Carpal Tunnel Release - Open Procedure vs. Endoscopic

Recovery times for the two surgeries vary greatly as well; the open release can require up to three months of bracing and therapy to return to functionality, while endoscopic release can have you back to work or daily activities in as little as one month. The primary symptoms, those of tingling and numbness, usually resolve almost immediately after surgery, but recovery is required to regain full function. Loss of sensation, however, is less likely to be resolved by surgery, as is muscular or nervous weakness.

Cervical nerve damage can also cause carpal tunnel like symptoms, but surgery will not resolve these as the root of the problem lies elsewhere. It is important to accurately diagnose the condition before surgery is undergone to avoid this.

[Roadhammer]

After years of increasing pain I finally had the right hand done two days ago with the same endo. procedure pictured. What a piece of cake. After surgery my hand felt like I had slept on it for a year. Dr. said tunnel was very tight. Numbness was gone by the evening. Next morning felt fine. Virtually no pain at all. Moving fingers no issue, no pain at incision. However, pain if I put load on the hand. A No No at this point in healing. Looking forward to getting left hand done. I should have done it years ago.

[lanternaBGD]

After trying tons of exercises, sleeping with those horrible braces for years and shooting pains and constant numbness, I finally decided to go for surgery. I suffered close to 10 years. I have full coverage trough my medical and my surgeon didn't have a reason to sell anything (unless medical pays him more for open than for laparoscopic, that I don't know). Numbness and tingling disappeared immediately, but I can see that recovery will take some time to gain back strength. Not sure about soreness, yet have to take stitches out and use it/exercise more. I was told that success rate is 95% and that was enough for me to take that risk. Many of my female friends had it before me and they have no problems whatsoever. My right hand is super dominant so surgeon said he will do open as I have symptoms for years, dropping things, lasted too long so he had to see the condition of my median nerve. I am sure recovery time is different for everybody, but I am sure I did the right thing. Wish good luck to all having this issues with or without surgery as it is very unpleasant pain and can debilitate us more or less.

[Tanya]

I think your info may be outdated. I had the open procedure surgery on Monday, only a 3cm cut, had no pain, but when I asked the Periop nurse if I could take just Tylenol or Advil for pain later she looked at me like I was crazy and warned against it due to "not wanting to feel that pain." Left the hospital and went out with my husband for lunch on the way home. Because of expected pain, 12hrs later I took an Rx pain pill before bed that I really didn't need. Because I was warned of the "bad pain" I expected to wake up the next morning in agony, but nope, no pain after sleeping 7hrs solid. Only used Advil and ice after that point for some swelling. Helped my husband in the garden, went back to work on Thursday. I could have gone back sooner, but I already had the time off. I'm typing this now with both hands, less then a full week after. I removed the ace bandage on the 3rd day. No "weeks/months in a splint". I was using my hand the same day for very light tasks (getting dressed) and it's only gotten better since. The only thing I have an issue with now is grip strength, which will return. No PT scheduled but I work on exercises through out the day. My Surgeon prefers open because he has done over 4K and because the complication of never damage is ever so slightly lower. I had the opposite hand done 5 yrs ago by a different surgeon, same procedure and same results. I go back in a week for suture removal. If I move it wonky it may have a zing of pain, but really nothing at all. Choose what your surgeon knows. No one is staring at carpel tunnel scars anyhow.

[buffylemaster-foster]

had endoscopic done on both yesterday. doing better today. numbness finally gone!

[jessielee]

Dr. Knight just performed the endoscopic procedure on me 6 days ago. I had absolutely no pain. I did not take one pain pill. Didn't need it. I went to work yesterday and performed my job as an industrial mechanic with no issues. My hand is a little weaker than before the procedure but I believe in a week or two it will be back just as strong. I have zero numbness and tingling in that hand. Will do my other hand in a few weeks. BTW Dr. Knights staff and pre and post op surgical team are superlative. He has a great staff and office right here in Dallas. He does things right. Highly recommend his office. Very professional. Thank you Dr. Knight.

