It's been a little over two weeks since my surgery. The strength in my hand is determined by whether it hurts, or not, but the pain seems to lessen daily; and the hand is far from useless; like it was right after the surgery.
I don't wake at night due to pain in that arm, but I still wake from the pain in my left arm. Surgery for that had is scheduled in two weeks, which should give sufficient time to have almost full use of my right hand.
I still have numbness in the tips of the fingers most affected by the strangulation of the median nerve in my right hand. Whether the numbness leave is determined by the preceding damage. I won't know about that for up to a year. Still, it's a minor trade off for what was becoming a constant interruption of sleep.
As I've learned more about carpal tunnel release surgery, I've developed the attitude it's best to be aggressive with treatment as soon as the symptoms appear. There are many steps of treatment before surgery, but those steps might only prolong the inevitable surgery to stop the damage, which can be due to genetics. Having thin wrists, and a job that increases the pressure, are things that can be beyond your control. You deal with the problem when it happens.
If I was asked on whether the surgery is a good idea, I'd answer in the affirmative. The only thing I'd caution on would be the surgeon. I asked around, looked up the surgeon, and made my final decision after a visit. As it turns out, my surgeon has been described as "the best" by locals, which is a good thing.
Thanks for the update. Been thinking about you, wondering how the healing was going. Glad to hear the pain is becoming less as time goes by.
ReplyDeleteThe doctor told me I couldn't damage anything by pushing the limits, but that I'd know when to stop, since it would hurt. He was right, I couldn't carry a five gallon bucket of paint more than a few hundred feet today.
DeleteThanks for caring, and visiting.
Recovery is gradual Jess, and can be frustratingly slow ... so take it easy and glad you're on the mend.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm not one to be patient, so I'll probably keep pushing.
DeleteI was diagnosed with CTS numerous times. Turns out it was a misaligned cervical vertebral problem. Adjusted neck resulted in no more symptoms of CTS. Beware the knife! Unfortunately a drunk driver rear ended me one day, and blew out my C5/6 disc. Actually that's the least of my worries now. FUBAR'd left ankle is a big problem. Cancer is the other, but it's the least annoying.
ReplyDeleteget well, and I pray that your life will be serene.
They conducted some tests before they made their final diagnoses. I hadn't realized the extent of dealing with the problems, since it was gradual over time. After the surgery, I can see how the constant shaking out my hands, dealing with numbness, and the pain at night were past the point of being minor annoyances.
DeleteI always pushed my recoveries, even from the most dire operations. It was only after time passed that I realized I was pushing waaaay too soon, but I believe it encourages a return to normalcy. I need surgery on my foot to slice a tendon that runs from toe to heel. SLICE? And honey, where I now live, the word slice is probably the only thing surgeons know to do. It's the "not slicing too far" that I'm not sure they know about.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather hurt a little, than deal with adhesions. Some might disagree, but I've seen how adhesions are never a good thing.
DeleteGlad to hear of your continued rebound. I can't imagine having to deal with that and having my sleep interrupted. Soon to be in the rear view brother.
ReplyDeleteIt reached the point I was waking multiple times each night. It was time.
DeleteYou are the Destroyer! The remover of buildings!
ReplyDeleteThe Paver of Multi-Lanes.
Be brave and strong!
This too shall pass. Til they do the other hand.
Thanks. I'm feeling much better;especially since I didn't have to deal with complete loss of use of my right hand. Some things are better left to the dominant hand.
DeleteI suffer with carpal tunnel myself, in my right wrist. I work on the computer, so it surprises me that it is only my right wrist that has been affected. Resting my arm normally helps me, but sometimes, I have to wear my arm brace. There are days when I have absolutely no relief without it.
ReplyDelete