Deanna, RW here
My wife had the operation for carpal tunnel. She was driving within 2 days. A clerk who worked for me in the post office had severe carpal tunnel, aggravated even more by the repeated motion of sorting mail hours every day. She had both hands done and was a mess for almost a month. Go figure. I think some folks have post operative problems and some don't.
But remember this Deanna. It never gets better...only worse, and the nerve damage becomes irreparable. I know you probably know this, but I would certainly get the operation. I don't know anyone that wasn't glad they had the operation.
Later, RW