'm still finding things like preparing veg. hurts a bit.

Hi getting the right hand done. It's by far the worst. To leave left for now.
I'm right handed too, extremely so.

Same here! Only I don't think I appreciated quite how right handed I'd become until it was out of action! My two are older, so I had them looking after me, which was nice. I would think you'll struggle to change a nappy for around a week to be honest.

The nappy changing etc is what I'm dreading.
I asked if op could be put back but nerve conduction test showed it was severe and waiting wasn't recommended.
Wonder if should try and get DD out if nappies.

Going to practice using left hand.

Don't put it off. You can get unreversable loss of strength in your hand if you do. Try & get some help in, organise friends, relatives etc to drop by - and remember a few badly put on nappies won't harm anyone in the long term. I wouldn't try training beforehand as clearing up after accidents will be hard too.

Good advice thanks
That's what my consultant said.
I'm getting it done beg feb so got time to have house shipshape etc and with luck will have someone popping in for first few days.
Will leave the training as don't fancy scrubbing floors.
Have you found anything in particular helps healing etc or was it all pretty straight forward.

Hi

I had both wrists done in 2007 (left in Jan and right in July). For about 2-3 days I couldn't do much with the hand but by the end of the first week I could do most things if I was careful - the hardest part (and probably be avoided was heavy lifting as it made the stitches pull). Try and get as much help as you can DH to a week off with the first wrist and with the second wrist we booked DS into nursery for a full week (he didn't go before and normally only goes three days). The healing is pretty straightforward and takes about two weeks before having the stitches out. I bought a huge box of latex gloves which were really useful especially in the second week when the main bandage had come off and I could do some chores/nappy changes so that I could keep the hand clean.

Its really worth having done - didn't know how much pain I was in before until I had the surgery.

Good luck

to help healing, keep fingers & hand moving regularly, not so much it hurts, but it helps prevent scar tissue building up where it prevents things gliding in the wrist properly. When the bandage is off massaging the scar is supposed to be good too.

Hi thanks for all your advice. Been working and DD not sleeping well hence delay.
Anyway trying to get DH to take time off. The thing I am worrying about is neither he or his mum seem to think it'll be that bad. they have a wait and see attitude. fingers crossed they'll surprise me on the day. Got gall bladder out last year and that was a farce support wise.

If your right handed you'll need more support for that one - I know it sounds obvious but I had the left done first and found the recovery quite easy - when I had the right done it was much harder because even if you can someting with the left you have to think through how you'll do it each time. The advice I was given on after care from the hospital also varied with each op - when I had the second one done I was told to keep it in a sling for a couple of days but when I had the first done I just had a big bandage (which comes off after 3-4 days to reveal a large plaster on your palm). The incision is quite small but you will get some uncomfy bruising on your palm/wrist.