icing, and sorry for miss-post

In Reply to: When you get stiches out..... posted by LP on December 06, 2003 at 17:45:03:

You should have been icing your hand every few hours starting from getting home from the surgery. That is what both the surgeon and my PT recommended. After 3 day, they said, there was no point in icing.

Driving 4.5 hours within a week of CTS release surgery may be pushing it. Will you be alone, or have someone else to help drive? I found driving (it was my dominant hand that was operated on) hard for about 4 weeks afterwards. My twisting strength (needed to start the ignition) was non-existant, and it was tiring to hold my hand on the steering wheel for a long time. I know everyone is different, but it's just something to keep in mind.

Also, another tip from my surgeon...don't lift anything that weighs more than 1 pound for 4 week after the surgery with the hand that was operated on. You need to let it heal before stressing it.

And, for taking a shower, at the hospital they gave me several extra large surgical gloves and an elastic strap to put at the cuff. That worked great too.

Kay
: How did it feel after you got the stitches out? I get them out next Friday morning and then I drive to Vegas for 4 1/2 hours. Some people have said to ice but I haven't iced this yet! Is icing more important after i get the stiches out?

: I forgot to post on the last post. When you need to take a shower, put your arm in the bag the newspaper comes in and then duct tape it so water doesn't come in. Goodness, it felt good to take a shower!