I had carpal tunnel release surgery done to my right hand (drawing hand) a couple days ago. Has anyone here had it done? Just wondering how long before it'll be before shooting again. Turkey season's just 6 weeks away!

I had a similar procedure done on my drawing hand about 2 years ago, had scar tissue around the tendon in my middle finger and needed a "trigger-finger" release surgery done. Mine wasn't 100% successful, I still only have about 80-90% mobility of that finger. As long as your doc is good with it, I found shooting to be good physical therapy for it. I was back shooting pretty much normal within a month I'd say.

I had carpal tunnel surgery done on my drawing hand 3 years ago. If yours goes like mine you will be shooting in 3-4 weeks. If your turkey season is 6 weeks away you will be bow hunting turkeys. If you hit the cut area on something it will be tender for a couple months down inside but nothing to keep you from using it. Best of luck !

I had it done to my bow hand years ago and didn't work at all. They wouldn't do my right hand cause it didn't work on my left. Took about 3 wks as I recall to be shooting again. My hands are terrible now, always asleep feeling, can't grip much without concentrating on not dropping the item. They cramp up bad too when I am using them alot or a little. Have a helluva tying fishing knots when on the boat salmon fishing. But about 3 weeks as I recall.

Is your doctor sending you for physical therapy? Are you scheduled for a follow-up visit? Did you get a list of post-surgical instructions?

I had it done a few years back, no biggie. Didn't need PT or at least my doc didn't recommend it. Going to have it on my left arm soon.

I go back for a follow up towards the end of next week. I'll be checking with the doc then for sure. Checked the season dates, turkey season opens a month from yesterday. We'll see how the spring and the healing goes but I'll be in a blind by May for sure. I heal pretty fast. Thanks!

I had CTS and trigger thumb release both done on my draw hand a couple years ago. Because of the thumb and the carpal tunnel, I was out a solid 6 weeks. I had cortizone shots to get me by during the fall so I could hunt, then had the releases done in the dead of winter. It helped a lot, but didnt get rid of all troubles a 100%. Good luck to ya.

Not letting Dr.'s touch mine. I simply don't trust them can't handle any more issues that could or could not add to my CIDP condition. Just living with things for now.

I can't get Cortisone shots either so that's out.

I had carpal tunnel release done ~1996. Was shooting magnum handguns 3 weeks later in the state championship. 6 weeks should be fine.

I had the surgery on my bow hand, the only noticeable effect was a big drop in strength in my grip. I exercised with captains of crunch grip strength device, it takes a while to regain but all is well now.

Both hands 2002. As I remember, six weeks should be plenty. Sold the motorcycles and haven't ridden since. Still got the guitars, but do not play anymore (but I've been thinking about trying).

-Joe

I have not had carpal tunnel surgery even though I need it bad. Roughly 1/3 of my fellow workers have had the surgery and not many if any are satisfied with the results. Many say that they are the same or worse after the surgery. I am sure a big part of the issue is that they are going back to performing the same jobs that caused the issues in the first place. Sample size of approximately 40 men who have had the surgery. Just not the kind of odds I'm comfortable with. Good Day

I went duck hunting in my kayak 5 days after my surgery. I don't remember when I started shooting again but it wasn't very long.

Years back i had bad carpal tunnel issues, chiropractor said that the could take care of it and he did.

I had it done in my string hand a couple years ago. I asked him about shooting my bow. He said give it a couple weeks so I did. No problems. I’m so glad I had it done.

I had it done in my string hand a couple years ago. I asked him about shooting my bow. He said give it a couple weeks so I did. No problems. I’m so glad I had it done.

Too later now but if CTS is an issue get you a pair of those wrist braces they use for bowling and wear them at night so you won't be able to cup your wrists while you sleep. May work wonders.

If you wait too long you can get permanent injury that the surgery doesn't fix.

Get a gripper and while watching TV use it helped me a lot from by hands crippling. When they do I then know I need to use the gripper some more.

This GBS ate the Malone on my hands nerve ending and has made the Carpel more to deal with.

Sure Dr.s want to cut but I don't want them to cut me a lot of people have told me go without as long as you can if you can.

Therapists tell me keep working the gripper. That's what Dr.s want to tell you about waiting. Keep your hands working that keeps them loosened and working.

There's was a time I could not use my hands or take off a bottle cap had to use pliers.

I was told by a pressional classical guitar player to do the spider walk. I have not an issue since the chiro and starting the the spider walk. To do that, with both hands in front, put one hand fingers on the nails of the other as resistance, keeping your wrists finger slightly rounded, use the resistance on the nails and expand the inside fingers. Then switch and salt and pepper to taste.

A very minor surgery that has very little downside to it. You are just slicing a layer of fascia that bridges over the palm of your hand.

Doctors have found by using the older method of slicing the palm and the fascia they have very few complaints. They were having some call backs on the scope surgeries where they slide the tool in and snip the membrane.

I had both done the old way and never looked back....not an ounce of problems and was back doing light chores in 3 days.

Had carpel tunnel surgery, and trigger finger surgery done at one time on the same hand. Took about a month to heal for me, and really helped me a lot. Now the other hand is starting to act up. The ironic thing is that i got it from making self bows.

"I go back for a follow up towards the end of next week. I'll be checking with the doc then for sure. Checked the season dates, turkey season opens a month from yesterday. We'll see how the spring and the healing goes but I'll be in a blind by May for sure. I heal pretty fast. Thanks!"

Good. Best source of medical advice is an actual doctor. Worse source is a bunch of opinionated old farts ;-)

So old farts that had the surgery and shoot are not good sources of advice?

My dad has both hands done about 5 years ago and within 2 to 3 weeks of each was back to normal. Best of luck to you sir!

Ask your doctor. That’s his job.

I had both wrists done about five or six years ago. Never had any PT and it was not prescribed. Both hands would go completely numb especially at night and also when driving long distances. Both procedures went very well. If you have the procedure done, I would certainly ask the doctor his opinion on how long you should lay off the bow.

It's your doctor's job to diagnose and determine best course of treatment.

He only has a vague idea how the recovery goes, if any. His only answer is hearsay from......wait for it..... people that had it done.

He can do the diagnostic tests and tell you how successful it was, but he still can't tell you how things went and what hurt and what didn't.

My doctor's advice when I asked about shooting was "try it. If it hurts stop."

Yep, you will know if you are healed well enough to shoot your bow.

"So old farts that had the surgery and shoot are not good sources of advice? "

Absolutely NOT. All you know is your own case, and every case is unique. I've had several surgeries and it doesn't qualify me to tell you anything except 'seek EXPERT advice.'

I was bothered for a while with carpal tunnel issues but didn't go for surgery. I did talk to a local physical therapist and my chiropractor as well. Seems certain exercises will alleviate the issues ins some folk. It worked for me and I haven't been bothered since. Each person is unique so one size never fits all.

Being a carpenter and suffering for years with the cortisone shots....the braces....hanging your hands off the side of the bed...etc. I said screw it. The first one I was awake and they gave me a nerve block and a blood cuff. Watched the whole thing. The 2nd I was in twilight.

All those years of misery for nothing. After the surgery my hands and arms were back to when I was a teenager. What a waste of time and energy fighting that crap.

We will see. I go in 2 weeks. Put it off for 25 years.

Try the gripper before you get them cut. Maybe they help you .

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