It’s estimated that carpal tunnel syndrome might affect as much as 5% of the population. If you ever experienced the pain, numbness, and tingling that accompanies this wrist condition, you’re likely eager to get rid of it.
The good news is that in many cases it can be dealt with using non-surgical methods. That being said, sometimes surgery is the best course of action. If you’re curious about surgical options, you might be asking yourself, “How long does it take to recover after carpal tunnel surgery?”
In this guide, we’ll give you a quick answer to this question. That way, you can decide if surgical recovery can fit into your work or lifestyle schedule.
What Are the Different Types of Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
There are two main types of carpal tunnel surgery: open and endoscopic surgery. As the name suggests, with open surgery the carpal tunnel surgeon will need to make a large incision on your palm to gain access.
Endoscopic is more precise and only requires a small incision. As such, the carpal tunnel recovery time for endoscopic surgery tends to be a lot quicker than other options.
Short-Term Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Surgery
The first forty-eight hours after the hand and wrist surgery will typically be the most uncomfortable. To deal with the wrist pain, discomfort, and swelling you should keep your bandaged hand elevated.
For the next few weeks, you should gradually begin feeling your hand go back to normal. However, the pain from the surgery can take a while to go away completely.
Long-Term Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Surgery
After around six to eight weeks you should be able to return to work. If you got surgery on your non-dominant hand and your job doesn’t involve a ton of repeated motions you might be able to go back before that.
However, keep in mind that it can take between three months to a year for all of the pain associated with carpal tunnel to go away. And even then some of it might stick around.
How to Find Carpal Tunnel Treatment
When searching for carpal tunnel providers, you want to choose professionals that offer a variety of different treatments. This is important because surgery should always be used as a last resort.
There are a variety of different non-surgical treatment options for the condition. Some of them include:
- Bracing and splinting
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Activity changes (if you work with repeated motions)
- Exercises
- Steroid medications
Many people also report success with physical therapy for carpal tunnel. Ideally, your provider will exhaust all these options before they decide that surgery is the best option for you.
Need Treatment? Contact Idaho Shoulder to Hand
We hope this guide helped you learn more about recovery after carpal tunnel surgery. Here at Idaho Shoulder to Hand, we know how hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder conditions can affect your quality of life.
That’s why we’re devoted to finding solutions to whatever you’re dealing with. We do this through our extensive diagnosing and treatment procedures that are personalized based on the needs of the patient.
So if you’re ready to get rid of carpal tunnel pain, schedule an appointment with us today.
