carpal tunnel surgery

[Motorcycleguy]

I'm scheduled for carpal tunnel surgery and I'm a little worried about not being able to work out while recovering (potentially 4-12 week). I know that proper recovery is the most important and to not push it early, and I will take it easy and recover. However, I'm curious if anyone has any stories/wisdom about being able to work out after the surgery, maybe ways to still work out that side of my body. Since it is my wrist and hand I will not be able to grip anything or push anything, anyone have any genius ways around this predicament? Only thing I can think of is some how pulling a weight back with my elbow (ie leaning my back against a wall on as steep of an angle as I can manage and then pushing my body off of the wall) or just flexing and holding it.

[Bouncer]

first month, take off completely. after that talk to your physical therapist about what is ok to do.

[gdbear65]

Good luck - I have read that surgery doesn't always correct the problem. Have you tried accupuncture for it? My wife had it and after 5 sessions with an accupuncturist she's been fine ever since - that was 6 years ago.

[Scrumhalf]

Surgery is an option of last resort always, so you definitely want to exhaust all options before embarking on it. I have no idea whether or not acupuncture is the answer, but you should definitely research all legitimate non-surgical options first.

Since carpal tunnel problems are caused by repetitive motion, you should be *extremely* careful about stressing the joint again post-surgery until it has had plenty of time to heal. Stick to cardio and follow your doctor/therapist's advice. It would be a tragedy if you re-aggravate the injury by pushing the weights too soon.

[dna9488]

My mom had that surgery. She suffered many years from Carpal Tunnel.
She had surgery in both her hands and the recovery process is long.

When its all said and done, you will never have your original strength back. Just rest, take the medication, and listen to your doctor.

The surgery isn't 100% effective, my mom still wears the cast to sleep every once in a while. If you're not careful, the surgery can be a complete waste.

[coffee-guy]

No worries bro....

You can do a LOT if your gym has the equipment most do...

Of course legs can be done with almost no setbacks - you'll just have to lay off of barbell work. Leg presses, knee extensions, hamstring curls, stationary and/or walking lunges, all hip exercises,calf raises and the like should be just fine. I'm sure you can also incorporate the Smith Machine for front squats or whatever you use it for leg exercises if your hand is strong enough to at least twist the bar off/on the safety stops. You can also do plyometrics and static exercises with no worries there (box jumps, wall squats etc).

Chest exercises will likely be limited to flyes - some machines are designed so that you use your elbows/forearms instead of your hands/wrists. I'm sure there are a few more things you can do for your chest but that's all I can think of for now.

Shoulders will likely be limited to lateral and rear delts - only because the only machines I can think of are based around those and not front delts without the use of hands. There are several lines that make lateral machines that you use your elbows to lead the movement - rear delts will be limited to reverse flyes IF your gym has a machine you can use without your hands. Mine has one that you can do them with the machines arm up near your elbow so you can turn your hands parallel to the floor instead of palms facing each other. Can't think of much else here......

Back will be tough but you can probably do pullups IF you are careful and can understand what I'm trying to explain. I would envision you being able to do them (at least partial reps) if you use the elbow supports that are used for hanging leg raises. Most of the time you end up using little to no hand/forearm strength when hanging from these so "try" lengthening your arms to the point you begin to feel stress on the hand and no lower - then pull yourself up as high as you can using your lats. Of course body posture dictates if you're hitting width or depth - straight up for width and leaning back (chest up) for depth. Might want to give these a while to try AND make sure to use a spotter and/or something under your feet to spot yourself or worse yet catch yourself if things don't work as well as I would like to think they will.

You can do back extensions and situps/ab exercises all day long too - hanging leg raises would be a good one to focus on too since they're one of the few exercises anyone is really "good" at unless they do them religiously. And I don't mean swinging your legs up - I mean rotating your hips up and "under" as your knees are held stationary at hip level only being brought higher through ab flexion - incredibly tough and 99% of folks who think they're doing them right aren't so do your best to work on these since you'll have time to focus on them.

Anyways - enough of that rant :P

Seems like back and arms will be your ONLY bodyparts that you can't really hit hard/if at all. You should be able to at least "maintain" legs, chest, shoulders, midsection, and maybe back/arm size by doing some of the above.

Either way - I'm sure there are a TON of other things we could come up with if I had you in the gym with me but for now go with these. Just be careful and focus on areas of your physique you might have been neglecting up until now. Good luck and I hope these things help - be creative but be careful - again - be careful :)....

[bigbadexcursion]

Im getting scoped on both wrists starting the end of January. Recovery is going to suck I hear

[Motorcycleguy]

I hope you're not doing both surgeries at once, good luck doing anything, even with one free hand you're extremely limited in your doings. I was doing well on recovery, 3 weeks and doing really really light workouts. I broke my hand last night so I won't be able to tell any more about my recovery.

[bigbadexcursion]

nah they are doing left then right bro. then if that doesnt fix it they are removing a small bone from the wrists. Ive had one surgery already hence the cast in the pic

[liftsiron]

Bro before you consider surgery, go to a hand and wrist specialist familiar with the mayo protocol for steroid injections into the carpel tunnel. I had CT so bad I couldn't even sleep at night. I had a series of four injections 6-7 years ago and I'm still as good as new.