Formulating a plan for your fast and effective carpal tunnel healing is a great move. Besides the medication needed after the surgery, some surgeons also teach their patients some pointers that they should also do to recover their strength and normal function quickly.
The carpal tunnel healing after the surgery takes time because during the surgery the ligament around the carpal tunnel was cut, so it may take some time to attain full recovery. You should not expect sudden recovery and normal function of your wrist soon after the surgery.
Surgery is not the end of your battle against carpal tunnel syndrome. Our belief that we will be healed immediately after the surgery is not right because we still have to do some things to be fully recovered from that condition. There are other ways to help you to recover fast in addition to taking medications prescribed by your surgeon and doing physical therapy.
Focusing on the inflammation is your number one priority. Inflammation is manifested by pain, swelling, and loss of function of the affected part; however it is the normal response of your body because of the damage on the skin or tissue. This will also affect the healing process of your operative site so you should deal with it as soon as possible. Ice compress is needed to be put on it to reduce the swelling and it should be done twice every hour for about 10 to 15 minutes.
At least 2 days of resting and immobilizing your hand is needed for your tissues to start healing. To immobilize your hand, you can use splint, braces or plasters. If you move your hand a little bit more every day, it may help you to heal quickly. Seeking the help of a physical therapist is a great choice.
Elevating your hand above your heart will also decrease the swelling. When you sleep, put your hand on a pillow. And you also should move your fingers first slowly.
What could really help you now is eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. For your easy and faster recovery, drinking a lot of water and eating vegetables will help you in achieving this.
A schedule for a follow-up check up is usually 2 weeks after the surgery. That is when your stitches will be removed and new splint will be applied. Your splint will be removed after 3 weeks, depending on your surgeon’s advice and the severity of your case. You can move your hands vigorously as long as you can tolerate it after 6 weeks of surgery.
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