Chalcedony Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Not a big deal, it's just carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand. I had my right hand done already, and I'm SO happy I did it! I wish I'd had it done a LONG time ago, but when you have no money or insurance, it's hard to plan things like this. Luckily, AHCCCS, Arizona's state insurance, covers not only the surgery, but up to 15 therapy sessions afterward. I was surprised to learn this. Anyway, pretty much everything--reading, sewing, arts and crafts, washing dishes, working the cash register, even just sitting or sleeping-- used to cause burning, stinging pain from elbows to fingertips. My fingers would get that pins-and-needles sensation and eventually go numb the longer I tried to do anything. All of that is gone in my right hand, and soon will be a thing of the past for my left hand, too. For those who haven't had this surgery, I highly recommend it if your insurance covers it. Don't wait till you're 52, like I did, and suffer for decades when relief is so easy to achieve these days. The actual surgery takes only about 5 minutes. They don't cut the wrist open, just make a tiny incision in the crease of the wrist, and another in the palm of the hand, so they can insert a scope to see what's going on, followed by the instruments for cutting the band of tendon at the base of the hand. You get two stitches in the wrist, and will need therapy (massage and exercises) to make sure the scar tissue doesn't bind up the tendons in the hand. I healed really fast the first time--was able to do light work and even some limited hand-sewing by the 5th day or so. Took a week off work, could do only light lifting for about two weeks, then was back to normal. So, yeah, wish me luck or whatever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms. Spam Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Sending you good juju! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cashmere Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poe Dameron Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Have fun with your new hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalcedony Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 Oh, believe me, I will! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 & 6 years to go... Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 *dirty mind attack....**dirty mind attack....* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalcedony Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Came through it just fine. Got a bandaged hand, but it doesn't hurt much. I can move the fingers fine, so nothing important was severed! I'm staying at a friend's house for a couple of days while I recuperate. While I was under anesthesia, i had a dream that I was posting on Facebook! Of all the things I could have dreamed about, it had to be something boring. What a waste of good drugs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeygirl Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 DID SOMEBODY SAY GOOD DRUGS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Glad to hear it went well. My mom had knee surgery this week, and it is amazing how different things have gotten. My dad had the same surgery about 10 years ago, and was down for a couple weeks. My mom was walking around the same day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalcedony Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Oh, I know! I have two stitches in my wrist and a tiny hole in the palm of my hand. It was an endoscopic surgery, so there was no huge gash to sew up. I'm already using my hand. There's barely any pain, but I have taken some Advil to keep the swelling down. DID SOMEBODY SAY GOOD DRUGSYES, Tami, but they never gave me any to take home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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