The numbing or tingling wouldn't stop. So, you did something about it. You sought an orthopedic specialist. Soon, you learned you had carpal tunnel syndrome. After some consideration, you underwent surgery to correct the problem.

You've been protecting your hand and wrist afterward, but full recovery requires something more. For that, you need hand therapy.

Your wrist may be small, but it's impressive. It can bend up, down, left and right. A healthy wrist makes it easy to turn a screwdriver, eat a delicious meal and do countless tasks of daily living.

On the inside, there's even more going on. Three nerves allow movement and sensation in the hand. These are the ulnar, median and radial nerves. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve.

Once inside the hand, the median nerve splits into multiple nerves. These provide feeling in the following:

• Index finger
• Middle finger
• Ring finger (half of the ring finger — the side closest to the thumb)
• Thumb

The median nerve stretches to your hand from your neck. When it reaches the wrist, it passes through a protected area known as the carpal tunnel. Over time, the carpal tunnel can narrow or tissue passing through it can swell, placing pressure on the median nerve and reducing its blood supply. The result is carpal tunnel syndrome.

Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include a numbing, burning or tingling pain that affects the ring finger, index finger, middle finger or thumb. For some people, the pain worsens at night or radiates to the forearm or shoulder. The affected hand may also grow weak.

Untreated carpal tunnel can lead to permanent nerve damage as well as painful and frustrating symptoms.

Diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome begins with a physical exam. Your provider will review your medical history and any symptoms you've experienced and may order tests that gauge pain and strength in your hand and wrist or measure your hand's sensitivity.

For a definitive diagnosis, you may undergo an X-ray, MRI or another imaging test. Other exams help your provider understand how well your nerves function.

By identifying carpal tunnel syndrome early, you have more treatment options, which include:

• Injections. Steroid injections can provide effective relief and may be the only treatment you need.
• Lifestyle changes. Activities that require the wrist to extend or flex can narrow the carpal tunnel. Changing how you perform these activities can reduce the narrowing and the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. 
• Medication. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications, such as ibuprofen, can reduce pain.
• Splinting. Often, a wrist splint is enough to relieve symptoms. Many people only need to wear the splint while sleeping. 
• Surgery. When all other options don't work, carpal tunnel surgery (also known as carpal tunnel release) may be necessary. With this procedure, the orthopedic surgeon cuts the top of the carpal tunnel, releasing pressure on the median nerve. That brings relief to everything inside the carpal tunnel, including the median nerve. Your surgeon may opt for an open or minimally invasive technique. The open surgical procedure requires a larger incision, but both techniques have good results.

Today, carpal tunnel release is normally an outpatient procedure. After surgery, you'll likely return home the same day. Recovery begins soon afterward with basic, simple movements intended to limit stiffness and swelling and ensure proper healing.

Once home, you may need assistance with normal daily activities. Your provider may also ask you to wear a splint or brace for a few weeks. Both steps protect your affected hand while healing. Even with assistance, your hand may be tender for a few months. This is normal. As your hand heals and you regain function, the tenderness will go away.

Most carpal tunnel release procedures successfully resolve pain. Afterward, you enjoy pain relief and regain use of the hand. Recovery is more difficult in certain situations. It's particularly difficult for those with pre-existing conditions affecting the wrist or hand. Tendinitis and arthritis are two conditions that make recovery go slower. Also, recovery takes longer if you lived with carpal tunnel syndrome for a long time. By not getting treatment soon, the condition grows worse. As a result, the recovery takes longer. With any of these pre-existing conditions, full recovery may be impossible.

For complete recovery, your surgeon may prescribe hand therapy. The goal is the same as surgery: to help you move past carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

Exercise plays a major role in hand therapy. For some exercises, the therapist moves your hand and fingers through specific motions. With others, you perform the movements yourself. Your therapist may use special equipment for specific exercises. Regardless of who does the movements or if they're done with or without equipment, they all aim to strengthen your hand and fingers. However, hand therapy often does more.

Hand therapy also helps you do the following:

• Determine when it's safe to return to work and other activities
• Find ways to perform repetitive activities in a safe manner
• Help your incision to heal properly
• Improve your ability to grip and pinch objects
• Learn the proper use of the repaired hand 
• Prevent scar buildup that could be harmful
• Strengthen the fingers and the entire hand