hopetoquilt

I am the oddball who had the surgery done on one hand when I was about 11 yrs old. I have an abnormally thick transverse ligament that puts pressure on the nerve (unlike most adults who have swollen tendons from overuse/incorrect use which puts pressure on the nerve). Took me a couple weeks to heal. Surgery didn't work b/c there was too much damage already. I have almost no feeling in my middle and index fingers on my right hand and when I do buttons, pull pins out etc. I use my ring finger and thumb. I can move my fingers normally though.
Good luck with the surgery. As with everything else, be excited about what your body/mind still can do and plan some fun things for when you are recuperating. Get some cool books, call up some old friends you haven't been in touch with for a while, read about a new type of quilting you want to try, etc.

dunster

I had both hands done consecutively in 2001, and so glad I did it. Good luck with your surgery.

Willa

There's a place in the Vegas area that claims to leave very little scar and you're supposed to be able to return to work after 7 days with no restrictions. The Brown Hand Institute (I think that's what its called). I haven't heard any good or bad about them only the commercial but it might be something to check out. Maybe they could even recommend someone near you who does it the same way. I know of several people who have had the other type of surgery some with good results and others with not much difference. Good luck

Kat Sews

I had my hands done at separate times about a month apart. After the right hand I waited a couple of days before sewing, left hand sewed the next day. The scars follow the natural crease of my wrist and are hard to see.

butterflies5518

Right hand, very slight scar, in cast for 6 weeks (kids had a blast telling everyone they broke mom's wrist) but never another problem with it. My brother had the laser surgery, more pain longer to heal.

catzlaw

I let mine heal for 2 weeks, I believe thats what the doctor perscribed. I have a tiny scar on my wrist, not noticable at all.

Granny Quilter

I had the right hand done 10 or11 years ago. The scar is in a crease in my hand, and I can't find it. It was healed up in 3 days, and the bandages off. I used vit E oil on my hand to get rid of the scar. I had surgery on my right foot the day after and that surgery should have healed in a day or two, but got infected and I was off work for the foot for 6 weeks. I could use my hand quite normally in a week. Hope you have a hand specialist like I did.

sewbeadit

I had my left hand done and it ruined my hand so I have waited all these years about 15 to do the other, now it is really bad and I am hoping they can help it. I guess what happened to my left hand doesn't happen very often. So I am going to see what my insurance will pay and have it done.

mommaB

My body is so scarred up from other surgeries that a scar is the least of my concerns!! Its way more important to me that I don't lose the dexterity in my hand. I have a very good forearm/hand ortho specialty doc. I trust him. As with most surguries, especially ortho, proper healing is extremely important. I don't have an issue following orders, but you know how you tune out when you first hear the "surgery" word and you don't retain the next few things the doc says :lol: :lol: I remember him saying only one hand at a time, but not much else about my left hand. I'll get a chance to ask more questions later. He did say I'd be out of all the bulky bandaging in 5-7 days, but that I could not do my work for 6 weeks. Whether or not work will allow me to be off that long..who knows..with todays employment environment they've got you over a barrel and they know it. I really don't want to go and sit there all day doing some useless busy work , although I doubt I'll be able to enter data either. we'll see.

Mad Mimm

I had both hands done, about 8 weeks apart. Took me six weeks to recover for each, and then I eased back into things. I have only a small scar on each hand, nothing too bad, but when they were first healing, one incision (they were done by different doctors due to scheduling issues) really puckered up and looked like a butt. I remember going back for a follow up and asking the doc, "What is the deal man, you sewed a butt on my hand!!" He ass-ured me it would heal (pun intended) and it did. Now just a tiny white line.

The best piece of advice for me was learn to use your non-dominant hand (particularly for personal hygiene) before the surgery. I laughed when my friend told me that, and then THANKED her profusely afterwards!!

Been typing, sewing and generally causing mayhem with my hands ever since, without any problems.