Hand Surgery – Carpal Tunnel

What is Carpal Tunnel?

Many people struggle with the painful symptoms of Carpal Tunnel. There are varying degrees of Carpal Tunnel and various factors which can contribute to causing it. Often people who drive long distances, do repetitive movements on a daily basis, have certain health conditions and women in their 40’s-60’s are at the most risk for developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when there is consistent pressure on the median nerve due to a swelling of the nerve or tendons. Many people who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome experience tingling, pain and even loss of feeling or control of their hands and wrists. Treatment can be found throughout Robert Taylor Plastic Surgery.

How is Carpal Tunnel Treated?

For people with moderate cases of Carpal Tunnel, treatment can be found through either abstaining from the movements for some time or, if that is not possible, using stabilizing braces to keep pressure off of the nerve. In some more severe cases, however, these preventative and stabilizing measures may not be sufficient enough, particularly if there is already nerve damage or if you are unable to work or sleep due to the pain and lack of strength or sensation in your wrists and hands.

Carpal Tunnel Hand Surgery

There is a surgical treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that, while not effective for everyone, has a high success rate of 85% of patients who received the treatment reporting a substantial relief of their symptoms. Dr. Taylor performs this treatment for anyone looking to remove the pain associated with Carpal Tunnel.

If you feel you have exhausted your options for non-surgical treatment for your Carpal Tunnel syndrome and are ready to explore if surgical treatment may be right for you, contact our office to schedule your consultation. For more information regarding this procedure and others, visit the FAQ page.

FAQs

How long does hand surgery take?

The length of your hand surgery will depend on the techniques used and the severity of carpal tunnel present. However, for most patients, the actual carpal tunnel surgery is a very quick process lasting about 10 minutes and requiring minimal incisions.

When will the numbness go away after carpal tunnel surgery?

Hand numbness and sensation changes are a common side effect of carpal tunnel and these symptoms can continue for a short time after hand surgery. The majority of your sensation loss or tingling will diminish over the next few months, but for many, physical therapy is also required. Dr. Taylor will discuss your post-op instructions and give you a timeline of what you can expect after your hand surgery.

When can I return to work after hand surgery?

The time it takes to return to work will depend on a number of factors including your job type and how strenuous it is, and which hand you had surgery on. For those who had surgery on their dominant hand, 6-12 weeks is typically needed before returning to all normal activities. For the non-dominant hand, you may be back to your regular routine in just a few days. During your consultation, Dr. Taylor will give you more information on what you can expect during your recovery and how much time you may need off work.

Will carpal tunnel return after surgery?

After hand surgery for carpal tunnel, most patients experience complete relief from their symptoms. There is a small chance that carpal tunnel can return, however this is very uncommon. Talk with your physical therapist and Dr. Taylor about hand exercises you can do to prevent carpal tunnel from returning.