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My Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Trigger Finger Operation

First of all .. what is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness, tingling, weakness, and other problems in your hand because of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. The median nerve and several tendons run from your forearm to your hand through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel .
Refer to https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/tc/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-topic-overview#1

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger is a painful condition that causes the fingers or thumb to catch or lock when bent. In the thumb its called trigger thumb.

Trigger finger happens when tendons in the finger or thumb become inflamed. Tendons are tough bands of tissue that connect muscles and bones. Together, the tendons and muscles in the hands and arms bend and straighten the fingers and thumbs.

Refer to : https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/trigger-finger#1

Here's my story 

On the 15th Dec, I was admitted at Tropicana Medical Centre Kota Damansara. After 5 hours of waiting at the waiting lounge, I was place in a room of 4. I don't really like to complain much, but some human yang tak reti bahasa.. really can be a pain .. tak reti ke nak perlahan kan skit the TV.. Ya Allah tolong lah.. I did whisper to the nurse.. I need to change room as soon as there is any available room. Oh lupa.. dah dapat bilik tu.. I was given the IV Cannula .. cucuk on my left hand.. 

My Doctor, Dr Achdiat Mahpha Fansuri Bin Mustapa diagnosed me with the trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome after his evaluation and confirmation that I have all the right symptom. I was given the time to think about whether or not  I want to proceed with only one hand first or both hands. I was thinking about it so I decided to proceed with both hands as I think I wanted to fix this once and for all. FYI, if you do not have people to help you just in case you are warded more than 3 days, please think about the circumstances before proceeding with both hands..  

The next day on the 16th Dec 2017, I got up early and got ready for the operation. I was ready with the robe at about 8 a.m.

Was already there in the OT area at 9.30 a.m. Dr Navin Durairatnam was my anaesthetic on that day. As usual, he followed the procedure and explain to me in detail what he needs to do during the operation. Yada! yada! yada! So then I was ready for the operation and on my way to see Dr Achdiat. I only managed to see him like 5 seconds as they have already put that breathing thing on my mouth and I only managed to give them the thumbs up..  and then I was on my way to La la  land.. At about 12.30 pm,  I woke up outside the OT room and the nurse was ready to send me back to my room.. 

I was glad to see my mom, dad, my youngest brother and his 2 kidz and also Aqil was there to greet me. Was still a bit drowsy.. but still okay.. My hand was already bandaged nicely like a boxing glove..

 

There we go.. credit to my dad for taking this picture.. right after the operation.. this is how they bandage my hand to ensure it's all neat and nice. My diabetic doctor Dr Wan Himratul Azliza Binti Wan Harun came and explained I need to ensure my sugar level is kept at a single digit.. but due to I am not sure whether it's the medication given to me in the OT room or something else.. my sugar level shoots up to 23. I was shocked as I just came out from the OT and didn't take much food. So I have to be given the insulin shots to ensure the sugar level is back to its normal single digit for the wound to heal faster.

You definitely can maintain your sugar level at the hospital as the food they served and the food I select stays in the healthy food group.

Here are some of the foods available 

Besides the food.. medication plays an important role especially the pain killer and also the antibiotics. I was advised to start my physio on the 3rd day of the operation.

Below are the video of my own physio session (3rd day after my operations)

Doctor Achdiat came in to check on the wounds and see the progress of healing process.

Here's what my hand looks like after the bandage was removed 

Before the plaster was removed

After the plaster was removed

 You can see in this picture the stitches are there in 4 areas. The trigger finger is on my right thumb and also my left hand (middle finger). The one on near my wrist is to treat the carpal tunnel syndrome. 

After the dressingg was done, the nurses bandage it back again but this time not so much bandage.

Below are my hands after the dressing session before I was discharged from the hospital. I stayed at the hospital solid one week.. The nurses did not bandage my hands just put the plaster. 

I was given medical leave from the 15th Dec to 28th Dec. No driving for 2 weeks, No heavy lifting, No washing dishes or cooking while I was on medical leave. I have to behave coz I was worried the stitches will be opened unnecessarily.

On the 28th Dec, I came to the hospital for my follow up check up. After the dressing was done. Doctor Achdiat came to the procedure room where dressing of my wound is done. The doctor said it's already been 2 weeks and now we can remove the stitches. I was thinking okay.. maybe it won't be that painful.. Auwwww!! It was painful coz to remove the stitches they need to use the knife. I really wish I could di Pengsankan while they do this. Berpeluh you all just to remove the stitches. This needs to be done before the wound healed completely as the doctor does not want me to have many scars on my hand.   

Haha this was taken before they remove my stitches

I was also asked to go back and rub some oil on the stitches are to ensure the surface of the skin is not too rough. Agak takut when I wanted to rub the oil on the wound.. but it needs to be done. Anyway, the Physio girl massages my hand as the nerve on my middle finger has started to be a little stiff. So I need to do this so that my hand is stronger every minute of the day. I was also asked to put some ice on my hand for 10 minutes. Physio needs to continue after this between 2 to 3 times a week.

Here are some things you need to know after the operation 

• You will feel numb on your fingers as your fingers might swell a bit. Don't worry.. it will be okay in 3 to 4 days
• Make sure you move your fingers to ensure the blood circulation reaches each finger.
• Don't worry the stitches won't break. 
• Don't get your bandage wet. We don't want the wound to kembang. It will slow down the healing process
• IV Cannula will be placed on your feet.. since both your hands are bandaged. It's really painful and a challenge when you need to walk to the toilet
• Your blood pressure will be a bit high.. don't worry it will be stabilized in 4 to 5 days. They had to take my blood pressure on my leg as I did the operation on both my hands.
• If you are diabetic, your sugar level might also shoot up.. Don't worry the doctor will know what to do
• If you want to take your bath and wash your hair after the bandage is removed, You can use these gloves and use the surgical tape to keep the wound dry. Especially if you did the operations on both hands.

• Once you are back home, absolutely no driving for 2 weeks, No heavy lifting, No washing dishes or cooking. If you have kids who can be trained to cook.. please trained them in advance so they can cook for you.
• Maintain your sugar level at a single digit number.. 6 ish would be good

Hope my experience can be your guide if ever you are in my situation. So take care of your hands. Make sure you use wrist rest when you use your computer, eat healthy food and exercise more (yeah.. reminder to myself too).

Thanks to all my friends and family who visited me at the hospital .. 

 

God bless all of you and Happy New Year 2018.