Food
Start slowly. It's natural to want to eat a lot after surgery, but start with small amounts of your normal food, and eat more as your nausea improves.
Dressing
You may remove the dressing and shower after 48 hours, but leave the Steri-Strips, sutures, or glue in place. You may let water run over the incision, but do not soak it in a bath, swimming pool, lake, or hot tub for three weeks. Keep a Band-Aid on the incision until it is no longer draining (about 7 days).
Activity
Stay as active as your pain and swelling allow. Keep your arm elevated to reduce swelling and pain.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are rare after upper-extremity surgery. However, if you or your family have a history of blood clots — or any other reason for increased clotting risk — you may need more aggressive treatment; please discuss this with Dr. Allred within 24 hours after surgery. What does a blood clot feel like? Blood clots usually (though not always) appear a few weeks after surgery. They typically cause new arm pain and new hand swelling, and rarely cause shortness of breath. If you think you may have a blood clot, call the office immediately during office hours, or go to the ER after hours.
Swelling
The best way to reduce swelling is to elevate your hand. Ice also helps if you do not have a cast or splint.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is usually not required after carpal tunnel release. I do recommend massaging your hand and working on finger range of motion as your incision begins to heal.
Medications
For the best pain control, alternate over-the-counter ibuprofen and Tylenol — for example, take regular Tylenol, then ibuprofen 2 hours later. Do not take more than the daily dose shown on the label for either one. While taking ibuprofen, I also recommend over-the-counter Pepcid or another antacid to help prevent a stomach ulcer. For prescription pain medicine (narcotics), see below.
Narcotics
You may need narcotics for a few days, but the sooner you stop using them, the better you will feel. Refills are rarely needed. We do not refill these medications after hours or on weekends, and a refill takes about 72 hours, so please plan ahead. If you take narcotic medications regularly, you will need to make arrangements with your regular prescribing provider.
Post Operative Visits
Please make an appointment for 2 weeks after surgery.
Return to Work
You may return to work as soon as you feel comfortable. This is usually 1 to 2 weeks for light-duty jobs and 4 to 6 weeks for manual-labor jobs.
Precautionary Measures
- To prevent infection, you were given IV antibiotics before your surgery.
- To prevent blood clots, stay active. Walk around your living room once every hour while you are awake.
- If you are taking narcotic pain medication (such as Percocet or Vicodin), you may need a laxative to prevent constipation. We recommend an over-the-counter stimulant laxative such as Senna. Narcotics slow the bowel down, and Senna works by stimulating it. Fiber-only products (like Metamucil) usually aren't enough on their own, since they add bulk but don't stimulate the bowel.
When to Call / Emergencies
Call the office or go to the ER if you experience any of the following:
- Incision opens
- Increased redness at incision site
- Pain uncontrolled by pain medicine
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Fever > 101.5°F or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain
- New arm pain or hand swelling
- Painful swelling
If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Don't know which number to call? Every clinic's emergency and daytime number is on one page — worth saving to your phone before surgery.