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Old 12-14-2016, 11:12 PM
Dewy12 Dewy12 is offline
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Carpal tunnel surgery? Carpal tunnel surgery? Carpal tunnel surgery? Carpal tunnel surgery? Carpal tunnel surgery?  
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Default Carpal tunnel surgery?

I guess I've known it for a while but Dr. just confirmed that I've got carpal tunnel. It's not real bad yet, but at 50 I don't think it's going to get better. Can you all tell me your experience with the surgery. My friend had it recently and is doing well except the skin is so tender he can't shoot. Is this typical? What's your advice and recovery time. Thanks
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Old 12-14-2016, 11:42 PM
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I have had both done, Rt about 30 years and Lt about 24 years. They used to put you in a brace that held the wrist reflexed, but no longer. The surgery has improved drastically since mine were done.

I can tell you that you will not want to shoot a handgun with any recoil with the hand that was operated on for several months, and it isn't because the skin is sensitive! Rifles are OK so far as I recall though, at least that was my experience. You won't want to shoot anything for a couple of months though!

I am right-handed and went on the Deer hunt about 5 months post surgery (Rt. hand). The first shot I fired from a handgun was a Ruger Super Blackhawk at a Porcupine and off my horse. I have no idea what happened to the Porcupine, but I do remember that Da!!, that HURT!!!!!!!!!! It was nearly a full year post-surgery before I shot anything bigger than my K-32 from that hand again.

It will change your life for several months, but in the long run it is absolutely worth doing. I was miserable for probably 15 years before finally seeing a Dr. that correctly diagnosed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Believe me, you don't have to ask the Dr. when is it time, you will tell him!
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Old 12-15-2016, 12:02 AM
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I had both hands done about 5 months apart, giving time for the first one to be healed enough to allow me to use it when the second was done. Both felt measurably better after six months, but it still hurt to shoot any handgun with much recoil. After six months I could stand to shoot my .38 specials, but not for many rounds. I could also fire my 9MM with target ammo, but not premium for a while without noticeable pain. It was a year before I could fire my .45ACP very comfortably. I did not fire a round with either hand for the first six months on advice from my doctor. After that, when I started back shooting, I didn't have to be told when it was time to quit for the day. As time passed, I could fire more and more rounds, but it was a full year before I could pretty much fire at will. I could still feel some discomfort but not much at a year. During the period when I began to shoot again, I quickly found that my full sized heavier guns were better than the smaller lighter ones, so that's what I mostly practiced with.

My suggestion is to not rush back to the firing line. No sense in undoing what you've spent time and money getting fixed. In my case, the surgery did not return me to what was normal before the symptoms became normal, but after the year on each hand, I was able to pretty much shoot as much as I wanted.

I asked my surgeon about getting both hands done at the same time. His reply was that he had no problem doing the surgery but I had to convince him that I had someone who would tend to wiping my hindparts after a bowel movement for at least three months for me since I would not likely be able to do it, at least not well at all! I'm right handed, and had the right one done first. Taking care of business in the toilet left handed is a unique experience for a right hander!!!! Good luck!
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Old 12-15-2016, 12:10 AM
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I had CT surgery about 25 years ago. I didn't know that there were two schools of thought among Drs. about how to do it. I lucked out and my Doc. did it right.....By using Sports Medicine's arthroscopic technique thru an incision made at the center of my wrist just off the palm and going in under the palm surface. I didn't find out until later that other Doc.s just cut the palm the length of the nerve. The trouble with going thru the palm is that at least back then the palm never would heal back to full original strength. That is important to a working man or woman. So, ask the Docs that you interview just how they propose to get into the nerve lining area to make the cut.

