Carpal Tunnel Treatment

Recovery from carpal tunnel release varies from person to person and depends on which type of surgery you have. But as a rule, it generally takes around three months to regain strength in the affected hand.

You can use your hand for ‘light duties’ in the first couple of days of surgery, for example holding a drinking glass or gently typing on a computer. You can gradually build up to other activities over the following six to 12 weeks.

With regards to time off work, this really depends on the type of job you do. If you have a desk job or a job that involves light duties, you may be able to return after two weeks, or perhaps even sooner. If you do a manual job, then you will need to take more time off to allow yourself to recover. Your surgeon will be able to advise you on how long you will need to take off.

It is very important that you follow all the aftercare advice issued by your surgeon. Failure to do so may impact on your recovery and the final result.

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort due to carpal tunnel syndrome, there are a number of things you can do to relieve this.

• Take painkillers: Painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help with pain management, or your GP can prescribe something stronger if required.
• Wear a wrist splint: Some people with carpal tunnel syndrome find that using a snug-fitting wrist splint to keep the wrist in a midline position may help with any pain or discomfort. Sometimes people find that wearing a splint overnight only is enough to help.
• Make lifestyle changes: It’s important to limit activities that make your symptoms worse and avoid overusing the wrist when squeezing or gripping. Take more frequent breaks to rest your hands and wrists. Lose weight if you are obese to ease pressure on the median nerve.
• Exercises: Stretch your wrists back or reach forwards as if pushing a door open, then reach upwards as if pushing the ceiling. Try this 10 times in a row, up to four times a day.
• Seek treatment for underlying health conditions: If your carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by an underlying health condition, treating this may help to relieve your carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ultimately, the most effective way of ridding yourself of painful carpal tunnel syndrome is by surgery.

Yes, you can get carpal tunnel release on the NHS. However the NHS has been, and continues to be, hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. High levels of staff sickness have had an impact on waiting times across the board. These waiting times vary from hospital to hospital. You could potentially be facing weeks or even months of waiting for your carpal tunnel surgery on the NHS. And any new waves of Covid-19 infections may result in this wait getting even longer. Of course it is not the fault of the NHS, but if faced with a lengthy wait for treatment, you may find that your condition worsens. Because of this, many people choose to go to a private clinic for their carpal tunnel treatment. At the Cadogan Clinic, there is no waiting list, so providing you meet the criteria, you can have the procedure promptly.

Carpal tunnel surgery is not painful. A local anaesthetic is injected into the hand, so you will not be able to feel any pain during carpal tunnel release. However you may feel some pressure.

During the recovery process, you may experience a degree of discomfort or soreness. This should be easily controlled by taking over-the-counter painkillers.

As part of your carpal tunnel surgery at the Cadogan Clinic, you will receive comprehensive post-operative aftercare courtesy of our specialist team and 24/7 on-call nurse assistance during the recovery period.

If you have any concerns ahead of your carpal tunnel treatment, please speak to your surgeon who will be able to put your mind at rest.

It is possible for carpal tunnel syndrome to go away on its own, but this can take six months and it is less likely to happen if you are aged over 30. If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can get worse, causing pain and impacting on the function of the affected hand and wrist. This can hamper your ability to perform day-to-day tasks and, depending on your job, you may find it difficult or impossible to work. You may also find that you cannot enjoy your hobbies, such as playing a musical instrument, due to this pain and lack of function. This can have a negative impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing, causing you to feel anxious and depressed.

Therefore it is important for your physical and mental health that you seek carpal tunnel treatment.

If your carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pregnancy, then this usually resolves itself once the pregnancy is over.

Carpal tunnel surgery has a high success rate, with nine out of ten people noticing an immediate relief of their symptoms. Surgery is far more successful at relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome than non-surgical methods such as using a wrist splint or methods where there is limited evidence of them working, such as wrist exercises. Carpal tunnel surgery is the only really effective treatment for severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel release is a quick and painless procedure with very little downtime. You will be able to use your hand for light tasks within just a couple of days of the surgery.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic you will find world-class surgeons who are experts in their field, which makes our clinic one of the leading destinations for carpal tunnel surgery in the UK. Book an appointment to find out how we can help you.