Carpal tunnel surgery recovery time varies from patient to patient. Typically, post-surgical pain lasts a few days. Stitches are removed in 7-10 days. In another 2-4 weeks, your hand starts to normalize again as the scar firms up.

But this normal time course assumes there are no complications. Obviously, no one can predict them. But some complications can extend your recovery time almost indefinitely.

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A primary treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is a hand operation called carpal tunnel release surgery. There are two basic types of this surgery, so ask your surgeon which you will have (see photos below).

• Open carpal tunnel release surgery requires a longer incision on your palm. It also causes more trauma, more pain, and longer recovery time. But it's widely considered a safer method, with fewer risks.
  
  
• Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery does not require a long incision. Rather, one or two small holes are needed in the hand. This results in less trauma, less pain, and faster recovery time. But this procedure is also considered less safe than the open technique.

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With either surgical method, the surgeon will put your hand under local anesthesia. Some surgeons prefer using a general anesthesia, where you go sleep.

Then the surgeon accesses the interior of your hand (in the wrist and palm area). This is necessary in order to see the transverse carpal ligament. This tissue holds your wrist bones together. 

The doctor will cut that ligament in half. In doing, so, it "releases" your median nerve (a major nerve of the hand) from being crushed underneath the ligament. This crushing of the nerve is causing all the symptoms of "severe" carpal tunnel syndrome.

Accessing the ligament can be accomplished using either surgical technique. The technique your doctor uses greatly affects the length of your carpal tunnel surgery recovery time.

When there are no complications and the outcome is good, patients are usually very pleased with their surgery. But as you can imagine, there's no guarantee such will be your results. And because of different outcomes, including poor recovery, complications, etc., about  50% of patients regret having the surgery by year 2.

For the remainder of this discussion, let's assume your operation is uneventful and goes as planned. The following is what you can expect during your carpal tunnel surgery recovery time.

Whichever type of surgery you have to cut your transverse carpal ligament, your hand will need to be stitched closed afterward. Then, as a final step in the operating room, the doctor applies thick protective bandages to your hand and wrist.

This is when you technically begin your carpal tunnel surgery recovery time. The recovery time is divided into 4 distinct stages:

1. Immediate post-operative 
2. Post-discharge (at home)
3. Within 2 weeks of discharge
4. Long-term (including rehabilitation)
   

Your immediate post-operative carpal tunnel surgery recovery time takes place in the recovery room. You'll be in there for 2 to 4 hours, assuming no complications. The amount of time you require there mostly depends on the type of anesthesia you were given. 

With local anesthesia, your immediate post-surgical recovery time will be shorter than if you had general anesthesia. Also, if you had endoscopic surgery, your recovery room time will also be shorter. 

The medical staff in the recovery room will monitor you for 5 important signs: 

1. Blood pressure
2. Respiration
3. Excessive pain
4. Reaction to anesthesia
5. Abnormal bleeding

Within an hour your vital signs will stabilize as you fully recover your senses. General anesthesia will feel like coming out of a light sleep. With local anesthesia it simply feels like your hand and arm are numb.

You'll remain in the recovery room until the staff is satisfied that you're alert, verbal, and responding to commands. With no complications they will discharge you with home instructions. 

Note that you must be discharged to someone's care who can bring you home by car, private service or taxi. Public transportation is never allowed.

When you arrive home you'll feel more comfortable as you start to settle in. You may even believe your carpal tunnel surgery recovery time feels like "a walk in the park". But this feeling only lasts a few hours. That's when the pain medicines you received in the recovery room wear off. 

This is when you begin to climb what seems to be an endless staircase of postsurgical pain.  But don't worry. The doctor will have prescribed painkillers to ease the pain. Intense pain only lasts only 2-3 days, and the pain pills will manage it well.

In the next week of aftercare you must keep your hand in an elevated position (above your heart) as much as you can. Doing so while sleeping or just sitting reduces swelling, stiffness, and pain.

You must also perform light finger stretches. The stretches will avoid having internal scarring and adhesions form. These can limit finger mobility and produce more pain.

By the third day of your carpal tunnel surgery recovery time you'll begin feeling like you can do some light activities. This means feeding yourself, brushing your teeth, etc. However, you should refrain from bathing in the first week.

If you must bathe, never get the bandages wet. Instead, wrap your bandages in water-proof plastic film, and take a bath only (with your hand outside the tub). If the bandages get wet, they'll need to be replaced. This can be painful in the first week.

The long-term carpal tunnel surgery recovery time period is exactly that - the long-term view. Some doctors say the long-term view can last from 3 to 12 months. Of course, any complications can extend that time period drastically.

Normally, you continue your hand therapy as before. But now you gradually taper off as you do more and more regular daily work. The goal is to restore your strength, dexterity, and mobility so you can go back to a relatively normal life.... except for one thing:

Statistics indicate you probably will not be able to return to your former occupation. 

That's because it's likely your job injured your hand to begin with. And according to NIOSHA, it's the reason that only 23% of carpal tunnel surgery patients are able to return to their former professions after surgery. The rest must find another occupation.

Remember, the hand activities you engaged in most likely allowed carpal tunnel syndrome to develop. The last thing you want is the condition starting all over again!

Of all the carpal tunnel syndrome treatments, surgery is certainly the most aggressive. And everybody needs some amount of time for recovery from the surgery. Your carpal tunnel surgery recovery time can go fast or slow. It depends on factors like which surgery you have and whether or not you have postsurgical complications.

You will go through 4 distinct stages of recovery time, from the recovery room to your long term aftercare at home. Each stage is highlighted by how you take care of your hand in order to maximize getting full functional restoration.