They just might have perfected new techniques that will allow the palm skin to heal back to full strength, but check it out. There is a significant difference in overall satisfactory results. .........
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Old 12-15-2016, 01:12 AM
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I had my right hand done in 92. Wish I had done it long before. Didn't do anything with my right hand for almost a year. I think about 6 months before I could use it light duty. I was told you could mess up the surgery if you did too much too soon so I took it real easy. Healed better than ever. Never had anymore problems with it. I would recommend you get a good referral for a surgeon. I have heard some real horror stories about different peoples experiences with some who cause more damage than they fix. Mine was a neurosurgeon. He did a great job. IMO
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Old 12-15-2016, 01:50 AM
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Sooner, not later!

My problem started as an ulnar nerve issue in my right elbow. My doc sent me to a "Shock Doc" to test the nerve conductivity and then determined I needed CT surgery too. He did both -- 13 years ago -- and it took for bloody ever (so it seemed), and lots of PT, to get back to normal. Well worth the time off from everything related to using my right hand/arm. Today, at 64, I'm strong as ever and no problem with any sized handgun -- I even one-hand that 5-lb 10½" 500 with no more issues than a 20-year-old would have (and I can probably drop that 20 yo to his knees with my handshake).

My wife had her right hand done in May '15 and still has issues with her 360PD with .38 +P.

Time, time, time, and take all you need.

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Old 12-15-2016, 02:00 AM
GerSan69 GerSan69 is offline
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I had mine done along with joint replacement in the first joint of each thumb back in 2012... left hand in February, right in April. It went extremely well! All the CT symptoms are gone completely, and the thumbs work better than ever. The only advice I have is make sure you have an exceptional hand surgeon. Who does the cutting makes all the difference!!!
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Old 12-15-2016, 03:41 AM
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I had CT in my right hand for years, got so I could not sleep with the constant pain, my regular doctor sent me to a specialist who uses the method described by Big Cholla, half inch incision at base of palm, after prep it took him seconds then a band aid type bandage and the result,
within a few hours no pain and no problems for the past five years.
So check and ask questions, may not work every case but best to find out. hope it works for you.
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Old 12-15-2016, 10:23 PM
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"His reply was that he had no problem doing the surgery but I had to convince him that I had someone who would tend to wiping my hindparts after a bowel movement for at least three months for me since I would not likely be able to do it, at least not well at all! I'm right handed, and had the right one done first. Taking care of business in the toilet left handed is a unique experience for a right hander!!!!" (kthom)

Yeah, I didn't mention that part!!!!!! kthom is absolutely correct, trying to wipe with the "wrong hand" is really interesting for a few weeks!
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Old 12-16-2016, 11:25 PM
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The "need" for the CT surgery can be dependent on your occupation. My wife, who is rather petite, was told at age 52 she needed CT surgery in both hands (had a couple of those "wonderful" nerve tests). She decided to change what she did for a living and sought the assistance of a MD specialist known as a Physiatrist. With the Physiatrist's assistance, employment change and wearing wrist braces every night, she has avoided surgery for 14 years. Some symptoms temporally reoccur when she does too much but overall remains in control. However, she no longer shoots .44 special as a precaution.
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Old 12-16-2016, 11:41 PM
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Have you thought of looking into acupuncture. Have known of 2 people having done this for CTS and were cured

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Old 12-17-2016, 12:02 PM
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I have had surgery on both wrists for Carpal tunnel. The right hand back 30 some years ago and did fine until about a year ago. The left hand was done about 3 years ago. About 1 1/2 years ago I started having both hands/arms going numb. When I slept, when I had both hands on the steering wheel for over 30 minutes, when typing on my keyboard. It got so bad I couldn't type more than about a half a page and the left hand would be very numb and the right almost as bad.

