Hi All, I just saw this post and thought I would ask a question. My mother, who is 84 years old, just had carpal tunnel surgery done on her left wrist/hand last Monday. She is doing fine but wants to know when the tingling will go away. You just have to know that she has always been extremely healthy so this whole "nerve compression" thing is new to her. And, well, she has always been a goer and a doer so this setback is bothering her. I have explained to her and so too has her doctor that it takes time. And I should add that the CT was going on for about 3 months before she had surgery. Anyway, she is getting concerned whereas I just think she needs to give it more time. Anyone have any advice as to what I can tell her other than what I already have? Oh, and I should probably add that when the doc came and spoke to me, he said that it was extremely tight in that area. Anyway, thank you because I have just run out of explanations.

It's nearly 3 months after my CT surgery, and things have gone well so far. I have good strength in the hand now, and no tingling in the fingers. I have been doing some heavy lifting when I shouldn't be, (I was moving house just after the New Year!) and I've had very little pain. But I'd better be a good girl now and rest it a bit! lol
The first month was the hardest...but it gets better!
~Jaime~

I'm putting off having the surgery done. Dunno whether to do open wrist or arthroscopic (sp?) surgery. Arthro seems to tout less recovery time (relatively).
But, I cannot find anyone to give me specific info that I want regarding real recovery time and rate.
I need the fine skills of a watchmaker, and the strength of a carpenter in my work as a full service locksmith.
I am self employed and run a retail shop as well as on-site repair service, emergency lock-out service, and installations.
I cannot afford more than 2 weeks (vacation time) being closed in my shop & being away from the business.

I had open surgery, and recovery time was a bit slower than I hoped. It took nearly 3 weeks before I could hold a pen properly, so my fine skills/dexterity took a few weeks, so you would possibly need longer than 2 weeks recovery time. I was lucky in that I had the time to recover, and no work commitments to worry about. Of course, it will be different for everyone, and depending on how bad the nerve damage was before surgery...for recovery time.
~Jaime~

Nearly 5 months since my surgery, and all is good...and I think having the surgery was the best decision! No numb fingers, and more strength in my right hand now. The difference is so noticeable...that I think I will get the left hand done...eventually! lol

~Jaime~

I had arthroscopy bilateral carpal tunnel surgery about 3 years ago. I felt great immediately out of recovery. I resumed normal activity immediately (I couldn't resist). 3 years later I have have no issues other than two 1 week episodes where the symptoms came back along with tarsal tunnel symptoms. I am now being told I have pn.

I would definately do the arthroscopic again!

I guess I haven't been in here much lately...
But I thought I had better bump up this thread...because I had my 2nd Carpal Tunnel Surgery on Friday, 2 days ago!
I had my left hand done this time, and it's still pretty painful, of course. But the funny thing is that I had this surgery 12 months, to the day, after my first...yep, exactly 12 months apart! lol
I hope it turns out as good as the right hand did, but since this surgery was done by a different surgeon at a different hospital...who knows how it will turn out! lol

~Jaime~

Last month I had open carpal tunnel release surgery performed on my left hand and I will be having the same procedure done next week on my right hand.

So far it has not helped and has only made the pain worse in my opinion and the strength has not returned at all to my hand which will make things much more complicated if the same results happen after this surgery to my right hand (which is my dominate hand).

Is it normal to leave the stitches in for an entire month?