The recovery from carpal tunnel surgery, commonly known as carpal tunnel release is usually difficult, painful, and long. How long it will take depends on the pre-existing condition of the tendons and nerves. Full recovery can take months in certain cases. Patients may experience a loss of strength in the wrist due to the severed tendons, while others may experience infections, nerve damage, and pain at the scar. During recovery it is usually recommended that you postpone strenuous activity on the wrist and hand.


You might want to visit the surgeon again to check if the limited movement in the wrist is due to postoperative inflammation of the tendons or something more serious like minor damage to the nerve, which might have happened. Even if the nerve is damaged, it is probable that it is not damaged completely because the movement of the palm and the fingers is still possible.