After undergoing another of the EMG's, (torture tests) it was determined I was nearly twice as bad as when I had the surgery 3 years ago. The Neurologist recommended a trial of wearing wrist braces. I started wearing the wrist braces on both hands about 5 months ago, just at night. Within a very short time I had no numbness at night and within about 6 weeks I have no numbness during the day. I just typed all of this without any hint of numbness. I normally go all day without any numbness by just wearing the bi-lateral wrist splints while sleeping. I am no longer looking at any surgery. Talk to your neurologist.
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Old 12-17-2016, 04:49 PM
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wife thought she had carpal tunnel in her left wrist and it ended up being her thumb joint that was causing the pain to shoot up to her wrist .. had the joint replaced and took over 6 months before she tried to shoot and had some discomfort later that night .. after a year only has pain if she gets it very cold like by not wearing gloves in our Midwest winter or defrosting the chest freezer.. shooting doesn't seem to effect it now but its been 10 years in April ..

She recommends getting it done if you have pain like she did .. says its well worth it !!

Funny thing is what caused the bad joint .. she worked at a bank and counted large sums of bills every day and the doctor said it was from that thumb movement over 24 years that caused it .. told her he had repaired several bank tellers thumbs with this same ailment ..
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Old 12-17-2016, 05:36 PM
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My wife had it done about 15 yrs ago, she didn't have any problems after the surgery, I think she got her's from counting large sum's of money also, but it was money she was spending at Macy's about a year later she was operated on again for Trigger finger.
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Old 12-17-2016, 05:44 PM
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Had left wrist done two years ago. Couldn't turn a doorknob for the first week and a half with my left. Within a month was back to doing everything normal (shooting, moving hay bales, etc.) Part is no doubt the surgeon, and I give part credit to his insisting I take one vitamin B6 pill each morning and evening. (I was 71 at the time of the surgery.)
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Old 12-17-2016, 08:38 PM
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Thanks for your replies. It sounds like some of you avoided the surgery. I like the sound of the braces at night. Don't mind the surgery as much as missing 6 months to a year of shooting. Thanks again.
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Old 12-17-2016, 10:22 PM
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Had both done abt 5 yrs ago, took 5 weeks off work to get both done. Actually wasn't shooting much then but could have been shooting again after a week. I've been cut at work and had more stitches and went back to work after visiting the Med Center.


Seems like my left hand sometimes has a rubber band around it occasionally now like its coming back mildly. The surgery is quick, they really don't do a lot. The incision depends on how the Doctor approaches the surgery. My wife had hers done differently then I did.

The person I worked for waited too long, the nerves were damaged and the surgery did not help him. Good luck, Larry
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Old 12-17-2016, 10:34 PM
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I've never had or needed this surgery, but I've done many cases involving it.

Generally, results have been good for those with good motivation, not so good with those looking for a payoff.

I don't know which group OP falls into.
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Old 12-17-2016, 11:07 PM
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It's been 15 weeks since I had the surgery, I was having pain at night couldn't sleep the pain was so bad. I finely wasn't able to hold a pencil, or drive. I also went to the electro shock doc. The pain from the shock doc was nothing compared to what I was going through. I had the left hand done first it was the worst,I opted to be awake when he did the cutting. the tendon was so tight when the doc cut it I heard it snap. the right hand was done about 3 years later when I had to have my gall bladder out. I was in a aluminum cup cast thing for both times, the physical therapy for a fews weeks , the PT was using clay to regain the strength. I resorted to just shooting 22lr or powder puff loads from the 38s. It's well worth the time and effort to get it done since the surgery I have not had any problems.
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Old 12-18-2016, 11:38 AM
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I had a friend who had the surgery, she wished she had never done it. She lost all of gripping strength in her hands.
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Old 12-18-2016, 12:26 PM
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If you need it and wait too long you risk nerve damage that is irreparable. Listen to your doctor. I had it done on my right hand. I did not lose any strength in my right hand, just a TINY bit of flexibility. By that I mean I can barely touch my thumb to my little finger, like I was trying to represent the number three. A small price to pay for the numbness and painful tingling it fixed.

As far as an early poster that indicated he was off work 5 weeks, wow. I spent less than an hour having it done under general anesthetic (local was an option). I lost 2 DAYS of work and about a month to total recovery. A single incision less than an inch long at the base of my hand. Two stitches as I recall. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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