Carpal Tunnel Release Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have carpal tunnel release, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Nerve damage
• Stiffness of the fingers
• Continued numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Smoking or alcohol abuse
• Diabetes
• Taking steroid medicine for other conditions

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Increased tingling or weakness in your hand
• Fingers become extremely swollen, cool, or discolored
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.