Nerves heal incredibly slowly (about 1 millimeter per day). While the deep, aching pain and nighttime tingling often disappear on the very first night after surgery, long-standing numbness takes much longer to resolve. If your nerve has been compressed for years, it may take months to years for the sensation to fully "wake up" and reach your fingertips.

We actually want you to use your hand immediately for light daily activities, such as eating, holding a phone, or buttoning a shirt, as this prevents stiffness. Most patients can comfortably return to light typing and activities within 5 to 7 days.You must strictly avoid heavy gripping, lifting, or repetitive power tools for about 3-4 weeks to allow the deep tissues to heal securely.

If the nerve was compressed badly and long enough to cause visible muscle shrinking (atrophy), strength recovery is a slow process. Surgery stops the damage from getting worse immediately, but rebuilding that wasted muscle requires time and dedicated hand therapy. Most patients see a significant, continuous improvement in grip strength over the first 2 years following surgery.

A true surgical recurrence (e.g. where the ligament heals back together so tightly that it re-compresses the nerve) is exceedingly rare, occurring in less than 5% of patients. A surgical decompression is widely considered a permanent, lifelong fix for carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome.

For most nerve releases (especially Carpal Tunnel), we use a highly modern technique that does not require general anesthesia. The procedure is typically performed in our minor procedure clinic using local anesthesia. This means no fasting, no grogginess, and you can walk out shortly after the procedure is finished. However, for those who are a little more anxious, we do offer light sedation with local anesthetic to help keep you perfectly relaxed during the surgery.