BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Impending Doom on September 02, 2013, 06:52:02 AM

Title: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: Impending Doom on September 02, 2013, 06:52:02 AM
OK, it's now time for me to start looking into treatment for my hand. I've ignored the issue for long enough, and between my career in IT and bowling, I can't ignore it anymore.

I've known that my wrist has been compromised for years. When I was younger and bowling lots, I used to have to hit my hand against the wall to wake it up. Back in 02, I injured my middle finger while bowling, and since then, there has been pain in my elbow and a tendon in my finger that moves. When I flex my middle finger, I can literally see the tendon move in my wrist, and can feel it up to my elbow. I bowl now, and if I bowl anymore than 5 games, I'm hurting the next morning.

I never did anything because I heard horror stories about the surgery and that you lose a bunch of strength in your hand, but right now, I feel like that is my only alternative. So I was wondering what everyone's experiences were.
Title: Re: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: charlest on September 02, 2013, 07:37:38 AM
Had both hands done, one in the early 90s and one about 10 years later. Even back then, more depended on how good your orthopedic surgeon was than on almost anything else. One was good; the other not as good. 2nd surgeon made fun of the large scar the first left. The 2nd left no scar but I have to have it done over again because I'm again losing feeling in that hand, the left one.

I think that's the worst part, for me: having it come back again.

The operation is almost trivial these days; it was over before I knew what was happening. I think if you follow the doctor's advice, do the the therapy when and how instructed, you should be fine. I have had no loss in strength after recovery. I had loss of strength while I was suffering from it. The sooner you do it, the better the chances are that the crushed nerve will return to full size and flow through the nerve will return to normal. (Basically the inflamed tendons are crushing the nerve between them, in that "tunnel".)

If you go macho and try to return before your body has fully recovered, if you get impatient, that's when you'll do yourself the most damage.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: Impending Doom on September 02, 2013, 07:57:04 AM
Macho is not my middle name. Just ask sevenpin and Pike. :p

I'm hardly bowling as is, so the only problem is that I work on a keyboard, and typing with one hand is hard. I'm guessing that recovery time with therapy would at least be12 weeks, no?
Title: Re: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: charlest on September 02, 2013, 09:22:47 AM
Macho is not my middle name. Just ask sevenpin and Pike. :p

I'm hardly bowling as is, so the only problem is that I work on a keyboard, and typing with one hand is hard. I'm guessing that recovery time with therapy would at least be12 weeks, no?

Forgot to add, that was my job before I retired, IT (programming and analysis). My first carpal tunnel surgery was when I wasn't even bowling for 7 years due to an injury. Both IT (improper typing) and bowling both contribute to physical stress of your tendons in the wrist.
Title: Re: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: sevenpin63 on September 02, 2013, 09:40:10 AM
Macho is not my middle name. Just ask sevenpin and Pike. :p

I'm hardly bowling as is, so the only problem is that I work on a keyboard, and typing with one hand is hard. I'm guessing that recovery time with therapy would at least be12 weeks, no?

Don't sell yourself short. ;)

We don't call you Mr. Doom for nothing. ;D
Title: Re: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: Impending Doom on September 02, 2013, 10:08:13 AM
I have a split ergo keyboard, with a wrist rest and everything. I just beat myself up bowling as a younger man.

Sevenpin, you're too kind. :)
Title: Re: Carpel Tunnel surgery recovery and experiences
Post by: Djarum on September 10, 2013, 09:24:00 AM
I've never had it done personally. A guy on my team I bowled with all season had it done toward the end of the season. After a month and dropping to 14 lbs, he was bowling 6 games a week. About 6 months later he moved back up to 15lbs and was back up to 4 leagues.