If you have a carpal tunnel release surgery, wearing a wristband, ankle brace, or other support systems reduces pain. This way will allow the injured area to rest, and you can sleep well. Wearing wrist braces is necessary if you have suffered from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and have surgery.
Wearing orthoses (splints or similar support systems) during the day, and doing your routine stuff, is also a vital practice. These support systems must wear after the carpal tunnel release surgery, as they continue to act on the affected joint, and you sleep comfortably.
In this blog by Acorn Private Clinic, we will guide you on how you can enjoy a sound sleep after carpal tunnel surgery.
Wearing a Splint Can Help You Sleep With Comfort
Injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome improve with the use of orthoses. In the following, we will review carpal tunnel syndrome and the way of sleeping after its surgery:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
People suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) know how painful this condition is (both during the day and at night), preventing activities of daily living.
The CTS consists of compression of the carpal nerve, which joins the hand with the forearm. This compression produces several symptoms, including:
- Pain in the wrist and hands (occasionally radiating to the forearm and elbow)
- Tingling sensations (paraesthesia) in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger
- Numbness in hands and fingers
- Loss of strength in hands and on the fingers
The symptoms usually appear gradually, and you can feel them both day and night, although the sensations caused by this are usually more frequent at night.
Sleep after Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery
In Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery, an incision is made in the palm of your hand over the carpal tunnel ligament, and the surgeon cuts through the ligament. This surgery is aimed at relieving pressure on the median nerve. The surgeon does this surgical operation by making one incision on the wrist’s palm side or making several minor incisions.
To avoid discomfort after surgery and to be able to sleep well, the best thing is to wear a splint or wristband both during the day and at night. With this support system, you can alleviate the pain and avoid flexion and all posterior motions. Using the wristband can help you keep your wrist in a neutral position. And you can then be able to prevent the median nerve from being compressed.
We recommend the following tips for getting a good night’s rest if you have undergone a carpal tunnel release surgery recently:
- Sleep on your back instead of on your side on your wrist.
- Keep your arm straight (you can wrap it with a towel to prevent it from bending) to not to compress the median nerve.
- Sleep in a relatively warm room. Remember that cold can affect the wrist’s joints and cause median nerve compression.
- Gently shake your hand at midnight if you notice it is getting numb, and the discomfort wakes you up. Sometimes, moving your hand a little (a minute will suffice) is enough to fall asleep again.
Final Words
We hope this blog will help you know how to care for your wrist’s affected area after carpal tunnel release surgery and sleep well. We recommend you take care of your wrist because Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve and may disturb your routine life. Consequently, the best solution is carpal tunnel surgery, and following our tips can help you sleep comfortably after surgery.
If you have a carpal tunnel injury, you can get an appointment with no waiting lists and get back to your routine life. Our consultants will surely speed up your road to recovery. Get your appointment today!