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Question about hand surgery, don't know which forum?

Mark Hepburn

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
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Location
Houma, Louisiana
I am having surgery on my hand tomorrow. Trigger finger release on my right middle finger. So the doctor told me that I should expect to do nothing much for the first two weeks but after that I can start rehabbing the hand.

So my question is if anyone else here on the forum has had this what was the recovery time? I basically have the injections several times and so surgery was the only option at this point but I expect a full recovery it's just a matter of timing.

Because she will be working at the base of my middle finger nor was in the palm of the hand I don't know what kind of problem that may present when I'm using tools

So if anyone has any experience with this I'd appreciate their thoughts. If you prefer to PM me that's great also. Thanks!
 
This isn't an answer to your question, but I have Dupuytren's Contracture in both hands which can have similar symptoms. Dupuytren's Contracture is sometimes called Viking Disease because it only affects men of northern European descent. I found this technical description on one of the medical wweb sites:

In the earliest stages of the disease, Dupuytren’s Contracture, can sometimes be mistaken for Trigger Finger, because of the involvement of the flexor tendons and the outward appearance of the injury. It is only though examination of the affected fascia and the associated thickening of palmar tissue that a diagnosis of Dupuytren’s Contracture becomes clear.​

Good luck with your surgery. I'm hoping that I will be able to avoid surgery. I'm guessing that my Viking ancestors did too much rowing in their longboats which led to this hand disease.
 
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Bill Boehme said:
I'm guessing that my Viking ancestors did too much rowing in their longboats which led to this hand disease.
Click to expand...
Lamarks theory that evolution was guided by use circa 1800. Darwin's theory replaced it circa 1860. The Darwinian inference being wether those unable to row would more or less likely to pass their genes.

Mark, speedy recovery to you
 
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Trigger Finger

My wife has had both Carpal tunnel and Trigger Finger done in both hands.
The Carpal Tunnel was about 20 yrs ago and the Trigger Finger was done 6 yrs (Left) and 5ys (right hand) ago. She was back turning within 6 weeks of the trigger finger ops. In the last case our twin granddaughters were born 2 weeks later so she spent weeks 3 to 6 looking after our older granddaughter. It was good therapy better than any physio.
The orthopod didn't prescribe any physio as he knew she would exercise to get back to turning. She tried protecting her hands with gloves but soon discarded and has had no problems since.
Deep hollowing large vessels hammers her hands so it takes longer.

good luck
 
I have had the trigger finger surgery done to two fingers on the right hand quite a few years ago. I am right handed.

Except for the first week or so with the bandages and such I have no problems using that hand. During the large bandage time there was some difficulty dealing with personal hygiene but I managed.

Stu
 
Bill Boehme said:
This isn't an answer to your question, but I have Dupuytren's Contracture in both hands which can have similar symptoms. Dupuytren's Contracture is sometimes called Viking Disease because it only affects men of northern European descent. I found this technical description on one of the medical wweb sites

Bill there is a series of injections developed by Dr Hurst at Stony Brook Hospital on Long Island that is a treatment for this. Disclosure, Dr Hurst is my hand surgeon.

Stu
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Stu and Richard. I feel a bit better knowing that some of what I've been reading is a bit on the worst case side.
 
I have had 5 hand surgeries- bilateral carpal tunnel (it is just a release of fibrotic tissue encroaching on the median nerve). Bilat bandages left a little to be desired for "personal hygiene" (where there is a will there is a way").-that was 30 years ago and I was back doing surgery in 2 weeks.-wasn;t turning then. Then more recently-8-10 yrs ago- DeQuarvain's tenosing tenosynovitis-again a release of fibrotic tissue encroaching on thumb action. Again a piece of cake. 4 months between hands. I didn't turn for 2 days. Again there was really nothing to heal like a fracture or reattached tissue-just a release.
Then I got "trigger" thumb, a result of my thumb arthritis. Again a release. Turning in 2 days.
Now this is not medical advice-You pay attention to your hand surgeon!!!!!!!. I have enough medical knowledge to be "safe". Motion after releases is beneficial, but within the edicts of your hand surgeon. My orthopedic surgeon gives me wood-just 2 weeks ago=ash burl!!!!!
The hands felt so much better within 1-2 days.

