Question 1

why does my palm still feel bruised and swollen and my wrist hurts almost a year after surgery? i also have pain that travels down my thumb?

Accepted Answer

Not all surgery work: If you have not seen the doctor that did the carpal tunnel surgery then go back. Rheumatoid arthritis could make surgery more complicated it depends. 
You may need repeat nerve test. 
Should see person who did carpal tunnel release.

Question 2

why is my hand still swollen two weeks after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Could be normal: Swelling after surgery  is a normal process of healing. The amount of swelling is dependant on many factors: the type of procedure, length. Trauma involved, vascularity of the area, patient medical conditions, etc. 
Swelling can also be caused by infection.
Consult your  surgeon for your particular case.

Question 3

time to heal after carpal tunnel surgery? i had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome two weeks ago. i understand it can take months to heal completely, but how long should it take for me to see improvement? my hand is still pretty swollen and stiff and i st

Accepted Answer

I : I always tell patients that the time to healing is variable in that no two patients are exactly the same. However typically you can go back to light activites within a few days to a few weeks and heavy activity in 4-6 weeks.  Of course this is job and activity dependent.  If you are a sedentary office worker its a lot different than a plumber or machinist. General health also affects return to function. If you have diabetes, are a smoker or have fibromyalgia or an inflammatory condition you may have an extended time period.

Healing means different things to people.  Some take it to imply return to activity others return of normal sensation.
I take time to clarify these two questions before surgery.

Will my sensation come back or be normal after surgery?

While the goal of carpal tunnel surgery is to relieve the pressure on the nerve not everyone will respond the same to surgery

some patients will have immediate return of sensation while some will take longer. Some will notice an improvement right away but still feel tingling and will describe this as "numb" the return of sensation is dependent on many factors including age, general health, duration of symptoms, circulation and the actual mechanical severity of compression.

In very severe cases while decompressing the nerve stops the carpal tunnel syndrome from getting worse, full recovery of sensation may not be possible.  Often this is seen in patients who have muscle wasting noted prior to surgery and in those with longstanding complete numbness and elevated two-point discrimination.  Of course there are many in these categories that improve despite having very severe cases.

Having a severe case where you are not sure if you'd have full recovery is not a reason to put off surgery, as progression is likely if nothing is done.

How about my strength?

This is a very difficult question as there are many reasons why a hand with carpal tunnel may not feel as strong.  It may be that the decreased sensation in the fingers prevents someone from knowing how tight to hold and object and that object is dropped more easily.  With return of sensation or even a slight improvement in sensation, dropping objects becomes less of a problem.   Some severe cases of carpal tunnel can be associated with atrophy in the muscles of the hand.  In some severe cases, this muscle will never fully recover.  However despite loss of muscle, function can still be preserved.  In very severe cases a suregon may recommend a tendon or muscle transfer to improve function.

So the short answer is its variabole, the long answer above.  The best thing is to ask your surgeon what to expect.

This answer is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment.

Question 4

how long does it take hand tendons to heal after surgery to repair severed tendons?

Accepted Answer

3-4 wks : Minimum till active motion.

Question 5

can i ask my gp to take off the cast and have a look what is going on with the burning feeling in her hand as the er told her they are full with covid patients and her orthophedic surgeon is on leave till 14 aug. this is week after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Cast issues:  I think it would be reasonable to discuss this request with the GP.  I am assuming you are in South Africa. The GP will ultimately  accept that plan or help come up with an alternative.

Question 6

hello, i need surgery on both wrists because of severe carpal tunnel syndrome. how long will it take after surgery before i can use my hand again?

Accepted Answer

Varies: If your carpal tunnel is severe I would bet you cannot use your hands now......

Recovery varies, but fine motor is pretty good right away progressing to full strength after a few weeks.

Question 7

possible malignant tumor in right hand. if it's malignant will i need chemo after surgery? also how long would it take to recover from amputated pinky

Accepted Answer

Depends on the cause: There are several different types of cancer which can affect your hand. It could be a sarcoma of the soft tissues or of the bone. The treatments typically include surgery if it is small tumor. Chemo is only used for large tumors or if the tumor is highly malignant. Healing of the finger should not take more than 2 to 3 weeks.

Question 8

i need to find out how can i take care of my fingers after surgery.  left hand- ring finger: tip amputation, index finger has a 180 cut.  should i leave the index  covered? how often should i change dressing on the ring finger?

Accepted Answer

Ask your surgeon : Your question is a very good one, but because only your surgeon knows what he/she has performed, the post op needs will be related to that. Discuss with your surgeon to get exact needs. In general, rest and keeping the areas clean are in order, but specific antibiotic ointments/creams, splinting devices, occupational therapy, wrapping techniques are all specific to your needs.  This is important!

Question 9

is it okay to have a swollen hand/extremities with little to no feeling after carpel tunnel surgery?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: Given your symtoms i would normally be concern but without more info it is hard to say.  Make sure your surgeon knows these complaints.  Did you have numbness prior to surgery?  Diabeties?

Question 10

is it normal after carpel tunnel surgery to have a swollen hand/extremities with little feeling?

Accepted Answer

Possible poor result: Cts  surgery is usually safe and successful in over 95%.  Your description may indicate a post-operative infection or scarring, and you need to have a thorough investigation by the surgeon, or even an infectious disease specialist.

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Doctor answers about:

How long does it take for swollen to go down in hand after surgery

A member asked:

Why does my palm still feel bruised and swollen and my wrist hurts almost a year after surgery? i also have pain that travels down my thumb?

A member asked:

Why is my hand still swollen two weeks after surgery?

A member asked:

Time to heal after carpal tunnel surgery? i had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome two weeks ago. i understand it can take months to heal completely, but how long should it take for me to see improvement? my hand is still pretty swollen and stiff and i st

A member asked:

How long does it take hand tendons to heal after surgery to repair severed tendons?

A member asked:

Can i ask my gp to take off the cast and have a look what is going on with the burning feeling in her hand as the er told her they are full with covid patients and her orthophedic surgeon is on leave till 14 aug. this is week after surgery?

A member asked:

Hello, i need surgery on both wrists because of severe carpal tunnel syndrome. how long will it take after surgery before i can use my hand again?

A member asked:

Possible malignant tumor in right hand. if it's malignant will i need chemo after surgery? also how long would it take to recover from amputated pinky

A member asked:

I need to find out how can i take care of my fingers after surgery. left hand- ring finger: tip amputation, index finger has a 180 cut. should i leave the index covered? how often should i change dressing on the ring finger?

A member asked:

Is it okay to have a swollen hand/extremities with little to no feeling after carpel tunnel surgery?

A member asked:

Is it normal after carpel tunnel surgery to have a swollen hand/extremities with little feeling?

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