Cts surgery

[tkdboyd]

I am having Carpal tunnel release surgery this coming Friday.

I am a little freaked out about not playing for 4 weeks or so.

I haven't been able to find an answer on how long I should wait prior to playing again.

Anyone have any experience/knowledge to share about this?

Thank you in advance!

[Harrmob]

I have had 2 cortizone shots (2 in my wrist, 1 in my finger) and the doc said no more. Next time I come in, its surgery. He acted like it was not a big deal and it would be fine. I am reluctant b/c I do not think I could stand not playing for 4 weeks, although I do know that not playing is imperitative to heal properly. Please keep us posted on progress, healing, etc.

[blawson]

I had to take a full week off for RSS -- fortunately, it was not CTS.

At the end of this month, I'll be having a trauma-induced cyst surgically removed from the palm-side middle knuckle of my right hand. Fortunately, it's my picking hand, so I can just appear to be flipping the bird as I continue to play. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Best of luck with the surgery. Maybe the down time would be a great opportunity to focus on something different -- e.g., better understanding theory, or whatever fits the bill for you.

[tkdboyd]

I am going to try to rig a slide for my Dobro to my cast and work on sight reading on the treble clef on a cheap keyboard -to steal a line from Jim Richter, who I think stole it from Will Kimble: "Lost? Have you tried the melody?" I plan on spending all the time I can reading fiddle sheet music and playing it on the keyboard. It will be slow going, I haven't had a piano or its variants available to me for 10 years or so.

I am, to quote Stephen Stills, "scared sh_tless!"

I'll update this to let others know how it goes!

[Scotti Adams]

I had the Ulner Nerve Surgery done a couple of years ago..that done in the elbow...didnt bother my playing much but it was slowed down some. There are some pics if searched for in the archives.

[Got8Strings]

I had the carpal tunnel release procedure on both wrists (not at the same time) about 12 years ago. Which one are you getting done, left hand or right?

My advice is simply Be Patient - recovery never goes as fast as you would like. You will probably lose some flexibility temporarily and playing may be uncomfortable at first. I don't recommend pushing it because you may irritate things which will just prolong the recovery time. Ask your doc about stretching exercises.

[tkdboyd]

My left hand for surgery, I am a righty so it is my fretting hand..argh!

Thanks for the advice. It is going to be a rough month or more... :-(

I would have been an early teen the last time I would have not played some sort of stringed instrument for such a long period of time.

[piknleft]

Had my left hand done three yrs. ago this June. Had my right hand done this past Nov. Couldn't be happier with with the results although you should indeed not rush. The first couple of weeks are critical. Take it easy so you don't open it back up. Numbness and pain are completely gone and most importantly I get good sleep at night. I was having to get out of bed 2-3 times a night and walk around shaking my whole arm to ease a horrible burning numbness in the hand and fingers. I was back to work in 3 weeks and playing (albeit very slowly) after a long month. Sure beats permanent nerve damage. Good luck and a speedy recovery to ya! Mike

[violmando]

I had my RH done in '88 and my LH done in '97, I think. Back then, I was a classical double bassist and had to take 2 weeks off when it was my bow hand and 4 weeks off when it was my fingering hand, I'm pretty sure. It is worth it to do it right. I waited and left the right hand get too bad and it's never come fully back, whereas the left hand is as good as new. I also recommend doing whatever exercises they tell you to do; I used a squeeze ball, I remember, and later one of those gripmasters to help it out. It DOES take some time to fully recover but it will if you don't push it. I do hope you are having it done by someone who is a specialist in this surgery, not by a Dr. who only does it a couple times a year. That's worth it too...
Yvonne in Ohio

[Flowerpot]

Doggone, Mark, I feel bad for you. But I'm sure it will go fine.

I can't speak about CTS specifically, but as one who pushed too hard too soon after collarbone surgery (tennis and weight lifting too soon, and cause a re-injury), all I can say is: take it easy and slow to begin with, and don't do more than what is recommended. Try to get the surgeon to prescibe physical therapy, because a physical therapist will know sometimes better than the doctor what is helpful activity and what is harmful. Don't push too much too soon; you're still young, and have got years and years of music ahead of you; don't sacrifice that for the sake of pickin' 8 hrs a day two weeks too early.

[tkdboyd]

I am taking a day off before the surgery to play until I can't play no more. Figure I can't do any more harm.

I am hoping that 'tickling the ivory' will suffice for the time being, keep mind and fingers occupied.

