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Going Back to Work After Tendon Release

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Posted 9/4/2015 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 31 year old male. I recently had my little and middle fingers operated on for "Trigger Finger". The incisions look good. I am not sure when I should go back to work. There is still a bit of pain and discomfort.

It will be 3 weeks form the surgery on Monday.

What got my really confused is the Dr said I can go back whenever. And then put steri-strips over the wound and said they need to stay on a 5-10 days.

I work in Automotive manufacturing. This includes A LOT of MIG welding (up to 40 welds a minute) and using impact tools (up to 20 bolts a minute)

So I am not sure when I should say release me I am ready to go. And I am not sure of the steri-strips purpose.

Thanks,
Very Confused.
Posted 9/4/2015 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Is the doctor clear on what type of work you do? Was this condition determined to be work related? Was this a Worker's Compensation doctor? Did they put you in physical therapy post op? You can always get a second opinion.

Steri strips are used to help keep incision sites closed. Sometimes they are used in place of stitches or after stitches are removed to support the area while it continues to heal.
Posted 9/4/2015 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
The doctor seemed clear on it. But he can be a bit of a space cadet. So I'm not sure if he is or not clear on what I do. There is not another appointment scheduled and I am on an as needed basis. They were not 100% sure if it was work related, I have a lot of hobbies that could cause it as well. I did not go through workers comp. And there is no Physical Therapy. I've been doing stretches on my own.

This dr has had issues with saying one thing then doing another.

Post Edited (Jobsicm) : 9/4/2015 9:18:57 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/4/2015 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hello & welcome to the forum. Has your incisions healed? How do you feel about going to work? Have you tried any activities at home to see how your hand feels afterwards?

I am assuming your job will require a note from the dr before allowing you to return to work. Its kind of odd the dr hasn't given you a date to return to work, most surgeons want people back to work before they really capable of working. You can always call & speak to his nurse & ask her about returning to work. She may turn out to be your best source.

Good luck.
Posted 9/4/2015 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Well the office just closed for the holiday weekend. Yes my employer demands a note from the Dr about returning, and will not let anyone work without one. It's healed, it just hurts if I bump it. The incision looks good except for 1 spot.

I can drive again without pain including using my floor shifter, vacuuming brings out pain, but its the worst ergonomically designed vacuum cleaner on earth. I did use a small impact, and there was a little pain. Nothing above a 5 on a scale of 1-10.

I think your advice is good, and I will contact the Nurse Tuesday, and talk to her. I actually almost switched doctors a week before the surgery due to stuff like this.
Posted 9/5/2015 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Everything was good, I used my hand- no pain. I took a 4 hour nap and woke up with my fingers stiff as a board and swollen. Swelling went down FAST with an ice pack and warm compress.
Posted 9/5/2015 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I would expect some swelling at this point after using your hand. As more time goes by things like that should get better. Since you are seeing improvement since surgery it sounds like you are progressing right along. Do keep things moving to avoid stiffness as much as possible.

In the future, if you ever need any surgery again, do yourself a good deed & get a 2nd opinion. If necessary, get a 3rd. It can often save a person a lot of grief & misery. Your clue was you considered switching drs & didn't.

Talk to the nurse on Tuesday & see what kind of input you can get.
Posted 9/9/2015 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
The nurse handed my file to another nurse who is very familiar with my employer. She said I should be good to return and explained why the doctor did it. My employer likes to move people around, and does not fully explain what out jobs are or require. So it would be up to me to know.

She also said she would go back because moving it is helpful, and doing something would be better mentally than being at home grinding my teeth wanting to go back. (I like my job but miss my coworkers and the money). She said if there is any problem, go to in plant medical, and then call them ASAP the next morning for restrictions.

Thanks everyone. I will keep in touch with how it goes. There are not many threads on what to expect. I might just write up my experiences.
Posted 9/9/2015 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you were able to talk to the nurse. Things may flare up once you go back to work just from the activity itself. If you notice anything out of the ordinary do what the nurse instructed you. Don't try to overdo at work, that will hurt you more than help you.

Good luck.
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