Post-op Instructions for Carpal Tunnel Release
Wound Care
- After surgery, your hand and wrist will be placed in a plaster splint with a bulky dressing. This helps protect the incision site and lessens swelling.
- 4-5 days after surgery, you will see therapy to have the splint removed and work on range of motion. Put a small bandage over the sutures to keep them from getting caught on your clothes or other fabrics.
- Do not put any ointment or lotion on your wound.
- Keep the dressing dry until therapy by covering your hand with a plastic bag when you shower. After splint comes off, you may shower without covering the incision, but do not soak your hand in a bathtub, hot tub, kitchen sink, swimming pool, etc.
- Your wrist and palm may swell. Use an ice pack for up to 20 minutes at a time over the surgical site to help control swelling. Be sure to place a thin cloth between your skin and the ice pack to protect your skin
- Elevate your hand as much as possible to lessen swelling and pain.
Pain Management
- You will receive a prescription for narcotic pain medicine. Take this medicine only if you need it.
- Be sure to talk with the clinic nurse about how to take your pain medicine. To best manage your pain, you must take your pain medicine the way it was prescribed. Taking the correct dose at the right time is very important.
- If you have uncomfortable side effects from the pain medicine, call the nurse at 206-598-4263.
Driving
- Do not drive if you are taking narcotic pain medicine. It is not safe. The medicine can make you sleepy and delay your reaction time.
- Once you are no longer taking the medicine, you may drive as soon as you can comfortably grip the steering wheel with both hands.
Activity
- You can use your hand for light daily activities such as driving, getting dressed, typing, etc.
- Do not lift objects heavier than a full soda can (about 1 pound or .45 kilogram) until the sutures have been removed.
- Avoid heavy repetitive activities such as hammering. These will increase scarring and may lead to a longer recovery time.
- You may do light aerobic exercises as soon as 1 or 2 days after surgery. Avoid any heavy lifting, such as weight lifting, until 4 weeks after surgery.
Follow-up
Before you leave the surgery center you should have a follow-up appointment in Roosevelt Hand Therapy or Eastside Specialty Clinic already set up for 2 weeks after surgery. At this visit:
- Your sutures will be removed.
- You will be working with therapy to go over exercises to lessen scarring around the incision and to help increase your hand’s strength and range of motion. One to two therapy visits are usually enough to teach you a home exercise program.
- Dr. Huang will see you during your therapy sessions.
- Once your sutures are removed, you can increase your activities as tolerated. Avoid heavy repetitive activities until 4 weeks after surgery.
Results
Most patients who have carpal tunnel surgery regain full use of their hand, with full return of motion and strength.