[jambutty]

Originally Posted by den the menace

i had it done yesterday and it wasnt as bad as i thought it would be, i asked the surgeon how long before i could drive but he wouldnt commit himself, so could someone give me an idea as to how long it can take?

I had both wrists done at the same time yonks and yonks ago. Oh! At least 25 years ago.

When I asked the surgeon, just before they put me to sleep, how long after the op I would be able to pay the piano he replied, “About six to eight weeks.”

Now I thought that was fantastic because I couldn’t play the piano before the operation.

My last conscious sight was seeing that “You’ll be asleep in a few seconds” smile on the surgeon’s face before he lifted his mask into place.

I was able to drive a couple of weeks or so after the stitches came out, without it being too painful. Although setting the handbrake on and taking it off required a gritting of the teeth. Changing gear wasn’t too bad because I could use the back of my hand and fingers to surround the gear lever knob.

However it took over three months before I regained most use of my hands and even then I could feel a discomfort. It took a further 3 months before all trace of the op was gone. Of course in those days the surgeon cut from the centre of the palm to about a couple of inches above the wrist. It may be different today, what with keyhole surgery.