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Carpal tunnel


Ringer

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Had it done a few years ago. Was getting bad in the right hand/arm. Surgery took 5 minutes. Was awake....yet had some good drugs so I didn't feel a thing. Was getting a lot of numbness and tingling before. No pain. They say if there's pain, you may have waited too long and damaged the nerves. Haven't had any problems since. Have minor issues with the left, but not bad enough for surgery. Went back to work the next day with a small bandage and brace. Recovery did not take long. Have no long term effects. Symptoms never returned.

About a one inch incision and a couple stitches. 

Hope this helps.....Diego

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Had the surgery this past December.  Mine was a little complicated though, I not only had Carpal Tunnel but I was having the nerve in my elbows getting pinched.  So I had both arms done about 3 weeks apart.  Before the operations I had no feeling and no strength in my hands, it proved to be dangerous because I would get cuts and not realize, pick up something hot and not realize it was burning.  Both operations were successful and now I'm good to go.  Recovery just took time, I didn't go to any rehab, had to have each arm in a soft cast for a couple of weeks right after, but after that just time.  The only thing I uncomfortableness that I still have is at the base of my palms, the Doc said it was normal due to how much he had to do, but it is getting better.

 

Figure you won't be able to shoot for 6-8 weeks at least that what my Doc told me, I waited a little longer just to make sure.

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Thanks guys.

Had the tests and got the prognosis last fall.

Didn't have time for the surgery then but had the shots.

It was wonderful for 6 weeks then started coming back.

Was to have the surgery when I got back but Covid stepped in.

Go back tomorrow. We'll see.

 

Just wondered about others experiences.

 

Now open or endoscopic?

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2 hours ago, Ringer said:

Who has had the surgery?

Did it help with your hand strength and dexterity?

How long for recovery?

Anything else you have to say about it?

yes and yes.  go for it.

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Do it sooner than later, I put off the surgery due to some irrational fears of my own and lived with pain for years. My relief was immediate, 4 stitches and an ace bandage, I was installing wood floors in my house the next week.

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mine was from "catching" a wide open .60 model airplane engine with 12" prop (another story for another time) back in 1972

 

finally changed Docs and had surgery about a month after.  Was like night and day.  

 

DO THE REHAB--that's the secret for any surgery.  

 

 

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2 hours ago, Ringer said:

Thanks guys.

Had the tests and got the prognosis last fall.

Didn't have time for the surgery then but had the shots.

It was wonderful for 6 weeks then started coming back.

Was to have the surgery when I got back but Covid stepped in.

Go back tomorrow. We'll see.

 

Just wondered about others experiences.

 

Now open or endoscopic?

 

I had to have open on everything (wrists and elbows).  Doc said that the elbow was a no brainer he'd have to open it up, the damage in my wrists was bad enough that he couldn't do it endoscopically.  The wrist scar isn't too bad only about an inch or so and it's on the part that is already wrinkled where your wrist bends.  I'd check with your surgeon and see what he feels in required.

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Been there, done that,.........twice. Right hand in the mid '80's, left early 2000's. First one was little rougher, instructions not passed down at first. Little finger, right hand stayed bent after I came out of the bandages. had to manually straighten it against the scar tissue( OUCH!!!!!!!).Waited too long to start getting it done, ended up with 13% permanent partial disability on that one. Was a good weather predictor for a few years after that. Left one was a different Doc, compared to the first one was a walk in the park. Was testing loads at the range two weeks after( carefully). Grip on both isn't really powerful, but I get by:blush:

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Had my right hand done in Jan 2016.  They made a small cut on the inside of my wrist and used 2-3 stitches.  My hand was pretty bruised for about 2 weeks and then slowly healed up....recovery time was about 3 weeks.  Took a month off from shooting then slowly got back into it.

 

Kajun

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Had it done on the right hand a number of years ago and it worked wonders. I used my hands a lot for repetitive tool use and was nearly unable to hold the tools before the surgery. I was awake for the operation and if I recall correctly I only felt a few tugs, there was no pain and recovery was fairly rapid. I believe I went to 2 rehab appointments and that was it. Haven’t had any problems since.

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I've had both hands done within a few months of each other.  Before the procedures, had trouble sleeping as my arms would go numb and wake me up.  Also, while driving a car/truck my hands would go numb if I placed my hands on the top of the steering wheel in a short amount of time.   I had fairly quick and complete recoveries.  I'm very happy I had them done.

