Carpal tunnel surgery recovery time?

[Pumper_Sue]

Can anyone tell me how long it takes to recover from carpal tunnel surgery please?
Wound healed within days so no issues there at all, wrist is very stiff as are my fingers and it feels as if someone has stuck an electric fence/poker through the wrist and fingers. I had surgery early March and can use the hand without a problem, it's just very painful.
I'm beginning to wonder if the problems are MS related as my right side is the weaker and I tend to have the shakes on that side as well.
Sods law I am right handed.
I'm hopeful that I'm just far to impatient and four months is far to soon to be fully recovered. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Next door neighbour was saying a few weeks ago his hand isn't 100% yet, from having it done Jan/Feb. We said ring doc and ask then, if you're worried. He spoke to doc who told him it wasn't long enough yet!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thanks Jenny, that's good to know 🙂

 

[Flower]

My carpal tunnels took about 6 months until I got better strength in my wrists and improved movement and flexibility back in my fingers. The wounds mended quickly but the nerves had been so compressed it took a while for things to improve. I hope yours gets there soon .

 

[mikeyB]

Yup, around 4-6 months is the time for the nerves to completely recover, and you will still get pain while they are doing it. You may find a wrist support will help. Like you, I just had my right CT released, but still needed my wrist support at work for several weeks after surgery. It still shows up on EMG studies years afterwards, the technicians always ask if I’ve had CT surgery.

I don’t think it has anything to do with your MS, common things are common. That’s the trouble with having multiple pathologies, folk (including doctors) are too quick to blame symptoms on pre existing conditions.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Yup, around 4-6 months is the time for the nerves to completely recover, and you will still get pain while they are doing it. You may find a wrist support will help. Like you, I just had my right CT released, but still needed my wrist support at work for several weeks after surgery. It still shows up on EMG studies years afterwards, the technicians always ask if I’ve had CT surgery.

I don’t think it has anything to do with your MS, common things are common. That’s the trouble with having multiple pathologies, folk (including doctors) are too quick to blame symptoms on pre existing conditions.

Thanks 🙂 It was me wondering about the MS side of things though not been mentioned by anyone else so just curious. Miss impatient wants an instant fix. I used my wrist splint last night and it was a great help. Hospital keeps calling me to go have the other hand done, not so keen at the moment.
Not to sure using a garden shredder is helping that much though 🙄

 

[trophywench]

I've frequently made similar comments about back and knees and indeed hands (don't think the outside edges of them were designed to be used as hammers) but it's usually fallen on stony ground!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Is it the sort of thing where physio might help? Though the referral time for that could well be longer than it will take to heal itself!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Is it the sort of thing where physio might help? Though the referral time for that could well be longer than it will take to heal itself!

I was supposed to have a follow up with physio but that virus got in he way and there's been no physio apts for months. As they say time is a great healer so will sit it out. Everyone's replies have been very reassuring and I have to accept that full recovery will take a bit longer than I expected 🙂