Carpal Tunnel Release
Carpal tunnel release with Dr. Steven Ward in Tucson and Oro Valley — taking pressure off the median nerve at the wrist to relieve numbness, tingling, and night pain in the hand.
Call 520-881-1394Typical ranges for general education. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
What it treats
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage at the wrist, about an inch wide. The median nerve and the tendons that bend the fingers pass through it, under a tough band called the transverse carpal ligament. When the tunnel narrows or the tissue around the tendons swells, the nerve gets squeezed.
- Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers
- Symptoms that wake you at night or come on while driving, reading, or holding a phone
- Clumsiness, weak grip, or dropping things
- In long-standing cases, wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually gets worse over time. Left untreated too long, it can cause permanent numbness and weakness.
Is surgery right for you?
Mild or early carpal tunnel syndrome often improves without surgery:
- A wrist splint at night to keep the wrist straight while you sleep
- Changing activities that keep the wrist bent for long periods
- Nerve gliding exercises (see the carpal tunnel handout on the exercise guides page)
- Anti-inflammatory medication when it is safe for you
- A steroid injection, which often helps but is usually temporary
Surgery is considered when symptoms continue or keep coming back despite that care, when numbness is constant, when the thumb muscles are weakening or shrinking, or when nerve testing (a nerve conduction study or EMG) shows significant pressure on the nerve.
How the surgery is done
Carpal tunnel release is an outpatient procedure. It can be done with numbing medicine in the hand and wrist, often with light sedation, or under general anesthesia.
- Open release — a small incision in the palm lets the surgeon see and divide the transverse carpal ligament directly
- Endoscopic release — one or two smaller incisions and a tiny camera are used to divide the same ligament
Both approaches have similar results. Dividing the ligament makes the tunnel roomier. Over time the ligament heals in a longer position, and the nerve keeps the extra space.
What surgery can and cannot do
Surgery stops ongoing pressure on the nerve. How fully numbness and strength return depends on how healthy the nerve was beforehand.
With mild disease, feeling may come back right away. With severe, long-standing disease, fingertip feeling can take 6–12 months to improve and may not fully return. Surgery is still worthwhile in those cases to keep the nerve from getting worse.
Recovery overview
Typical ranges only, based on AAOS OrthoInfo patient education. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
First days
- Keep your hand raised above your heart and move your fingers to limit swelling and stiffness
- Some pain, swelling, and stiffness are expected
- Night symptoms usually improve a lot in the first week or so
First weeks
- A splint or wrist brace may be used for several weeks
- Light use of the hand is allowed as long as it does not cause significant discomfort
- Driving, self-care, and light lifting and gripping are often allowed soon after surgery
- Soreness in the palm can last several weeks to several months
Months 2–12
- Grip and pinch strength usually return by about 2–3 months; if the nerve was badly affected, this can take 6–12 months
- Numbness and tingling keep improving over several months
- If pain and weakness last more than about 2 months, a hand therapist can help
- Dr. Ward will talk with you about returning to work and any work restrictions
When to call the clinic
Call 520-881-1394 if you notice any of the following after surgery or while you are recovering:
- A fever of 101°F or higher, or chills
- Redness spreading around an incision, or drainage that is cloudy, foul-smelling, or keeps soaking the dressing after the first few days
- Fingers that turn pale, blue, or cold
- Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers that does not go away once the nerve block or numbing medicine has worn off, or that is getting worse
- A cast, splint, or dressing that feels too tight: throbbing pain, swelling, or numbness under it that does not ease after you raise your hand above your heart and gently move your fingers. Do not cut or remove a cast yourself
- Pain that is not controlled by your prescribed medication, elevation, and ice
It is normal for the hand and fingers to be swollen, bruised, and sore for a while, and for the hand or arm to stay numb and weak for several hours after a nerve block or numbing medicine. Keep your hand raised above your heart, and move the fingers that are not splinted as you were shown. Call if something feels different from what you were told to expect.
for chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing. These can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs and need emergency care.
If something does not match the instructions you were given, call the office. Dr. Ward or one of his physician assistants will get back to you.
Related resources
Exercise guides
Hand & wrist handouts, including carpal tunnel exercises and hand and finger exercises.
Open pagePatient resources
Surgery packets, pre-op and post-op instructions, exercise guides, and videos in one place.
Open pagePost-op packets
Dr. Ward’s post-operative instructions and packets, organized by joint.
Open pageWrist fracture (distal radius)
Dr. Ward’s broken-wrist page: splint care, swelling control, and the week-by-week rehab plan.
Open pageOrthoInfo: Carpal tunnel syndrome
Patient education on carpal tunnel syndrome from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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