Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Shooting

C

ColtJustice

Inactive
I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome now, and am having surgery in 3 weeks. I have it in both hands, and am having the right hand done first. I also have tendonitis in my left thumb (from playing the guitar). I was wondering how having the surgery would affect future shooting. Like how long before I can go to the range, etc.? I guess I can just shoot .22 rifles for a while, just to keep my eye sharp. This whole thing has me nervous about future range time. I'm told I wouldn't have full strength for 4-5 months. I'm left handed, and that one won't be done until sometime after the other hand, so it's liable to be late spring/early summer before I can do any.
Anyone have the surgery before? How long before you went, and what were your experiences?
 
I'm told I wouldn't have full strength for 4-5 months. I'm left handed, and that one won't be done until sometime after the other hand, so it's liable to be late spring/early summer before I can do any.
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That's roughly my experience. Tell your doctor exactly what you plan on doing, and follow his advice to the letter. I failed to do this, and I had a nasty flare-up that set me back quite a bit.

Don't rush anything, and stop if anything you're doing causes pain.

(Got mine from playing bass and cello. Go figure.)
 
I have had carpal tunnel release surgery and carpal metacarpal thumb joint reconstruction on both hands, that is, two surgeries on the right hand one year and the same two surgeries on the left hand the following year. Then, the next year, I had two more surgeries on the left hand, one for trigger finger (actually it was the middle finger, the ailment is known as trigger finger.) During the same surgery, the surgeon removed a cyst from the palm of the left hand. I think the recovery from having only the carpal tunnel release surgery would be much easier. Having the thumb joint reconstruction was fairly difficult - eight weeks in a large, tight, stiff cast followed by two to three months of physical therapy to allow me to bend a thumb enough to touch my little finger. Although I'll never have full strength again in either hand and have arthritis which affects both hands every day and night, I am still able to install tree steps and stands for deer hunting and the effect on shooting a bow, handgun, rifle and shotgun is almost zero. I have shot .22, .380, .38, .357, .40 and .45 handguns since the surgeries without any difficulty. However, I have not shot my S&W 629 since the surgeries.
 
Follow your doctors advice and do your physcial therapy.

The physcial therapy is the most important part of your recovery.
 
The physcial therapy is the most important part of your recovery.
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I've never had carpal tunnel surgery, but can tell you two things:

  1. I'd pay close attention to ltc444's advice.
  2. I'd find out about massage therapy. That's helped me more than any and all other treatments combined.
Best of success to you!
 
Thanks, guys. I haven't been shooting for the past several years due to work, but have more time now, and I rejoined the range. Just as I rejoined the range, I got the tendonitis in my left thumb from playing (or overplaying) my guitar. So I gave it a lot of rest, didn't play anything, and took a .22 rifle to the garage. I've been doing a lot of work to this little Ruger 10/22, and am in the process of doing a trigger job on it. That is a little harder on my hands than I expected, but I really enjoy working on my guns.
I'm not even going to consider the heavier powered stuff until several months after the surgeries are finished, but I figured the .22 rifle is light enough, and the recoil is in the shoulder, anyway.
I want to get back into Cowboy Action again, but I shoot .45 colt, and that's a bit over the top, even with my lower powered reloads.
I'm not a patient man when it comes to doing something I love and want to do, so I'm just afraid I'll start feeling better and rush the recovery. I -must -resist -temptation... (in my best Capt. Kirk voice :) )
 
The strength of your hand(s) after surgery for CTS depends in part upon how much loss of strength you experienced prior to the surgery. As you probably know, the loss im hand strength is due to compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. With prolonged compression, there can be some permanent nerve damage. However, in most cases surgical therapy will restore most or all function, when it is followed by appropriate and intensive physical therapy. You live in an area that has many good peripheral nerve surgeons and physical therapy specialists, so take advantage of their expertise and advice.
 
I'd pay close attention to ltc444's advice.
I'd find out about massage therapy. That's helped me more than any and all other treatments combined.
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Gotta go with SW. No CTR surgery, though I am a some-time CTS sufferer. Had a torn biceps tendon a couple years ago. Not quite broken through. Went through rehab that included massage therapy by a woman that really knew what she was doing. She was popping scar tissue like crazy. After only 2 weeks, I was 50% better. After a month I was done. Couldn't believe it and neither could my Orthopedic Surgeon. No surgery required.
 
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