Day 7?

I think it's day 7

I have much more use of my hand now - yesterday took a shower with a latex glove over my hand to try and keep it dry, although despite being careful my dressing still got a bit wet and needed changing.

I am mostly using my hand for typing, and light use, but still not wanting to strain or damage the work that's been done so not gripping much.

By evening yesterday my hand felt quite sore from the day - so rested it for the rest of the evening in a sling.

Day 4

I'm still feeling like a right cripple - taking Co-codamol every 4 hours and Oramorth at night along with Diclofenac 3 times a day - it helps the pain well for me, and I find using the sling does stop me being tempted to use my hand when I shouldn't.

Today my husband has returned to work and I must get the kids up and do the school run myself, which I manage quite well, and only need to ask for the kids help once or twice, for holding jars and bottles while I undo the lids.

I have bought myself a special dog lead which goes over my body like a bag strap, for walking the dog. My dog is trained to go on the left side, and despite a bit of practice he can't get used to walking on the right.

I find the lead very handy and will consider using it even after my hand heals as it keeps both hands free and is great.

Off Comes the Glove

Day 3 I was to have my bandages removed and dressing changed at my local pratice nurse.

Here's what it looked like on day 3.

The dressing was changed and a light bandage put on my hand and I was advised to use my sling as much as possible to stop me from using the hand.

By now I am able to do slightly more than yesterday - although I'm not sure if I should be doing so!!

The Day After

I spent the next day feeling sorry for myself, frustrated at what I couldn't do, and annoyed that I still couldn't get this damn pink stuff off my fingers!!!

Movement in my fingers was possible, though I was unable to grip anything without pain - I was told that if it hurt, not to do it.

Day of Surgery

I was due to arrive at the hospital at 7.30am - despite it being planned as being done under a local anaesthetic I was not allowed to eat after 12 midnight the night before and nothing to drink after 7am.

On arrival to the hospital I had to change into a gown and dressing gown and walked down to the anaesthetic room and waited till the surgeon was ready.

In Theatre I lay down with my arm out and the surgeon injected the local anaesthetic into the centre of my hand, which I stung quite a bit. I think I received 2 injections and didn't feel much after the 2nd except for some pulling and tugging of my hand and wrist.

I opted not to look, and asked that the surgeon didn't describe what she was doing - I'm squeamish!!!

At one point it felt like a guitar string was being twanged in my wrist!

The operation took less than 30 minutes and my hand was stitched and bandaged up - I looked like I was wearing a boxing glove!

A nurse and porter took me up to the surgical ward where I had a cup of tea and light breakfast and was allowed home within an hour with my arm in a sling.

I was told not to drive for 10 days, no heavy lifting for 2 to 3 months. It's surprising how much you take for granted... like doing up your bra, undoing jars and bottles, shoelaces, pulling up trousers, doing up a belt, cutting up food, washing your hair - luckily I had hubby to be a nursemaid, though it was frustrating at times - I truly appreciate what amputees go through and am grateful that this is only temporary.

My fingers were bright pink from the surgical scrub type stuff - this seems impossible to get off, especially as I have to keep my operation site dry till the stitches come out!

My fingers stayed numb till around 9pm that evening - I was worried that the op had gone wrong and they'd be numb forever but after phoning the hospital was reassured that the feeling would return.

My Carpal Tunnel

My Carpal Tunnel first appeared back in 1999 when I was pregnant with my first child - I did a lot of driving and would get pins and needles in my hands and fingers.

This went away when I gave birth to my first child and didn't return until my 2nd pregnancy - though slightly worse this time I would get complete numbness of the hands sometime when driving long distance and at night I would get pains in my fingers and needed to wear wrist splints.

Again this went away after the birth of my second child but still got slight symptoms when driving long distance though not as bad as when I was pregnant.

When pregnant with my 3rd child the Carpal Tunnel was so painful that I needed steroid injections in the most painful wrist, which gave relief for around 6 weeks at a time until I returned to the doctor begging for more!

After the birth of my 3rd child the symptoms didn't really go away, and when I started Depo-Provera contraception injections 3 monthly I noticed it worsened and was worse at special time of the month with my cycles.

Despite wearing wrist splints at night and taking Diclofenac and paracetamol I was struggling to cope with my Carpal Tunnel. I also found that after starting an anti-smoking drug called Champix my symptoms worsened so bad that I would wake at night in pain and was prescribed Oramorth.

After taking up knitting I found that after a few rows I would completely lose all feeling in most of my fingers so returned to the doctor to ask for more steroid injections.

The doctor refused to give me more injections as apparently it's not good for you to have too many - so I was referred to Orthapedics for tests.

Orthapedics did some low level electric shock type tests to test the level of my Carpal Tunnel and recommended I have surgery to relieve it.

I thought that documenting my experience might help others going through the same thing and may help people worried about the surgery.

The surgery was booked for the following month and I spoke to a friend who had also had it done - unfortunately she had had a bad experience, the surgery had not worked for her and had actually made her symptoms worse!!

Luckily after that I spoke to many people who had also had the surgery and everyone else was very positive about it and said that it was worthwhile - phew!!