What Helps With Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
Right after surgery, you may notice that flexibility may be stiff.
You should be able to move all of your fingers right after surgery.
Strength- especially grip- will be difficult, so physical therapy is greatly recommended.
Your surgeon will likely refer you to a post-surgery therapist, and it typically requires about 8-12 sessions to regain your strength and flexibility.
The sensation of tingling and numbness may be better several days after surgery, and it may take months before it gets back to "normal".
Your median nerve, to a large extent, will possibly regenerate nerve fibers, so that your hand should develop more nerves going down to your fingers over time.
This usually occurs at a rate of about 1 inch a month.
Unfortunately, while this is happening, you feel burning/ itching/ electrical shocks/ pins and needles shooting down your fingers.
This is actually a good sign, because it indicates that your median nerve is healing.
Some surgeons recommend splints right after surgery, and some do not.
Also, the length of time you wear a splint may be different, depending on how you heal and your surgeon.
Usually the stitches are removed when the skin incision has healed up, about 10-14 days after your surgery.
Of course, this depends on your body and overall health.
Even though I've done many carpal tunnel release procedures, hand therapy AFTER the surgery is just as important as the surgery itself.
It is important to follow the instructions of your surgeon after your operation to get the best results.
Basics things to consider doing right after surgery would include..
..
- follow the instructions of your hand surgeon - elevating your hand above heart level at all time may help to reduce swelling - avoid taking NSAID's/ non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, as well as other blood thinners, until your hand surgeon gives you the OK - make sure you go to hand therapy as directed by your hand surgeon, and follow the instructions of the hand therapist - ask for a home exercise program after surgery, so that you can do rehab hand exercises at home - if you're given antibiotics by mouth, please make sure you follow the instructions of your hand surgeon - if you're instructed to take care of the incision, make sure you follow your surgeon's instructions Before getting carpal tunnel surgery, consult with your local hand surgeon about what to expect with your surgery.
You should not follow these directions necessarily- you need to talk to your local hand surgeon and go over specific instructions with him/ her.
You should be able to move all of your fingers right after surgery.
Strength- especially grip- will be difficult, so physical therapy is greatly recommended.
Your surgeon will likely refer you to a post-surgery therapist, and it typically requires about 8-12 sessions to regain your strength and flexibility.
The sensation of tingling and numbness may be better several days after surgery, and it may take months before it gets back to "normal".
Your median nerve, to a large extent, will possibly regenerate nerve fibers, so that your hand should develop more nerves going down to your fingers over time.
This usually occurs at a rate of about 1 inch a month.
Unfortunately, while this is happening, you feel burning/ itching/ electrical shocks/ pins and needles shooting down your fingers.
This is actually a good sign, because it indicates that your median nerve is healing.
Some surgeons recommend splints right after surgery, and some do not.
Also, the length of time you wear a splint may be different, depending on how you heal and your surgeon.
Usually the stitches are removed when the skin incision has healed up, about 10-14 days after your surgery.
Of course, this depends on your body and overall health.
Even though I've done many carpal tunnel release procedures, hand therapy AFTER the surgery is just as important as the surgery itself.
It is important to follow the instructions of your surgeon after your operation to get the best results.
Basics things to consider doing right after surgery would include..
..
- follow the instructions of your hand surgeon - elevating your hand above heart level at all time may help to reduce swelling - avoid taking NSAID's/ non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, as well as other blood thinners, until your hand surgeon gives you the OK - make sure you go to hand therapy as directed by your hand surgeon, and follow the instructions of the hand therapist - ask for a home exercise program after surgery, so that you can do rehab hand exercises at home - if you're given antibiotics by mouth, please make sure you follow the instructions of your hand surgeon - if you're instructed to take care of the incision, make sure you follow your surgeon's instructions Before getting carpal tunnel surgery, consult with your local hand surgeon about what to expect with your surgery.
You should not follow these directions necessarily- you need to talk to your local hand surgeon and go over specific instructions with him/ her.
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