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Does Carpal Tunnel Surgery Really Work?

Itza Rivera, MDKarla Robinson, MD
Written by Itza Rivera, MD | Reviewed by Karla Robinson, MD
Published on August 29, 2023

Key takeaways:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the nerve that runs through the wrist is pinched within the carpal tunnel. This pinching may cause hand pain, numbness, and tingling.     

  • Carpal tunnel surgery can help to make more room within the carpal tunnel. This can be achieved with open surgery or by less invasive methods.      

  • Carpal tunnel release surgery relieves pressure on the nerve and may improve symptoms.

A person’s wrist is bandaged after carpal tunnel surgery, a procedure that relieves pressure on the nerve and can help reduce symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome like tingling and numbness.
whitemay/iStock via Getty Images

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as hand pain, numbness, and weakness, can be disruptive. There are many ways for you to find relief, including carpal tunnel surgery. 

Carpal tunnel release surgery can help to improve your symptoms when other treatments don’t work. Let’s take a closer look at treatment options for carpal tunnel, how carpal tunnel surgery works, and when it might be useful. 

Quiz: Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?

What is carpal tunnel release surgery?

Carpal tunnel release surgery is a treatment option to relieve the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the pinching of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This tunnel is formed by some bones and the transverse carpal ligament in the wrist. Release surgery cuts the ligament, making more room for the median nerve so it isn’t pinched. 

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The median nerve controls some muscles of the hand and supplies sensation to the thumb, index, and middle finger. When the median nerve is pinched at the wrist, you may feel hand pain, numbness, and tingling. Muscle weakness may be present in severe cases. Carpal tunnel release helps to improve these symptoms by relieving the pressure on the nerve.

What are the treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome?

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome usually starts with conservative options. This includes a variety of nonsurgical treatments. People who don’t improve or have severe symptoms may need carpal tunnel release surgery. 

Nonsurgical treatment options

Not all people with carpal tunnel syndrome need surgery. Several conservative measures could help your carpal tunnel symptoms. These include:

  •  Avoiding repetitive movements of the hand and wrist: Repetitive movements, such as typing, texting, or playing instruments may increase the chances of having carpal tunnel syndrome.

  • Using a splint: A splint with the wrist at a neutral position may help reduce repetitive motions and the pressure on the nerve.

  • Stretching the wrist: Manual therapies done at home to stretch the carpal ligament may improve numbness, tingling, and strength.

  • Starting physical therapy: Physical therapy can be helpful, especially if your symptoms aren’t severe. This may include heat, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and exercise.

  • Using injections: Corticosteroid injections may help decrease inflammation in the carpal tunnel.

  • Taking medication: Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription anti-inflammatory medications may help some people with their symptoms.

Surgical treatment options 

When conservative treatments don’t work to relieve your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, surgery may be an option. Carpal tunnel release surgery can be done using different methods, such as:

  • Open release surgery: This is the traditional carpal tunnel surgery. Your surgeon is able to see the carpal tunnel directly through an open incision at the wrist.

  • Endoscopic surgery: This is a less invasive option and is frequently used. The surgeon will make one or two smaller incisions and insert a small camera to view the tunnel and cut the ligament.

  • Ultrasound-guided release: This is a newer procedure using ultrasound to find the carpal tunnel and median nerve. This technique uses a much smaller incision, so you can get back to your activities faster. 

The type of carpal tunnel surgery you have often depends on the surgeon’s experience. “Most surgeons do whatever they are comfortable with or what they are trained in,” said Dr. Karan Desai, hand surgeon at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute.

Open release and endoscopic surgery have similar results over the long term. Dr. Desai said that most hand surgeons use a minimally invasive approach. The scars “are extremely small and the recovery is much faster,” he said. But, if someone has had hand surgery in the past, open release is usually preferred. That’s because other methods are hard to do if you have scarring from previous surgeries.

When is carpal tunnel release necessary?

If you continue to have symptoms after trying nonsurgical treatments, you may need carpal tunnel release. Conservative treatments are usually tried for up to 3 months. If there’s no improvement during that time or your symptoms worsen, your healthcare provider may suggest carpal tunnel surgery. 

Your hand specialist may also recommend carpal tunnel surgery sooner than later if there are symptoms like:

What are the risks of carpal tunnel surgery?

While there’s the huge benefit of symptom relief after carpal tunnel surgery, there are still some risks. Carpal tunnel release complications may include:

  • Nerve injury

  • Infection

  • Tendon damage

  • No improvement or worsening of symptoms

  • Ongoing numbness or tingling

  • Temporary surgical site pain or “pillar pain

  • Painful scar 

What is the success rate of carpal tunnel surgery?

Experts report that 75% to 90% of people have a successful carpal tunnel surgery with improvement of symptoms. Complete recovery is common, especially for people who don’t have other conditions in the hand or wrist, like arthritis or tendinitis. Carpal tunnel syndrome can return in some people, but this rarely occurs.

How long does it take to recover from carpal tunnel surgery?

Pain and numbness may improve right after carpal tunnel surgery. But, complete recovery may be gradual, and can take up to a year. According to Dr. Desai, if your symptoms have been going on for a very long time, the nerve may take longer to recover or may never recover completely. But pain is usually greatly improved even if sensation doesn't come back fully. 

You may need rest from work and daily activities for a couple of weeks. But most people return to their normal activities within a month or sooner. And hand therapy can be helpful in the recovery process. Michelle M. McMurray, certified hand therapist, and co-chair of the ASSH Public Education Committee, said that hand therapy may involve:

  • Changing dressings

  • Managing swelling

  • Gliding exercises (gentle exercise to help move the nerve and tendon)

The scar may be tender for several months. That’s why McMurray recommends a good home program that includes scar massage and exercise after having your sutures removed. This improves mobility and reduces sensitivity in the area.

The bottom line

Carpal tunnel surgery can be a useful treatment option for people with carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel release success rates are very high and in most cases there’s an immediate relief of pain. But, not everyone with carpal tunnel syndrome needs surgery. In many cases, conservative treatment options can work well to control your symptoms. 

If you have carpal tunnel symptoms, talk with your healthcare provider about your options. They can help you decide if carpal tunnel surgery is right for you. 

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Why trust our experts?

Itza Rivera, MD
Written by:
Itza Rivera, MD
Dr. Rivera is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. She completed her medical degree and residency training at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, and her neuromuscular disorders subspecialty training at Northwestern University.
Karla Robinson, MD
Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

References

Alimohammadi, E., et al. (2020). Carpal tunnel surgery: Predictors of clinical outcomes and patients’ satisfaction. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

American Association of Neurological Surgeons. (n.d.). Carpal tunnel syndrome

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Erickson, J. M. (2022). Pillar pain after carpal tunnel release. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. 

JOSPT, Inc. (2019). Carpal tunnel syndrome: A summary of clinical practice guideline recommendations—using the evidence to guide physical therapist practice. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy

Karjalanen, T., et al. (2022). Update on efficacy of conservative treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Clinical Medicine

MedlinePlus. (2021). Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies

Orhurhu, V., et al. (2020). Carpal tunnel release surgery - A systematic review of open and endoscopic approaches. Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

OrthoInfo. (2022). Carpal tunnel syndrome. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 

Petrover, D., et al. (2018). Ultrasound-guided surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome: A new interventional procedure. Seminars in Interventional Radiology

Shem, K., et al. (2020). Effective self-stretching of carpal ligament for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A double-blinded randomized controlled study. Journal of Hand Therapy

Wright, A. R., et al. (2019). Carpal tunnel syndrome: An update for the primary care physician. Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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