Posted 8/17/2013 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
I teach preschool, so I use my hands a lot. When I had my first thumb done, I was scheduled to take two days off work. However it snowed and I ended up off for a week. The second time I had surgery over spring break so I had a week off but I had carpal tunnel release, and my thumb, index finger and pinky done at the same time. When I went back I was not allowed to lift for a few more weeks.
The third tie it was a revision on my index finger only. Surgery was in the afternoon, so I worked the morning, and ended up working up half a day the next day. Not sure that was such a good idea, but I did it.
It is hard to say how much time you should take off work. It is really between you and your surgeon. I know even when I went back to work, I had severe restrictions each time.
Two months ago, I had surgery in my index finger again. He removed part of one if the tendons, released the pulley again because if scar tissue, and removed some of my dupuytrens disease. I was on summer break, and went back to work three weeks later, for preschool camp. At that time I was still under severe restrictions, and my OT isn't think I was ready to go back to work yet. I did fine going back, but there was a lot I could not do.
Listen to your surgeon so you give it every chance of succeeding. Doing too much too soon is not a good idea.