UPDATED QUESTION - A question for those who have had carpal tunnel surgery

[lrrifleman]

UPDATED QUESTION: I am currently days shy of being 5 weeks post op from my carpal/cubital tunnel release surgery, and all appears to be progressing well. I am finding that when I put pressure on the palm of the hand which had the surgery, I get a sharp pain. When I go to get up from either a chair or my bed, I quickly remember to use the back side of my hand to establish leverage in getting up. I foresee this pain as quickly ending any strong-handed shooting session.

For those that have had carpal tunnel release surgery, how long after the procedure was it before the tenderness wasn't noticeable?

Thanks!


Greetings! I am currently 1 week post op of my 26th surgery in under 14 years. I had carpal and cubital tunnel surgery performed on my strong arm. This is probably a question that I should have asked before the surgery, but if I had, the surgery may not have been performed.

How long after the surgery was it before you were able to return to serious pistol shooting?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[G-Mac]

Had both sides done over this past year. Haven't shot a pistol yet. But I've done a lot of welding and fabrication work, including heavy hand-held grinder usage. No problems. Glad I had them done.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

26 surgeries in 14 years. YIKES! All for the same thing?

In 2003 I lost feeling in my pinky and ring fingers on my right (strong) hand, and I was told I would need surgery on my right ulnar nerve -- it's the one that gives you a funny bone in your elbow.

I went to the shock doc -- nerve specialist -- for the requisite electrical tests to determine what exactly needed to be done.

The surgeon was a nerve specialist. He rerouted my ulnar nerve so I no longer have a funny bone, and he did carpal tunnel surgery at the same time. He entered my hand near my wrist and went to work on the palm side between my pinky and ring fingers.

My right arm and hand were immobilized for six weeks, and after that I went to a Physical Terrorist (Therapist) for about six more weeks to help me regain strength in that arm and hand.

I was shooting my brand new S&W 500 Hunter about six months later. I probably could have shot a revolver before that, but I didn't have one.

Today I have a "death grip," according to my friends. Several won't even shake hands with me.

I'd suggest not worrying about how long it's going to take, but rather, do what the doc and PT folks say.

I had ulnar nerve surgery on my left arm about eight years ago. No carpal tunnel surgery that time. No brace, either. Two weeks after surgery I mowed my acre plus lawn with Sears' largest garden tractor/riding mower. My whole left arm turned black, and the surgeon gave me the worst tail chewin' of my life. Luckily all's well now, but then I wished I'd listened to the doc about not doing anything that would "challenge" that arm for about three months.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I also underwent carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel surgery at the same time, also in the strong arm. Prior to the surgery I was incapable of sufficient grip strength to feel confident in handling the heavier handguns, and moderate recoil was quite painful.

Following surgery I felt fully functional in about two weeks and was back to my usual abilities in less than a month. I would describe the results as 100% effective.

A year later I started experiencing the same problems in my weaker arm. With the current medical care restrictions I have been waiting on EMG and MRI tests for about 9 months, still hoping for treatment. Very little hand and arm strength, poor coordination, constant pain that is only partially helped by anti-inflammatory medication, no such thing as a decent night of sleep.

 

[lrrifleman]

@two-bit cowboy - not exactly. In 2007, my Harley was hit head-on, twenty-two of those surgeries were aimed at repairing muscular/skeletal and kidney damage. One was for removal of a ripe gallbladder, and two for cataract surgery.

@Lobo - I actually had both carpal and cubital tunnel surgery performed on my strong arm last week, even though my weak arm is in greater need of the corrective surgery. I wanted to have my strong arm back in service as soon as possible so I would lose little of my rifle and pistol target season, and restore my defensive capabilities in short order.

The loss of sensations in my right pinky and ring finger were gone once the swelling went down. As much as I am tempted to use my strong hand, it is still weak. About the most I can do is write my signature a few times. I will be ecstatic once I stop dropping stuff out of my weak hand!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

@two-bit cowboy - not exactly. In 2007, my Harley was hit head-on, twenty-two of those surgeries were aimed at repairing muscular/skeletal and kidney damage. One was for removal of a ripe gallbladder, and two for cataract surgery.

@Lobo - I actually had both carpal and cubital tunnel surgery performed on my strong arm last week, even though my weak arm is in greater need of the corrective surgery. I wanted to have my strong arm back in service as soon as possible so I would lose little of my rifle and pistol target season, and restore my defensive capabilities in short order.

The loss of sensations in my right pinky and ring finger were gone once the swelling went down. As much as I am tempted to use my strong hand, it is still weak. About the most I can do is write my signature a few times. I will be ecstatic once I stop dropping stuff out of my weak hand!

