Carpal Tunnel Surgery

- Hand Center of Western Massachusetts -  

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Answers to common questions

While the goal of surgery is to relieve the pressure on the nerve not everyone will respond the same to surgery.

Some patients will have immediate return of sensation while some will take longer. Some will notice an improvement right away but still feel tingling and will describe this as "numb". The return of sensation is dependent on many factors including age, general health, duration of symptoms, circulation and the actual mechanical severity of compression.

In very severe cases while decompressing the nerve stops the carpal tunnel syndrome from getting worse, full recovery of sensation may not be possible.  Often this is seen in patients who have muscle wasting noted prior to surgery and in those with longstanding complete numbness and elevated two-point discrimination.  Of course there are many in this category that improve despite having very severe cases. 

Having a severe case where you are not sure if you'd have full recovery is not a reason to put off surgery, as progression is likely if nothing is done.

What is actually "released" is the hard ligament in your palm that covers the median nerve.  Together with the bones in your wrist this ligament forms a ring or tunnel that surrounds the median nerve and the tendons to your fingers and thumb.  When this "release" is done it is much like making a ring bigger and there is less pressure on the median nerve.  The body heals the cut in this enlarged ring.   But it takes time until your palm feels comfortable.  With the pressure reduced on the nerve, healing can occur.  How the nerve heals is different in everyone.

After surgery you may be able to use your hand right away, especially your fingers to do light things.  You must keep your dressing dry until it is changed or removed in the office.  For showers or baths keep your dressing covered with a plastic bag.

The time for healing is variable as no two people are alike and no one heals exactly the same.  However most feel comfortable doing light activities that require palm pressure in 2 - 3 weeks and very heavy activities 4 -5 weeks.  Those with lighter sedentary jobs can often go back sooner.  Those with very heavy jobs may take longer.  Other conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis and fibromyalgia may delay comfort after surgery.  Sometimes you do not complain of or notice other problems until after your carpal tunnel is better. 

The type of anesthesia used is typically known as "local with monitored anesthesia care "(or IV sedation). This means that you get an intravenous dose of medicine to relax or lightly sedate you. An anesthesiologist, a physician, who is in charge of this part of your operation, gives the sedation. Then the surgeon injects your palm to "numb it up".  The sedation usually makes you forget that you had the palm injection. When the surgery starts you do not feel the incision but you know that something is going on because the back of your hand and your fingers still are awake (Some fall gently asleep at this point but many stay awake and are indifferent to what is happening.)

Most carpal tunnel is done as day surgery and most patients can have it done at the surgicenter without the need to go to the hospital. It is usually a 20 -25 minute procedure with total time in the surgery center about 2 hours.  You need to have a ride from surgery and cannot drive for 24 hours.  After 24 hours you may drive as long as you feel safe and are not taking pain medicine, which can impair your judgment. The requirement of insurance carriers and some people because of other medical problems or sometimes because of scheduling need to go to the hospital for surgery.  Then you would expect to spend about 4 - 5 hours at the hospital.  The surgicenter has you arrive 80 minutes prior to your scheduled surgery time while at the hospital you need to get there 2 hours ahead of the surgical time.

While everyone who has carpal tunnel surgery gets a prescription for pain medicine, most state that they did not need it or used it minimally.  Many get by with Tylenol, Advil, Alleve or a similar over the counter medication.

The wait to schedule surgery is typically two or three weeks but in certain instances surgery can be scheduled quicker than that.  Ask the staff to help you.

If you have a date in mind for surgery you should not wait until right before that time to discuss scheduling with the office just to make sure the date is available.  In general we cannot give an exact time of the day and the time may change even a day before.

For any scheduling questions please speak to the office staff. They will be happy to go over dates with you.  If you have additional specific questions about carpal tunnel surgery please contact us as well.  Please remember that not all the answers here will apply equally to everyone.