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Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A Week-by-Week Recovery Timeline
If you’re considering carpal tunnel release surgery, it’s natural to have questions about recovery. While the procedure itself is relatively quick, healing doesn’t happen overnight. Knowing what to expect week-by-week following carpal tunnel surgery can help you prepare, plan, and feel more in control of your recovery.
Carpal tunnel release surgery aims to relieve pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Releasing the tight ligament that’s compressing on the nerve relieves carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms like numbness, tingling, and hand weakness.
For most people, recovery is steady and predictable, but it can vary based on the severity of your symptoms, type of surgery performed, and how closely you follow post-operative instructions.
At Orthopedic & Wellness in Frederick, Germantown, and Waldorf, Maryland, Dr. Ojedapo Ojeyemi wants you to feel informed and prepared when making surgical decisions. Here, we share a recovery timeline for carpal tunnel release surgery so you know what to expect.
Week 1: Immediate post-surgery recovery
Some pain, swelling, and stiffness are common immediately after surgery.
During the procedure, our orthopedic surgeon cuts the carpal tunnel ligament to create more space for the nerve, relieving pressure and improving symptoms. You may have one small incision (minimally invasive endoscopic surgery) or two to three small incisions (open surgery). Less invasive procedures typically involve less tissue damage, resulting in a faster recovery.
During the first week, keep your bandage clean and dry, elevate your hand to minimize swelling, and wear your splint as instructed. Light activities such as eating and texting are fine, but you need to avoid strenuous activities like vacuuming or lifting items that weigh more than 2 pounds.
We recommend exercises to start doing right away. These help reduce risk of scar tissue adhesions, improve ligament movement through the carpal tunnel, and maintain flexibility.
While some discomfort is expected, many patients notice improvements in nighttime hand pain soon after surgery.
Week 2: Early healing and improved mobility
By the second week, pain and swelling improve, but you may continue to have numbness and tingling. These symptoms are normal at this stage of the healing process.
If we sutured your incisions, you return to the office about 10 days after surgery so we can remove them. You may also notice less pain when moving your hand as healing progresses.
Weeks 3-4: Regaining strength and function
By weeks three and four, you may regain most or all range of your range of motion. It’s important to continue your hand exercises for at least six weeks to reduce scar tissue complications and support long-term function.
Most people can resume driving and return to work during this phase if their job involves desk work or light-duty tasks. If you have a physically demanding job, you may need to continue at-home recovery if your job can’t accommodate your activity restrictions.
Weeks 5-6: Returning to normal activities
By weeks five and six, you should have near-full range of motion and improved hand strength. You can resume most normal activities by week six, including repetitive tasks like typing or gardening, as long as it doesn’t cause pain.
Lifting heavier objects is also allowed around this time, as long as you can do so without discomfort. We encourage a gradual return to your routine activities to avoid setbacks.
While you may feel a lot better by week six, it can take a year or more to fully regain hand strength. However, most people experience significant improvements in symptoms, function, and quality life that lasts years following carpal tunnel release surgery.
Recovery from carpal tunnel surgery requires time away from work and daily routines, but the long-term results outweigh temporary inconvenience. At Orthopedic & Wellness, we do our best to use minimally invasive surgical techniques when possible to reduce recovery time and ensure the best outcomes.
Call us today or book an appointment online to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ojeyemi to learn more about carpal tunnel release surgery.
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