Seven weeks on

I have a small amount of discomfort at times. It still hurts to lean on my palm or twist jar lids off. I saw the surgeon yesterday and he's very happy with my progress. I'm now booked in to have my left hand done next week. So here we go again :)

My hand almost looks like nothing happened. 

Four weeks photo

Four weeks on

Still getting the odd pulling and tight sensations. The skin is still pretty sensitive but improving by the day. I can use it for more but it still hurts if I try to lift something too heavy.  The strength in my thumb isn't great but isn't too bad. Things like opening new jars or turning on tight taps aren't possible yet but improving. The scar itself is barely visible still. 

Three weeks on - photo.

Three weeks after surgery.

Three weeks on and it's healing well. The skin is still fairly sensitive but it's stopped peeling and isn't as dry now. The redness is reducing and the creases are coming back. I can use it for most things but still find lifting heavy things a bit painful and gripping is uncomfortable and not very strong yet. I can comfortably carry a basket of wet laundry but struggle to open a packet of crisps. I haven't tried driving yet but don't think it would be a problem now. 

Amazed

Since the stitches came out the difference is striking.  Today I have managed to clean the kitchen and do three loads of laundry without help to carry it, peg it out or fold it :) I haven't tried driving yet as our car is big and heavy to drive. I think I'll give it a bit longer as my grip strength isn't great yet. 

Two weeks photos.

Before moisturising

After moisturising

Two weeks down the road

Two weeks ago I had been admitted to the hospital and was speaking to the surgeon. My wound is well healed, my hand is still a bit tender and aches if I use it too much. But the big news is: My stitches are gone! Yesterday they looked like they were coming loose so as suggested by the surgeon I rubbed them, the ends came away from one of the four remaining stitches and the other three came away complete. Now that they're gone I can finally start moisturising the very dry skin. The scar has very soft and new skin at the moment, hopefully it will soon start to harden. The recovery has been pretty easy from this surgery so I am going to push to get the left hand done in the autumn. 

Day 12 photo

12 days post surgery

I woke up this morning to find one of my stitches has come off. One down four to go :) I'm almost entirely bruise free now too. Only two more days on light duties then a gradual return to normal. 

Day ten photo

Ted days after surgery

It's feeling pretty good today. The scar is quite itchy and I'm getting frustrated being one and a half handed now. 

Day eight photo.

Day eight

There is stil quite a lot of bruising in my palm and on my wrist. The wound feels tight but doesn't hurt. I am beginning to be able to push down gently with my fingers - not enough to flush the toilet but definitely better than a few days ago. I'm really looking forward to the stitches being gone as I really want to get some moisturiser into the area. I'm moisturising around the wound but I'm sure it will feel less tight once the skin is softer. 

Day six photo

Day six

Almost no pain or discomfort today and it looks to be healing really well. I can't push down at all with my fingers yet but other movements are getting easier everyday. I managed to shower on my own but still need help putting my bra on!

Bruising day five.

Five days on

Yesterday I managed with just two doses of paracetamol and so far this morning there's just a slight discomfort. The bruising is much more yellow today. I'm still on light-duties but it's getting harder to remember not to use it. 

1x 2 paracetamol

Wound photo day four

Day four photo (with dressing on)

Four days since surgery

The bruising is changing colour, my palm and forearm are now a fetching shade of green. The pain is still reducing and not really bothersome. I'm able to lift light things, I can write slowly without much pain and can use the touch screen on my phone and ipad without much discomfort. I can comfortably make a fist but it still hurts a bit to squeeze it tighter. 

I slept in until 11am and have definitely noticed how much better my arm feels at night now. 

1x 2 paracetamol

Day three photo

Three days since surgery

I slept right through without needing pain relief last night. The bruising is still coming out. I can just about touch my thumb and little finger together but it's not easy. There is a little discomfort this morning but I didn't need more than paracetamol. 

1x naproxen

3x 2 paracetamol 

2x codeine

Wound photo (a bit graphic)

The wound is looking quite neat. It's a little bit sticky so we'll keep a close eye on it. 

Bruising photo

Two days after surgery

Today is two days since surgery and the pain is much less today. I have removed the large bandage, there is quite a bit of bruising in my palm and the dressing is a little bloody so I'll ask my husband to help me change the dressing when he gets home later. I will try and remember to get a photo of the wound when we do.

2x naproxen

3x 2 paracetamol

3x 2 codeine 

One day after surgery

My hand was quite sore the day after surgery. I took plenty of pain relief and it was quite comfortable on the whole. 

2x naproxen

4x 2 paracetamol

4x 2 codeine

Bandage photo

Surgery day

Having showered with hibi scrub last night and this morning we left for the hospital at 6.50. When we arrived I was shown to my room (a 2 bed room shared with a very pleasant lady called Dawn who was having shoulder surgery.) and went through the admission paperwork and checks. 

Soon afterwards Mr Shafigian came to see me and said I was now second on the list so should be done about 9.30. I changed into my gown and waited. 

At 9.15 the anaesthetist came to collect me and started the prep for the local anaesthetic. 

