Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery: What Should Your Mom Expect After?
The median nerve is one of the most prominent nerves in the forearm, wrist, and hand. If that nerve is compressed, it causes a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome where pain, tingling, and numbness limit hand strength and grip.
What causes the nerve to compress? Repetitive motions for hours each day can trigger it. Jobs like data entry, typing, etc. can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. A bone fracture and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis are other causes. As time passes, the condition can become so severe that it requires surgery to allow the nerve to release the pressure on the nerve.
Your mom’s been told that since other treatments aren’t helping, she needs surgery. What should she expect during the recovery?
Which Surgery Did She Have?
When possible, push for endoscopic surgery. The incisions are much smaller and will heal faster. Your mom should still expect her recovery to take several days for the skin to heal fully and several months for the ligament to heal.
If she goes with open surgery, the recovery may take longer as an open incision is made in the wrist to provide access to the carpal tunnel. As the incision is larger, it will take more healing time. Her surgeon will advise her on the pros and cons of each.
Once the surgery is over and your mom goes home, she needs to gently exercise her wrist. Working with an occupational therapist ensures she doesn’t over-exert her wrist and hand while trying to rebuild skills like gripping items, getting dressed, and preparing meals and snacks.
She’ll Need Help With Daily Routines
For several weeks, your mom will have limited use of the affected hand. If she’s right-handed and that’s the hand that underwent surgery, it can make it hard to complete daily chores.
Make sure your mom has a family member, friend, or home care aide to help with laundry, cleaning, and pet care. Your mom needs someone to help her get dressed, prepare meals, and complete grooming and hygiene routines.
Pain Management Techniques
Your mom may find her wrist painful for several days. The incision may feel tight and sore. She needs to keep bandages over it until her surgeon says she can remove them. The use of over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen will help manage the pain.
Occupational therapy may be used as an alternative to surgery or to help with her recovery. Learning how to loosen her grip and find other ways to complete tasks using splints or other devices may help. If it doesn’t, her occupational therapist can help her regain hand strength as she recovers from surgery.
Learn more about occupational therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. Start by asking her doctor for information about your mom’s treatment plan and what can be done to avoid the need for surgery. From there, make the necessary arrangements to support her.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring occupational therapy in Ardmore, PA, and the surrounding area, please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care. (484) 206-4544
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
- Elder Care Strategies for Assisting Seniors in Shingles Recovery - December 29, 2023
- Physical Therapy at Home: How Seniors Can Maximize Benefits - December 19, 2023
- Personal Care at Home: A Guide to Senior Skin Care - December 13, 2023