Bill-are you Norwegian???
Flo means river in Norge . When we visited Norway 25 years ago I discovered a town , a mountain and a lake named Flo just east of Stryn where I think my grandfather originated.
MY middle name is Legreid-from My grandmother's maiden name, Gretch
 
Gretch Flo said:
I have had 5 hand surgeries- bilateral carpal tunnel (it is just a release of fibrotic tissue encroaching on the median nerve). Bilat bandages left a little to be desired for "personal hygiene" (where there is a will there is a way").-that was 30 years ago and I was back doing surgery in 2 weeks.-wasn;t turning then. Then more recently-8-10 yrs ago- DeQuarvain's tenosing tenosynovitis-again a release of fibrotic tissue encroaching on thumb action. Again a piece of cake. 4 months between hands. I didn't turn for 2 days. Again there was really nothing to heal like a fracture or reattached tissue-just a release.
Then I got "trigger" thumb, a result of my thumb arthritis. Again a release. Turning in 2 days.
Now this is not medical advice-You pay attention to your hand surgeon!!!!!!!. I have enough medical knowledge to be "safe". Motion after releases is beneficial, but within the edicts of your hand surgeon. My orthopedic surgeon gives me wood-just 2 weeks ago=ash burl!!!!!
The hands felt so much better within 1-2 days.

Bill-are you Norwegian???
Flo means river in Norge . When we visited Norway 25 years ago I discovered a town , a mountain and a lake named Flo just east of Stryn where I think my grandfather originated.
MY middle name is Legreid-from My grandmother's maiden name, Gretch
Click to expand...

Thanks Gretch.

That's a cool middle name to be able to have, by the way. Nice to have names with a story behind them.

Yes, I will pay attention for sure to my hand surgeon 😀. Fortunately this guy does a fair number of NFL football and LSU players and has quite a bit of experience for what seems to me to be a very young man.
I have a friend who is a Master (Captain) on a FPSO from Norway. He lives in Kristiansand and is a woodworker (flatwork) and that's been in his family for generations.

Although Scotland is tops on my travel list, Norway is 2nd or 3rd. The land looks both beautiful and forbidding at the same time. Sort of like the Shetland Islands.

Anyway, thanks for letting me know about your experience. I expect to rehab as quickly as reasonably and realistically possible. And back to turning. 🙂
 
Sounds like you’ll be back turning in a reasonable amount of time. I had surgery on my fingers once. About 14 years ago I had a bit of trauma to my fingers on my left hand. In a flattrack race I didn’t keep the rubber down and my hand hit the track still hanging on to the handlebars. I pulled in the clutch, picked up my 750 Triumph and finished the race. When I got to the pits I handed the bike to a friend and asked if anyone had any Band-Aids. A nurse whose husband was pitted next to me helped take the glove off and said that I had to go to the ambulance it was bleeding too much. They started wrapping my hand and I told them not to make it so big I still had one more race. They laughed and told me to “but a fork in it†I was done and needed to go to the hospital. From what I saw my ring finger and little finger looked like hotdogs that were boiled too much, I didn’t notice the dime size hole by the knuckle of my ring finger.

I went to a hospital in Midland and they froze my hand and used saline solution to power wash the dirt and stones out. A doctor stitched up my fingers, but said I would need surgery to fix the hole in my knuckle. When I had the surgery they took some skin from the side of my hand to patch my finger. It looked like something took a bite out of it. Most of the time the doc didn’t want it covered, so at work someone started a story that a shark had bit my hand.

Along with the two fingers that had stiches my middle finger was stiff from the incident. They gave me something like silly-putty to rehab my fingers, it worked really well. I still can’t wear my wedding ring, but I usually didn’t because they can be dangerous.

You know what they say about a post being useless without pictures.

fingers_1.jpgfingers_2.jpg

And most important of all, good luck with your surgery!
 
Don't Worry, Mark

Mark, I had the exact same thing, right down to the same finger. I had had a trigger finger many, many years ago and the dr was going to just cut it without even mentioning cortisone shots, but I refused. It went away after some time but this time two shots did no good. (That's what aging will do to you.) So I went ahead with the surgery. I presume you know what causes the trigger finger, inflammation of the tendon. I knew the surgery would release the "trigger" part but was skeptical about relieving the pain. The surgery was a cinch. (It used to be done in the office but this time they put me under heavy sedation in a surgical suite.) They put two stitches in and told me not to get the dressing wet for a week. The trigger was gone immediately, of course but the finger was still slightly swollen and sore from the inflammation (not the surgery). I know rehab is critical in any surgery involving joints but they didn't do any. So, I took it upon myself by just stretching it (bending backwards). After several months I regained full motion on the finger but the sore persisted longer. It's been almost two years now since the surgery and that finger is just as good as the one on the left hand and no more sore.

I don't recall it interfering with my woodturning at all after the surgery. Good luck!
 
Hope all goes well with your surgery. I have been fortunate over the years to avoid major surgery except for tonsillectomy and removal of a cyst on my back. If the Dr. says he is going to give you a shot........tell him to pour one for himself, too! 😎
 
Thanks, Jim and Andy

Jim, Andy, thank you.

Well I'm in the pre-op room as I type this so I'll be going in soon. Good to know that I won't be out of action for too long; that has been my primary concern

Jim, that is one heck of a story. And of course the photos no offense but it makes me glad I just have trigger finger.

