Having hand surgery - what to expect?

[s_wilwerding]

I have a ganglion cyst on my left wrist. I've had it for a few years, and it will get bigger and smaller depending on how much fluid it's got, but it never goes away. Lately, I've been noticing that I have some weakness in my thumb.

Long story short, went to the doctor yesterday and he's going to remove it. It turns out it is in kind of a tricky spot - right on an artery and near a rather important nerve. This surgeon is supposed to be the best, so I'm not overly concerned that anything untoward will happen.

Anyway, my question is if anyone else has had this, and what sort of pain/recovery period I can expect.

[Moneyguy1]

I had an accident years ago which cut the tendons in my left wrist. I got them fixed and the next week took a cross country flight. The only reminder I have is a small scar on the wrist about 3" below my thumb. Not much pain or discomfort but buttioning a shirt was a problem for a few weeks!!

[madmmac]

I had the pretty much the exact same surgery on my left wrist/hand about 5 years ago.

The only difference is that I have some pins/plate and screws in my hand which I had to get after a guy ran into my fist a few years before the cyst surgery.

You will most likely get a bier block on the arm to minimize the bleeding and depending on the exact location of the cyst it really is a pretty safe and quick surgery.

Get your pain meds and take them at least for the 1st day or 2. I went out to dinner that night with friends after getting out of surgery at 4pm and did not pick up my prescription. At about 9pm the pain was pretty intense and alcohol did not seem to phase it.

Good Luck,

[Joeaksa]

Had the same thing on a finger. Got it cut off in a hospital and watched the operation. They numbed me below the wrist and started cutting away. Did not watch the entire thing but enough to make sure he was cutting on the right parts and left most of the finger there.

Still have a small scar there and I can feel some nerve damage but nothing exciting. When I run my hand over the scar you can feel that the response is different but ok. Everything still works and took a couple of weeks to heal to the point where it did not bother me to use.

[azasadny]

I have a Morton's Neuroma in my left foot, which is very similar to a ganglion cyst in the hand/wrist and the recovery is very fast. I had surgery twice to remove the cyst but it came back within a month both times. Just be sure to follow the Doc's instructions!

[pavulon]

Don't sweat it....
Ask if you can have it done under a "field block" w/ some sedation...or whatever the surgeon usually uses. Every anesthetic and surgery has risks....but the incidence of real problems approaches zilch.
The pain should be minimal and easily handled with oral pain meds. Maybe ask for some ketorolac (Toradol) while your on the table....unless you're an asthmatic or have an aspirin allergy...then ask that you don't receive any ketorolac.

[Super_Dave_D]

If your left handed you will become ambidextrous real quick.

[Bill Douglas]

I broke the tendon on my thumb which was kinda a big opp for such a small thing and yes I had to get used to using the other hand.

[berettafan]

Originally posted by Bill Douglas
I broke the tendon on my thumb which was kinda a big opp for such a small thing and yes I had to get used to using the other hand.

so many jokes, so little time......

[s_wilwerding]

Thanks, guys. I guess they are not doing the bier block because they can only do that for about an hour, and they think they may need a little more time on my wrist, so they are putting me all the way under.

As I said, this surgeon is supposed to be the best, so I'm not too worried.

[pavulon]

what about an axillary or infraclavicular brachial plexus block? They work very well (especially the infraclavic. block). General anes. is fine but you still have options if you really want to avoid it.