Well, September really is not that far away. The next 2 months will probably go racing past us... Have a good summer.
I may have a good summer but the better half will be getting sick of mowing the lawn before the summer is over.
I hear that carpal tunnel is very painful depending on how bad it is. It may take awhile but the surgery should give some relief. Get better and hang in there.
Around the time I was having the surgery, two friends of mine offered me free firewood. I had to turn both down. Ma Nature didn't like that so last Thursday she threw a bit of a strong wind my way. Luckily I had a friend who could help me clean up a few dead elms that came down along the road and clear my path to the woods. A large oak tipped over and took a birch with it along with a small box elder. The tops of those trees were across my path and into our garden. I will get to the rest of the trees in my woods later this fall or next spring, whenever my hands heal up enough to handle my chainsaws. I got the blocks from the elms piled up ready to be split. Checked on of the blocks and the MM said 16%. Ready to burn now but will go into the normal rotation which puts it in play in 3 years. Got a trailer load of branches to cut up as well.
The incisions are healed up. It still hurts to do things like run a chainsaw or mow the lawn with a push mower. I can handle the riding tractor if I am careful. Hope it only takes 6 months to be back to normal. If I forget and use my hands to help get uip from a chair, they both let me know they are not happy. Pressure on the palms is a big NO NO. Thanks for asking.
Went in to see the PA for a post op checkup. I have had all restrictions lifted. I now will proceed slowly and stop if it hurts.
Let pain be your guide. I had it in both hands and had the left one (left handed) done fifteen years ago. Still doing well with it. Mine was pretty bad and they had to cut the nerve out of the sheath. I had let it get to the point my thumb muscle atrophied. Still have it in the right hand and I'm wearing a splint at the moment, as I do every night. Be careful if it came on all of a sudden in both hands. Sometimes it's an indication of autoimmune disease, as it was in my case. The next phase was diabetes, then psoriatic arthritis. Not to scare you, but just be aware. You should be fine. Good luck to ya!
NortheastAl I had been living with carpal tunnel symptoms for close to 20 years. Wore a brace on my left hand when doing driving of any distances. Had to wear it at night as well. How long did it take for you to get back to normal after your surgery? I have been hearing anywhere from 6 months to a year. While mowing the lawn today,. I noticed another dead elm that broke halfway up. More work when I get healthy.
It took about six months as I remember. I tended to keep any heavy lifting to a minimum. Even after the six months you may still have issues. It's important to keep your fingers moving as to avoid adhesions. Exercise with rubber or memory foam squeeze type balls. In my case I had the old school cut from the wrist to the middle of the Palm. The surgeon took some extra tissue out because he didn't want me to have a recurrence. After a year you should be 100%. Remember one very important thing when you lift anything of weight. Do not curl your wrist in toward your forearm, especially while healing. You can do serious damage. Keeping your wrist in the neutral position when lifting is key. Good luck with the healing.
NortheastAl Thanks for the info. Good to hear from someone who has gone thru this before. I am trying to remember to massage the incision spots to help break up any scar tissue.
I did the hand massage too and also went to physical therapy and they used ultrasound to help break up the scar tissue.
I was offered the option of physical therapy and I turned it down for now. Did the ultrasound help to break up the scar tissue? The PA did say I could change my mind about the PT.
It seemed to have worked. My thought was whatever I can do to help lessen the scar tissue I'll do. It's good you are keeping your options open.
NortheastAl I have started using my small 192t a couple of times now. I don't use it for more than an hour before I call it quits for the day and then wait a couple of days before going back at it. I am taking your and others advice about getting some OT. I go in this Thursday for my first session and next Tuesday for the second one. I am working on getting some smaller wood cut up now to take it easy on my hands.
Erik B, you are doing the right thing by getting the therapy. The success of the surgery will be enhanced by the OT making the hand and wrist move like it should. Full range of motion is important, especially when you get older. The time you invest in doing the therapy now will pay off also in the future. I think you will appreciate all that you do to take care of the hand. Good luck, and keep us posted.