 

Buckeye Pete

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24 minutes ago, Ringer said:

On my way to the Dr.

Ready to be rid of this.

 

good luck.  I certainly do not think you will regret it.  And, you should be back to "gun in hand" in a few weeks. With the Covid-19 situation it is an excellent time to get it done in regards to shooting.  Keep us updated.

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First, make certain that you get a good hand specialist.  The specialists are the best, especially if they are also plastic surgeons.

 

Had friends get it done.  A couple chose neurosurgeons which we found was a bad mistake.  They are good on the nerves but generally not as good on the plastic surgery part.  So the Doctor friends advised to have a plastic surgeon do cut in and sew out for the neurosurgeon, if that is the case.

 

Do not do them too close together as you need one hand to work - for very necessary reasons.  One friend didn't and found out the hard way - not easy for the mate!!! :o

 

As noted, if it goes too far sometimes the elbow is impacted but not usually.

 

Hoping and praying for the best for you!

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10 hours ago, Marauder SASS #13056 said:

 

 

Do not do them too close together as you need one hand to work - for very necessary reasons.  One friend didn't and found out the hard way - not easy for the mate!!! :o

 

 

 

Like they say break both your hands and have to go to the bathroom, that's when you find out who your friends are  :lol:

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Well, it's set for Friday.

Spent 3 hours at the hospital getting pre op done. Only 3 tests but they were short staffed, small hospital, and some kind of emergency that took some of them to the ER.

Hopefully Friday goes a little quicker.

 

My Dr. is the best we have in this area. A friend who I would have liked to get to do it(Wayne retired about 5 years ago)recommended him.

 

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19 minutes ago, Ringer said:

My Dr. is the best we have in this area. A friend who I would have liked to get to do it(Wayne retired about 5 years ago)recommended him.

 

 

He butchers hogs on the side... :P

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2 hours ago, Ringer said:

Well, it's set for Friday.

Spent 3 hours at the hospital getting pre op done. Only 3 tests but they were short staffed, small hospital, and some kind of emergency that took some of them to the ER.

Hopefully Friday goes a little quicker.

 

My Dr. is the best we have in this area. A friend who I would have liked to get to do it(Wayne retired about 5 years ago)recommended him.

 

Hopefully everything goes well and we are back shooting next month.

 

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Both of mine (done at separate times) were super simple and recovery very quick.  I guess I drove the day after but could have driven that day but perhaps they did not want me to due to anesthesia.  I guess I started shooting within ten days or so but could have earlier.

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My wife had it done on her left hand about 10yrs ago.  (Surgeon came highly recommended).  I'll never forget waiting in the waiting room after the surgery.  The surgeon came out and said to me, "Well that didnt go so well."

To this day she has limited strength in her left hand and it's pretty much useless to her.

Not much you can do about it after you sign your life away.

Anyway, I'd think twice about getting it done.  FYI

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Free Bird is right to warn you. I know a shooter whose CT Surgery didn't go so well. Everyone says Cataract Surgery is a "piece of cake." Mine wasn't.

 

There is a reason most doctors warn you about the rare surgeries that have issues.

 

I hope you are one of the majority, where the surgery is a welcome relief. You must follow your doctor and the PT's instructions.

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Don't forget to mention to your doctor about shooting, he may give you an idea when you can start back.  Even if you can't shoot I'm pretty sure that a man of your talents could be put to work at a match. ;)

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Can someone who mentioned using a plastic surgeon do perform carpal tunnel surgery explain the benefits of that particular medical specialty over orthopedic surgeon.  I had mine done by an orthopedic surgeon as that was their specialty.  I'm well satisfied with the results and maybe I am just missing something here....I'm trying to connect the dots as to why a plastic surgeon would be preferred for use in a joint or skeletal type specialty.

 

Kajun

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2 hours ago, Krazy Kajun said:

Can someone who mentioned using a plastic surgeon do perform carpal tunnel surgery explain the benefits of that particular medical specialty over orthopedic surgeon.  I had mine done by an orthopedic surgeon as that was their specialty.  I'm well satisfied with the results and maybe I am just missing something here....I'm trying to connect the dots as to why a plastic surgeon would be preferred for use in a joint or skeletal type specialty.

 

Kajun

My Dr. is an orthopedic surgeon.

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I got the surgery done on both hands a few years ago.

My issue was lots of arthritis building in hands and wrists (from a rifle blowing up trauma).

THE SURGERY WAS A GREAT THING FOR ME.

 

GOOD LUCK, PARD!

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