"Cut median nerve left hand"

Early last year I went to Perth for surgery to repair torn thumb tendon and carpal tunnel decompression left hand. Day case surgery. Hand was numb post op. Assumed just use of local anaesthetic.

Next morning thumb index and middle fingers completely numb. Attempted to contact Surgeon (Saturday morning!) tried to get Hand Therapist who had made splint. No joy. Multiple calls to On Call Hand Surgeon at another hospital, who every shift change told me same thing...ring your surgeon. In increasing desperation, I explained I could not contact them.

Finally, surgeon did ring me. Told me it was just swelling and would settle. Covid was looming so I caught plane back to remote place I live. States locked down. The numbness did not improve. The surgeon had cut my median nerve. They refused telehealth consults. Did not respond to emails. 

A month later, another dash to Perth between lockdowns. Nerve conduction studies confirmed that I was not a twit. The surgeon had cut my median nerve.

So, I have a useless paw with constant electric shocks. I have tried every desensitization trick known to man. I do mechanical work and it is bad dropping all the nuts and can't thread a nut. Using tools is difficult. I cannot castrate a mickey because I cannot grab its testicle with left hand to cut with scalpel in right.

Lots of other stuff too so I call it a paw not a hand.

How do I feel? Why did the surgeon do this to me then just abandon me?

I know the prognosis for repair is zero chance. So what I have got is what I have got. It is just a matter of managing things. Moral of the story, I believe....simple ops can go badly wrong.

I believe good surgeons become bad people when things go wrong. In my opinion, no doctor wants to talk about it or acknowledge a mistake was made. A very common theme I am sure.

In my opinion, sometimes medical professionals should know when to say, I stuffed up and I am sorry.