The last carpal tunnel and pistols thread has gone a bit off-topic, so thought I’d start a new one.
I have managed to continue training with hand issues for many years now. It finally got bad enough I have not done live fire since October. A nerve conduction test verified carpal tunnel compression was bad enough on my right wrist for insurance to approve surgery. I had previous carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists about 30 years ago. It was a piece of cake.
I had a three-in-one surgery two weeks ago - carpal tunnel revision, dupuytren’s contracture release, and A1 pulley release. Photo below was taken just before removal of stitches this morning. Recovery is going to take a while, but the debilitating pain prior to surgery is gone.
So if any of you feel like you are struggling beyond reasonable limits with your firearm training, get the nerve conduction test and surgery before you push it too far – I almost did.
Thanks , i’m looking forward to zeroing a red dot on my 300 blackout, being able to cock my pellet gun and zero its scope, and evaluate the 90 grain Lehigh 9mm fluted solid copper supersonic zingers (1,475 ft/sec) cartridges I just bought.
Damn brother, that’s quite the cut! Here’s hoping for a full quick recovery, and yeah, keep shooting lefty, regardless. It’s a good plan B, no matter what.
Brother, you are posting my greatest fear. I had to stop playing guitar because I lost the feeling in my left pinky finger and ring finger, it was cubital tunnel syndrome. I don’t know what I would do if I ended up with carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. Don’t FAFO with your recovery, when you think it’s time to start training again, get a second opinion from a doctor before you do. Your fingers are as important as your eyes and you need to do everything you can to preserve them.
I have known my surgeon for many years. He is a very diverse guy in his life outside the surgery room. He flies airplanes, off roads an old CJ he built a crate motor and all the running gear to keep it from breaking, and he’s a farmer. In other words he and I relate. He never encourages surgery until we have tried all other options. With that said, he doesn’t give me the standard surgeon line “you’ll be back to normal activities in no time”. He knows what my definition of normal activities is, and has given an expectation of 3 months for recovery from this.
I think it was using my hands more than they were genetically capable of handling. I would not say I was particularly great at my recreational activities, but I always trained on whatever it was I was into at the time beyond what most do. My interests have changed through the years, but weight lifting has been a continuous activity since I was a teenager. I am 69 years old now - so its been a pretty good run on the weight lifting - most of it on a 4 day cycle unless injured. Other abuse to the hands that come to mind have been slalom course waterskiing, motorcycle riding and racing, diving and spearfishing, building stuff from spearguns and engines to major home additions, shooting pistols, and all this was in addition to a lot of computer work for work and pleasure.
But ultimately I just don’t think my hands were up to everything I’ve put them through. In hindsight, I’d do it again. Looking forward, I’m going to continue to enjoy what I am capable of doing.
The most important thing I’ve learned from my injuries is patience!
Healing in our late 60’s is way different than healing at 28.
What they say about time is true, it heals all wounds! Patience.
I’ve now had carpal tunnel surgery in both of my hands. Wish I could have done both 8 years ago instead of just my left.
Now that my right hand is healed, I have to focus on exercises to relieve the trigger finger in both hands (which, ironically, does not affect my trigger finger on either hand).
It’s great to hear there might be a light at the end of this tunnel! Was that the 1st carpal tunnel surgery on that hand?
Yes, my incision is very long because it was the 2nd carpal tunnel surgery on that hand, combined with dupuytren’s contracture release in the palm, and ring finger A1 pulley release surgeries.
