Question:
What about Open RNY and Carpal Tunnel?

I am needing both surgeries and as long as I am off work and under anesthetic, I sure would like to get it all done at the same time. Any ideas?    — Gigglepants10 (posted on February 8, 2005)

February 7, 2005
I'm not positive, but I think it requires two separate surgeons. Each surgery is a specialization. Are you having both wrists/hands operated on for carpal tunnel or just one? Also, is it your dominant hand you need surgery on? You'll need some upper body/arm strength to manuever your midsection into and out of bed, the restroom, hygeine, etc.Open RNY is a challenging recovery by itself, I'd discuss with your WLS surgeon the possibility of combining it with another procedure. I've only heard it being combined with hernia repair, gallbladder removal or appendix removal.
   — Shayna T.

February 7, 2005
No, do not have both surgeries done at the same time. You need both of your arms/hands to help you get up out of bed or just plain sitting in a chair, car etc. Also, the CTS needs to have and orthopedic hand specialist to do the work. Besides, I do not think that a bariatric and orthopod would even consider doing your surgeries at the same time anyways. Nice thought but I do not think that they will do it.
   — ChristineB

February 8, 2005
If you plan to take of like 6 weeks for your recovery from the WLs then plan to do the carpal tunnel surgeries at about 4 weeks PO from the WLS. You will need your hands fuly functional for a while to move, lift yourself etc. If you don't plan to be off that long then plan to do the surgeries a few months apart.
   — zoedogcbr

February 8, 2005
you might not even need carpal tunnel surgery after loosing the weight. Mine completely dissappeared. apparently the fat in my wrists was pressing on the nerve causeing severe numbness and pain.
   — **willow**

February 8, 2005
I had carpel tunnel for over 10 yrs. and it disappeared totally after surgery which was 11 mo. ago. I'd wait and see what happens if I were you. Good luck!
   — Erin N.

February 8, 2005
I also made lots of progress with my carpal tunnel syndrome when I lost weight. It happened twice. Once when I lost weight on my own, and again after WLS. As the others have suggested, I'd wait to see what happens. The reason many have progress with the carpal tunnel as post-ops, is that you will not be as swollen and there is far less pressure on the area where the nerves go through your wrist. I was great til I got pregnant and retained water, and again was better by a few months after my son's birth. I get numbness from time to time, but not pain. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

February 10, 2005
Hi, I just got back to work from carpal tunnel surgery, was out just over 2 weeks. My open RNY is scheduled March 22. If I could have coordinated it I would have had the RNY 3 weeks after the carpal tunnel surgery. For me the carpal tunnel was a piece of cake, could have gone back to work after 1 week. Pain minimal. But, I wouldn't have them both done at the same time, or days apart. You'd want at least 3 weeks in between, as someone else mentioned, you will need to use your hands and arms to lift yourself up and that would be hard to do if you just had the carpal tunnel surger.
   — Ralph

February 21, 2005
I had a LAP gallbladder and Left Rotar Cuff done at the same time. I was VERY fortunate to get BOTH surgeons together at the same time. VERY LUCKY. Not the norm! Anywho, WLS is a tough surgery. (At least the Open RNY is). I had it done in May 2001 and my right wrist done (Carpotunal) on Dec 31, 2003. We are all different but the first three to four months after WLS were very hard. The first four weeks of healing from carpo tunel surgery were hard. (More than what someone else here had). Actually it was about a year before my hand felt normal. The swelling in the hand muscle hurt pretty bad the first four months. There is no way I'd want to have WLS and Carpo tunel done at the same time. You'll need both hands after wls... you don't need any more pain or handicap than healing from wls.
   — Danmark