That 750 was one fine motorcycle. I had a few rice burners and day but nothing bigger than a Yamaha 750 and really only Street riding on the bigger place. But I did do a bunch of dirt bike riding the trail riding on some smaller stuff. After the third time I leave my big bike down I lost the taste for motorcycles. But a little red MR two spider.

Of course these days with my back, I am getting rid of it but I got rid of my sciatica too!!

So happy turning everyone, and I'll be posting when I'm able

(because I'm sure that this form can't function without me right LOL!)
 
John Torchick said:
Hope all goes well with your surgery. I have been fortunate over the years to avoid major surgery except for tonsillectomy and removal of a cyst on my back. If the Dr. says he is going to give you a shot........tell him to pour one for himself, too! 😎
Click to expand...

Wish I'd thought of that. A nice single malt would be great right about now. Oh, it's only 9:00.

Thanks John.
 
Mark Hepburn said:
Jim, Andy, thank you.

Well I'm in the pre-op room as I type this so I'll be going in soon. Good to know that I won't be out of action for too long; that has been my primary concern

Jim, that is one heck of a story. And of course the photos no offense but it makes me glad I just have trigger finger.

That 750 was one fine motorcycle. I had a few rice burners and day but nothing bigger than a Yamaha 750 and really only Street riding on the bigger place. But I did do a bunch of dirt bike riding the trail riding on some smaller stuff. After the third time I leave my big bike down I lost the taste for motorcycles. But a little red MR two spider.

Of course these days with my back, I am getting rid of it but I got rid of my sciatica too!!

So happy turning everyone, and I'll be posting when I'm able

(because I'm sure that this form can't function without me right LOL!)
Click to expand...

Good luck, Hep..........😀

ko
 
Hmmm, I am not sure I like that picture. That's the dorsal (back) side but they are supposed to cut the ventral (palm) side for this operation. I hope that's just to make sure that they operate on this hand and I hope you didn't upload the picture backwards.🙂
 
Turning with Trigger finger

Mark
Good luck with the surgery.
My wife says don't let it be an excuse to stop turning but rather an excuse to buy one of those captive deep hollowing tools or one of those fancy new low vibration Husquvarna chainsaws. Get your Orthopod to prescribe either or both as part of the rehab.

Richard
 
Richard Hodsdon said:
Mark
Good luck with the surgery.
My wife says don't let it be an excuse to stop turning but rather an excuse to buy one of those captive deep hollowing tools or one of those fancy new low vibration Husquvarna chainsaws. Get your Orthopod to prescribe either or both as part of the rehab.

Richard
Click to expand...

😀

Great idea! I'm going to see if I can get it covered as rehab equipment through Blue Cross 🙂

I've had my eye on that huge Carter system since Phoenix.
 
Douglas Ladendorf said:
Mark, just seeing this. I hope surgery went well and you have a speedy recovery. Sending thoughts and prayers to that effect.

Doug
Click to expand...

Doug,

Thanks very much. I'm just now back to reading posts. I was out of it yesterday (slept a bunch due to the pain meds).

Back at work today, so the prayers definitely helped.
 
Thanks everyone!

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with info and well wishes.

So yesterday was a bit of a blur. They did the procedure (10 minutes or so) and then I was in recovery a while. But the pain meds really knocked me for a loop and slept all day/night.

On the other hand, today I spent a full day at work, banged out a bunch of work on the computer and no pain meds at all. Good news but I can tell I'll be paying for it later so going to knock off now and get some rest.

You guys were spot on; it hurts and there are some minor adjustments but otherwise this looks like a cake walk. No lifting more than 5 lbs but by this weekend I'll be practicing on small stuff.
 
Andy Chen said:
Hmmm, I am not sure I like that picture. That's the dorsal (back) side but they are supposed to cut the ventral (palm) side for this operation. I hope that's just to make sure that they operate on this hand and I hope you didn't upload the picture backwards.🙂
Click to expand...

Hey Andy,

The doc was just marking the correct hand. Later he came back and wrote a mark on the tip of the correct finger.

But I was loopy when I posted, that's for sure. 😀
 
Mark Hepburn said:
Doug,

Thanks very much. I'm just now back to reading posts. I was out of it yesterday (slept a bunch due to the pain meds).

Back at work today, so the prayers definitely helped.
Click to expand...

Good news, Mark.......glad everything went well.

ko
 
Great Mark. Like I said, a piece of cake. The only problem that might occur if you push it too soon is longer recovery. Just use your other hand, your elbow, foot, mouth etc to "get er done". 😀 Gretch
 
Hand Surgery

In answer to Bill, I too have Dupuytren's Contracture and 6 years ago had needle aponeurotomy or needle fasciotomy surgery, which may be what Stu was referring to. My hand could hold a baseball without gripping it, and after a 1/2 hour, in office, procedure, I drove away from the doctors office and haven't had any issues since. Ironically, I have trigger finger lockup in the same hand/fingers but yearly cortisone shots seem to work for that.
 
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