Flowerpot: Are you still mostly playing the Violin? I think I remember seeing a post from you stating that you were swapping over to the fret less side of life.

Thanks to all for the well wishes!

[northfolk]

Oh yeah! I had this procedure done on both hands. The right hand was done about 20 yaers ago; recovery was slow, 4 to 6 weeks. The left hand was done about 4 years ago; recovery was about 2 weeks? The procedure now is much better than 20 years ago and therefore the recovery is much shorter. On my left hand I was playing lightly the day after they took off the bandage; about 1 week. Not really that bad; pretty simple these days; if it relieves the symtoms, it is well worth it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[red7flag]

I had all the classic symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I pleaded with my doctor, who is a good friend and a picker, to get it over with, and schedule the surgery. He asked me as a friend to have a neuroligist do an EMG test, which measures neural repsonse times. I agreed. She found that I did not have carpal tunnel symptoms in the left hand where I was having all the problems, but I did show some in the right hand where I was having none. She tested my neck and found that, in my case, the symptoms were from neck damage. Had I had the surgury, I would have lost 6 weeks of playing and nothing would have been accomplished. I just wanted to share how close I was to making a pretty serious mistake. I found out why my doctor is my doctor and why I should take the cotton out of my ears and put it in my mouth. I am in no way implying that this is your situation, just sharing my experience.
Tony

[Patrick Bjorndal]

I had surgery on my hands about 4 years ago.
Cut on the right on Friday, back to work on Monday. Light duty of course. I ended up tearing a stitch and got my butt chewed. Three weeks later, had the left done. When I talked to the surgeon, I told him that playing music was by passion in my life. He was great. I was playing the bagpipes for the most part, but still played around on the guitar. You will know when you can play again. My surgeon told me right off, if it hurts, don't do it.
Best thing I ever did. To be able to sleep all night, what a treat.
Now I am trying to get my wife to get hers done. She doesn't sleep, I don't sleep.
Good luck.

[piknleft]

I was originally diagnosed with "spinal stenosis", the condition I believe red7flag is referring to. The symptoms are similar. I had an MRI and it showed no damage in the neck vertebrae. I then had the prick and poke testing and CTS was revealed. Last summer, at a picking party at our marina, a jam friend showed but didn't play. We talked and he had had the stenosis surgery. He was on the mend but it was a long ordeal. Surgical entry thru the throat area to mend the neck vertebrae. His hand pain was gone but rehab and residual discomfort was somewhat longlasting and obviously disheartening. He has since fully recovered and it's a pleasure to have him back. Picking our poison isn't always possible, but I felt somewhat blessed with CT surgery. Growin' old ain't for sissies. Second opinions are a pretty good option. Just my .02 cents. Be strong.....Mike

[tkdboyd]

I have been out of surgery ,if you can call it that, now for about 3 hours. I have broken many a bone and they didn't hurt like this procedure did. BUT I can feel my fingers, and feel with them like I haven't for years. Now the hard part...not playing for 3 to 4 weeks...

[piknleft]

Hang in there, in a few days you'll notice good improvement by the day. Glad all went well.

[Got8Strings]

Are they still leaving about an inch and a half scar or have they advanced to something less damaging?

[Jim Lyon]

Be patient and take your time. Enjoy the feeling in your fingers. The last thing you want to do in your recovery is to re-irritate the nerve. When they tell you to start, be faithful with the range of motion exercises, but don't overdo it. Just remember your goal is to keep playing the rest of your life without ever going through this again!

[violmando]

I second Jim's advice--the wait is worth it. If it hurts, don't do it...it will be worth it to have your hands back to new for the rest of your life. My mistake was letting my right hand go too long in the first place, but at least it's just my bow and picking hand; my left hand is fully recovered! Good luck!!

[JimBo113]

Don't Stress over it... I had both hands done a couple of years ago about three weeks apart and though I did not play at the time I was back on the computer doing auto-cad with in days.. biggest problem I had was when they did my right hand I had a difficult time controlling the toilet paper http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif .
My surgeon went in through the lower palm next to the life line crease and I have a barley visible 1/2 inch scar.
Be patient, wait a while, do your therapy, Heck Take your Mandolin to therapy.
I am sure the folks would enjoy it.:laugh:
Good luck and prayers to you and yours

[tkdboyd]

I got my stitches out yesterday, I can shower again with out a giant prophylactic on my arm!
I was wondering about getting a cheap ukulele and start working on my fingering as rehab: Good Idea or ?