At 9.30 mr Shafigian arrived and injected the local anaesthetic. It stung a bit but soon took effect. I was wheeled in to theatre and at 9.40 the tourniquet was inflated and surgery started. Mr Shafigian talked me through the procedure which I could sort of see reflected in the lights. I watched directly as he stitched me up and 8 minutes after inflating the tourniquet it was deflated. Once the dressing and bandage was applied I was put in a wheelchair and taken back to the room at 9.55. 

45 minutes later I was discharged and free to go. 

As the anaesthetic wore off it was quite painful but a combination of paracetamol, codeine and naproxen is helping. 

Surgery tomorrow

In 12 hours I will be close to if not at the hospital. I had a call from a nurse today to check everything was still ok. The last four days have been a whirlwind of cooking, cleaning and laundry to lighten the load on my husband while I'm out of action. Tonight I have to shower with hibi scrub and then plan to have an early night as the alarm is set for 5.30 tomorrow morning! Thankfully I have a lovely friend arriving at 6.30 to take care of my seven year old and then collect my eldest who is taking over the childcare at about 9am. 

Four days to go.

The school holidays start today, six weeks without having to rush around. It's also four days until surgery which means I've had to stop taking naproxen as it increases the chances of bleeding during surgery. My joints can definitely feel the lack of NSAIDs. 

Pre-surgery photo

Getting closer.

Today was my last day as a teaching assistant, at least for now anyway. I'm starting to gather together the things I will need at the hospital. I'll only be there a few hours but need a dressing gown and slippers, toiletries etc in case I feel the need to freshen up after surgery or in the unlikely event of complications meaning I need to stay longer.  I have arranged childcare for my seven year old, my husband has booked the day off to take me to the hospital and as far as I can tell I'm as ready as I can be. I'm going to document my recovery as well as possible starting with a pre-surgery photo. 

Pre-Op Assessment

Thursday 10th July

I had my pre-op assessment with a lovely nurse called Lynda. Lynda took me through what will happen on the day of the surgery. I have to arrive at 7.30am and am currently due to be third on the list which means going to theatre at about 10.15. I can eat and drink as normal as I'm not having a general anaesthetic. 

The evening before and morning of surgery I have to shower with hibi scrub body wash. For 24 hours prior to surgery I have to avoid all other soaps, shampoos, moisturisers etc as they interfere with the effectiveness of the hibi scrub. 

Following surgery my hand/arm will be heavily bandaged for two weeks or so which will be quite a handicap as it's my dominant hand having surgery. 

Thankfully I have a very supportive and helpful family who are willing to muck in and help. Fingers crossed (on my left hand at least) that I will be sufficiently healed to pack for our week away in august. 

Preparing for surgery.

I had part of my pre-op assessment done at my initial appointment in June and have the rest of the assessment booked for Thursday 10th July. 

I have been researching the surgery and have watched quite a few surgeries on YouTube. Several people have called me things like 'weirdo' and 'freak' for wanting to know exactly what will happen, but I find this kind of thing fascinating. As the surgery is being done under local anaesthetic I'm hoping they will let me watch or, at least, take a look. 

I can't wait to get it done now, the numbness and pain in my hand and arm is affecting me quite significantly now. 

Carpal Tunnel so far...

I first started noticing pain and numbness in my right hand three or four years ago. It was only occasional and not really bothersome. About two years ago I noticed it worsening and occasionally affecting my left hand too.  I visited my GP who suspected I had carpal tunnel syndrome.

Due to some other symptoms I was having at the time he decided to run some tests to rule out other things that carpal tunnel could be a symptom of. The main things he tested for were under-active thyroid and rheumatoid arthritis. A couple  of weeks later the results were back and both conditions were ruled out.

The next step was to have nerve conduction studies which were done at university hospital in Coventry. I spoke to a doctor on the same day who confirmed mild carpal tunnel syndrome in my left wrist and moderate in my right hand.

My GP decided the best first line of treatment was a steroid injection directly into the carpal tunnel.  He asked if I would mind another doctor watching as he wanted to teach her how to do it. Consequently an appointment was booked with both doctors for a few days later.

The injection was a bit painful but not unbearable. The pain increased for a couple of days as the increased fluid level in the carpal tunnel increases the pressure on the median nerve. A few days after the injection the symptoms began to subside and the reduction in symptoms lasted for 5-6 months.

When the symptoms began to increase again my GP repeated the injection with similar effects, this time lasting a bit longer. A third injection in mid April 2014 gave only about 3-4 weeks of relief. My GP decided it was time for something a little more permanent and on May 16th  I was given a referral to see an orthopaedic surgeon.

The new NHS choose and book system is fantastic. Within 45 minutes of seeing my GP I had a consultant appointment booked for June 12th at the Horton NHS treatment centre in Banbury.

I arrived at the Horton and was pleasantly surprised by the feel of the hospital. The staff were all lovely. My consultant Mr Shafighian (shaf-EE-gee-an) was great. Very friendly, took lots of time to explain everything and check my hands thoroughly. It turns out I have significant muscle wasting on my right thumb. He recommended surgery on my right hand ASAP and to leave the decision about my left hand until a few weeks after my first surgery.

I decided to wait until after my teaching assistant contract ends on July 18th so am booked in for surgery on Wednesday 23rd July.