Should my hands rejoice?

 

 

 

 

Carpal tunnel syndrome is just getting out of hand … so to speak.

Last week, I had a physio practitioner’s visit thinking I was going for surgery. I was a bit overwhelmed that day and that is an understatement. In fact it lasted a few days till I regained my composure. I wonder how you can wait that long to have a carpal tunnel surgery, knowing that when you reach the point of no rest, there is no other solution but having a surgery to relieve the pain.

So my rhumatologist who is an excellent specialist by the way referred me to the surgeon.; the surgeon referred me to the physio practionner and then the physio practionner referred me back to the surgeon. Well all that takes a long time in an administrative health system. Talking about being patient and wait for your turn!

The physio therapist’s visit, last friday, was to talk about the surgery, the pros, cons and complexity of having a wrist surgery. Like, the surgeon may cut along the way other nerves, infection may occur and something unexpected may happen and I will be kept in the hospital. Oh well, saying it like that, it seems to be a very simple thing to go through. Hum, I am a bit nervous now this lady has spoken to me, even though she says that there is usually no complication. I nearly told her that with me nothing is very simple. I remember my gall blader surgery a few years ago; I spent 7 hours in surgery instead of 3hours because everything went wrong while I was in the operating theater and when I was in the recovery room, as I collapsed after having woken up. Anyways, the carpal tunnel surgery is going to be a local anaesthetic which is reassuring. My GP told me that right now, I am in no health condition to have a general a anaesthetic as I am a high risk because of my overall health problems. I was given the choice to have both hands done at the same time. But imagine, all the things you cannot do at all for 2 weeks, then you have to be carefull because you had surgery, I could not see myself with no hand at all. So I opted for the left one first. They will scheduled the right one, once I have had the left one done.

So, after the visit to the physio practionner, I went to give my file to the day surgery unit. And there, I am told that I have to wait 11 to 12 weeks before the surgery. I was a bit mad as that seemed to be a long wait for a simple surgery. Besides, It meant I had to go through more pain for that amount of time, and that alone was unbearable. I asked if it could not be before and was told it was not possible. I guess it is part of the waiting list system; go figure.

I went home, a bit down. There is so much I could do and so much I could not. I told myself to go with the flow and accept to wait till september for this surgery. Then this week, I recieved a letter from the hospital telling me that my surgery is next week. So that was some good news, very unexpected, but what a relief. Now I just have to pace myself and take a deep breath and wait for the D-day. I hope I will be in “good hands” and I will be able go on with my painting and sleep happy, free from pain, at last.