Surgery may relieve your symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome right away, but full functional recovery may take months, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Physical therapy and home hand exercises are an important part of that recovery. At what point in your recovery you do the exercises will depend on whether you had an open carpal tunnel release or endoscopic surgery, as well as your doctor's particular recommendations for you.
Finger Range of Motion
Range of motion of wrists and fingers are both important, but don't flex wrist and fingers together for at least three weeks after surgery, cautions Boston's Hand Surgical Associates. For finger range of motion, begin by wiggling your fingers. Flex and extend them several times. With your palm down and your wrist straight, spread your fingers as wide as is comfortable. Then with palm flat on a table, lift each finger off the table individually. Turn your hand over so your palm is up and touch your thumb to each of your fingertips. Perform several repetitions of these exercises.
Wrist Range of Motion
Sit with your forearm resting on the arm of a chair and your hand dangling over the front edge. Without moving your forearm, bend your wrist up slowly so your palm is facing out and slowly bend it down again. Place your forearm flat on a table and place your other hand behind your wrist. Move your wrist in a side-to-side motion. Repeat these exercises several times, remembering to flex and extend as far as you are comfortable and hold position for a few seconds.
Make a fist, with fingers curled in your palm or pointing straight to your wrist and move your wrist in a circular motion, both to the left and right. You can also do this with your fingers straight in the first three weeks after surgery when wrist and fingers should not be flexed simultaneously.
Fist Flexion
Also known as tendon-gliding, these exercises move your fingers while keeping your wrist straight, according to eMedTV. Begin with your fingers straight, then fold them down into a hook fist, so that the top pads of your fingers are resting on the top of your palm right below the base of your fingers. Straighten your fingers again, and fold them down into a straight fist, with your fingertips resting at the base of your palm. Straighten your fingers once more and make a full fist, with your fingers curled into your palm.
Strengthening
Build up strength in wrist and fingers after carpal tunnel surgery by gripping a small soft ball. Hold it in your palm, trying to squeeze it tightly with fingers and thumb and then open your hand. You can also squeeze the ball beneath your fingers as you try to touch them to the bottom of your palm. Touch your thumb to your fingertips over the top of the ball.
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