The Mid-levels (Nurse practitioners and Physicians Assistants at Kansas City Bone & Joint have combined efforts to give the top ten “need to know tips” after carpal tunnel surgery.
- Elevate the hand above the heart to help reduce the amount of swelling.
- Keep bandage clean and dry.
- Work on gentle range of motion with your fingers- make a full fist and then fully extend your fingers. Do this multiple times throughout the day. (This will not harm your sutures).
- Avoid heavy lifting. Stick with lifting about a cup of coffee or less.
- It is common to have numbness and tingling after surgery due to local anesthetic and/or severe carpal tunnel compressions.
- Once the sutures have been removed, around 7-10 days after surgery, it is OK to use soap and water over the area.
- If steri-strips were applied do not pull them off, just let them peel off like a band aid does after it’s gotten wet. This may take a few days.
- Do not submerge hand in water until the incision has completely closed.
- Once the incision has completely closed, massage over the incision and palm to help break up scar tissue. Vitamin E oil or lotion may be helpful when massaging. This may be used to do for a few weeks or even a few months.
- The palm can be sore for up to 4 months- it may feel like a deep bruise when applying pressure to the palm like when typing on the computer.
Author: Ann Coppage, PA-C
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