Carpal tunnel syndrome (or CTS) can cause discomfort, pain, and a decrease in hand function that can impact your ability to perform daily tasks. For many, carpal tunnel surgery is the recommended treatment to alleviate these symptoms.
In this blog, we explore the factors influencing carpal tunnel surgery waiting times and offer some tips on how to manage the wait.
Waiting times for carpal tunnel surgery can vary significantly across different regions of the UK. The following factors can contribute to these variations:
On the NHS, the maximum stated waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks. However, this is a guideline and unfortunately, due to high demand, limited resources, and a backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s likely you will need to wait longer for surgery compared to self-pay options.
You can check NHS waiting times by treatment and location using the My Planned Care tracker.
One of the primary advantages of opting for private carpal tunnel surgery is the significantly shorter waiting times. At Practice Plus Group, the average waiting time for private hand and wrist surgery is 4-6 weeks.
You will have an initial consultation where the surgeon will assess your condition, discuss your treatment options, and outline the expected waiting time for your operation. You can then book your surgery with our team at a date and time convenient for you.
The surgery itself takes between 10 and 20 minutes and is done under local anaesthetic. This means you don’t need to stay in hospital overnight and can recover from carpal tunnel surgery at home.
You can learn more about the costs of private carpal tunnel surgery on our dedicated Knowledge hub blog page.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for this question. The decision should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. They will take into account the following factors:
For most people with CTS, it’s not always necessary to have surgery immediately. Your treatment will begin with your General Practitioner (GP). If necessary, they will refer you to the musculo-skeletal physiotherapy service. Treatment may start with wrist splints to help keep your wrist in a neutral position or with corticosteroid injections.
While waiting for surgery, you can take several steps to manage your condition effectively:
Choosing self-pay surgery with Practice Plus Group comes with many benefits:
If you’re struggling with the pain and disruption of carpal tunnel syndrome, why not get in touch? Our friendly contact team will be happy to start you on your journey back to full fitness.