[russells]

Woke up with completely numb hand December 25th 2019 after 8 weeks straight of overtime. Didn’t go away after 2 days got a recommended to a doctor. Went to the doctor and also got a 2nd opinion - carpal tunnel after doing nerve conduction study. Had surgery January 29th 2020 endo, and it took 4 months for numbness to still go away. I did physical therapy after no relief and it finally helped. Eventually hand and wrist felt stronger than ever and my doctor did an amazing job she is one of the highest rated near me. Beginning of May 2022 started to get the numbness again. This time not the whole hand but mostly my 2 middle fingers. Would wake up every 1-2 hours in pain. Finally had surgery open release July 15th 2022 after the birth of my daughter. Ended up getting covid somehow 5 days later which delayed my start to physical therapy but I started on August 14th. I am working so hard in the gym and doing these stretches and exercises. I have noticed slight benefit and it’s still numb. I return to work September 16th. I am worried I will not recover. Do I just have permanent nerve damage? If it doesn’t recover by then I may need to look into alternate medicine…I’m not sure what to do but am hopeful. Btw I am only 31 years old and my first surgery I was 29.

[aaronburratwood.]

I just had an open procedure done 9 days ago and there’s a little tightness after the stitches came out but it was relief directly after surgery. I was using a screw gun after day three.

[raged]

Just had the open procedure done and seem to be healing fast but my Dr gave no major limitations other than heavy lifting. I’m a guitar player and don’t want to jump back into it too fast. Really enjoyed this video and your explanations were on point. I especially liked the explanation of the various outcomes. Thank you.

[YelpBullhorn]

I had endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists at the same time six years ago, done under local anaesthesia. The procedure was excruciating, and if it wasn’t for the tourniquets around my shoulders pinning me to the bed, I might have, in all likelihood, scarpered! I was in crippling agony for 10 days post-op too. Two each of Tramadol, codeine, ibuprofen, and paracetamol every four hours didn’t even touch it. I couldn’t even move my fingers. I couldn’t shower, dress, or even wipe my own arse!

In two weeks time I’m having my left one redone as well as having my ulna nerve released at the left elbow. Both procedures will be open, and done under a nerve block. I’m really not looking forward to it, I’ll be honest with you!!!

Edit: Update - both procedures went really well. Very little pain post-op, and back to work two weeks later. 👍

[stevenenglish]

Thank you Just had the surgery a week ago…

[thehighpriestess]

This is a very informative video. I like that he addresses the issue about having other conditions that could mimic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I was Dx with cervical stenosis that causes pain in my neck but also affects my right upper arm. I had my two hands tested for Carpal Tunnel. Sure enough my Dx was positive. My left hand is apparently more affected than my right hand. I experience tingling and numbness in my arms as well. I also present
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis in my right thumb along with an inflamed lymph node on the side of my write hand side wrist.
My surgery will be tomorrow. Yikes !

[carlossaenz]

How about the other nerve at ur elbo were there is another nerve which also effects ur hand nerves

[TETECLAIRE]

I had carpal tunnel surgery under ultrasound. The day after you can take off the brace, take a shower without protection and do all the light chores. Brush your teeth, clean your bottom, do the dishes, everything. The hole is 2 mm in diameter. The operation takes 5 minutes, in a dentist's chair, with a "walant" injection to numb the hand. I had it done in Versailles by Dr. Apad. He has lots of videos of his operations.

[dianefarias]

I actually have the double crush syndrome from actual low carpal tunnel and bulging discs in my neck. I chose neck injection first over surgery. The radiculopathy from the neck improved greatly after one injection however the carpal tunnel remained awful. I just had endoscopic surgery with immediate relief. Now to heal and get rid of that discomfort and start exercises to get function better. SWEET

[mariojm]

Sometime mid-2016, I had Endoscopic Surgery done on both hands, at the same time, by Dr Joon Ahn, Mt Vernon, Illinois. I was 55 years old and it was his first time to do both hands at same time. I had severe carpal tunnel syndrome. He said the operation might correct it to 80% and 90% (respectively left and right hands), since I had waited so many years before I went to a Dr about it, to correct it. Anyway, quick operation, back to 100%, in both hands... and I NEEDED NO PAIN PILLS ... after the surgery... quicker than expected recovery time.

[darrengorup]

I had the endoscopic surgery on my right hand three times in 15 years. The fouth time, I had the open procedure, under local anesthetic, and haven't had any issues since. By opening the area, the Doctor could see what the first three surgeons couldn't. Because they were working with limited vision, the first three couldn't see that the band wasn't completely cut. Due to the incomplete cut, the band was able to heal and close the gap. That's when te symptoms would start up again. I fully recommend having the open procedure over the endoscopic procedure! It may take a little longer to heal, but you wont have ro have it redone every five years...

[harrok]

Great and succinct explanation without any BS. Thank you.

[chessplayerelite]

Thank you very much. This was extremely informative as I have to have the surgery.

[Fafa_J-VinZ]

I hope i have means to take endoscopic surgery. 🙏🏼maybe in time

[LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

Just had this procedure on the 22nd still in the healing process