I neglected to mention that one of the lingering (probably permanent) problems I have experienced has been in my ability to write with any consistency or clarity. I can do just about anything else without difficulties, but handwriting seems to be something I remember doing easily but no longer have much control over.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Long ago I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left (weak) hand. As a bassist that is the hand that does the most work.

I was back gigging in three weeks and golfing in a month.

The upside was Ruthie cutting my steak for me.

 

[Doug627]

I've had both hands done. It took about a month each time.

 

[jughed440]

I've had work-related carpal tunnel. Both hands were operated on in 2012. The procedure was repeated on the right hand in 2014.
The numbness is gone, but my grip strength has not returned, and dropping things has become the norm.. Because I don't trust my weak grip, I sold off all of the 44 magnum handguns.

 

[Walter Rego]

I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right (strong) hand in the spring of 2019. Two years prior I had surgery on my right thumb for a condition known as "trigger finger" which is somewhat related and in both cases caused by repetitive motion. i.e. years and years on a computer keyboard all day at work.
In both cases prior to the surgery I couldn't even grab a water bottle and twist the top off without great pain. I also had pain and numbness in my wrist, forearm and elbow.

The carpal tunnel surgery results were almost instantaneous with regards to fixing the symptoms. It took about two weeks until I had the stitches out before I could fully clench my fist again and flex my fingers all the way down to my palm. But at about the two week mark I went to the range and fired a couple of .22 LR pistols and my .22 Magnum Automag II. No problems at all but they were light recoiling handguns.

About two months past the surgery I ran a box of 9mm through a pistol with no pain or adverse effects. I am not sure what serious pistol shooting would entail, but for me the first challenge was being able to fully & tightly close my hand. That didn't take long. I don't know that I would want to be firing a .44 Magnum or even a small pocket pistol that pounds the web of your hand, at least for a few months.

 

[Leonard]

Had both done years ago, didn't shoot for about 3 weeks, only long term issue was a tenderness in the palm on shooting a 500 Linbaugh, that took a few months to clear up.

I have also had trigger finger surgery on all of my fingers, got tire of having shots in my hand.

Good surgeon all is well.

 

[H Richard]

I had a standard Carpal surgery on right hand over 20 years ago. About 3 years ago I had to have a revision carpal tunnel surgery, quite extensive. I didn't shoot with the right hand for nearly 3 months, then just .22's for another month or so. I have since ceased shooting heavy recoiling handguns. 45 acp target loads probably the heaviest.

 

[Huskerguy]

I am having the carpal tunnel and elbow surgery done on the 30th of December. I was told 2-3 weeks and then I would be OK. I lift weights so I assume that will be a while longer.

Then I get to have the left wrist done, but not the elbow.

Those "electrical" tests they do are amazing at pinpointing the problem.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

As a Telco tech I had the surgery done twice on both wrists back in the '80,s. I don't remember how long it took me to be able to shoot a hand gun again but not long. I still have the scars to prove it on both wrists.

 

[lrrifleman]

Bump for update to question.

 

[Huskerguy]

UPDATED QUESTION: I am currently days shy of being 5 weeks post op from my carpal/cubital tunnel release surgery, and all appears to be progressing well. I am finding that when I put pressure on the palm of the hand which had the surgery, I get a sharp pain. When I go to get up from either a chair or my bed, I quickly remember to use the back side of my hand to establish leverage in getting up. I foresee this pain as quickly ending any strong-handed shooting session.

For those that have had carpal tunnel release surgery, how long after the procedure was it before the tenderness wasn't noticeable?

Thanks!


Greetings! I am currently 1 week post op of my 26th surgery in under 14 years. I had carpal and cubital tunnel surgery performed on my strong arm. This is probably a question that I should have asked before the surgery, but if I had, the surgery may not have been performed.

How long after the surgery was it before you were able to return to serious pistol shooting?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

I just went in yesterday and had the stitches removed from my carpal tunnel surgery on my right wrist and my right elbow cubital surgery. It was done two weeks ago today. I wasn't scheduled to have the stitches removed until tomorrow (Thursday) but the wrist became a little infected and they wanted to look at it.

When the Dr explains what they do, I see why it takes as long as it does to heal. They put the slit in your wrist and insert a "blade" that goes at least half way up into your hand where they pivot it around cutting the tendon that connects the left to the right side of you lower hand. It is one of those pieces we apparently can get along without and grows back.

The elbow as a pretty long cut and amazingly, the wrist is much more painful than the single stitch wrist! My Dr. told me it will take at least 8 weeks to get back to normal. I can start to do some lifting after three weeks. The nerves have to heal themselves and however long that takes is what it takes.

 

[S&W59]

I had severe pain in my wrists that was miraculously cured when I moved about eight crates of 1500 rounds each 308 by myself. After about the third crate the pain was gone. I don't recommend this but it seems stretching the carpals in my wrists cleared whatever ailed me.