Wrist pain can slow you down fast. It affects everything from typing and driving to lifting your groceries out of the car.
If conservative treatments no longer help, but you don’t want open surgery, you might consider arthroscopic surgery. Fun fact: “arthro” means joint, so this type of surgery only focuses on joints like your wrist.
Our board-certified surgeons at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services offer arthroscopy in Porterville, Reedley, Visalia, and Tulare, California, to help you get back to daily life with less downtime.
Arthroscopy uses a tiny camera and specialized instruments to diagnose and repair joint damage from inside your wrist. Arthroscopic surgery tends to lead to fewer complications, less pain, less bleeding, and a faster recovery, but what exactly can you expect?
Read on to learn more about your recovery from arthroscopic wrist surgery.
Our team typically performs arthroscopic wrist surgery as an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll go home the same day. No overnight hospital stay needed.
After your surgery, we bandage your wrist and may place it in a splint or brace to protect the joint.
It’s normal to experience:
Our team reviews pain management instructions with you before you go home. We also review signs of infection to watch for before you leave.
Your first few days post-op typically include swelling and activity restrictions, so you’ll want to settle in at home for a few days of recovery.
Pain is usually manageable with prescribed or over-the-counter medication, depending on your procedure. Swelling is common in the first several days and may extend into the hand or fingers.
To help manage swelling:
Swelling and discomfort typically improve gradually over the first one to two weeks. This is a normal reaction after surgery.
In the early phase of recovery, you need to limit wrist movement and avoid heavy use of the hand. This helps protect healing tissues and prevents setbacks.
Depending on the type of repair performed, Dr. Liu or Dr. Tien may:
As you progress through your recovery, your activity restrictions will ease up. Physical therapy can help with that!
Many people benefit from physical or occupational therapy after arthroscopic wrist surgery. Therapy has three goals: restoring your range of motion, improving wrist strength, and supporting coordination.
Pro tip: If you are given physical therapy exercises to complete at home, set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget.
Return-to-work timing depends on the nature of your job and the extent of your surgery. Desk work may take a few days to a few weeks, while jobs involving manual labor or repetitive wrist motion may require more time.
Dr. Liu and Dr. Tien guide you on when it’s safe to resume activities like typing, driving, exercise, or lifting tasks (like lifting weights).
Healing timelines vary, but it can take a few months to fully recover. During this time, you can continue to work on your physical therapy exercises and modify activities as needed.
Healing timelines vary, but full recovery can take several months.
That said, many people notice improvements along the way, such as improved range of motion, greater comfort during daily activities, and stronger grip strength.
In fact, research has shown that grip strength can continue to improve for months after wrist arthroscopy. For example, study participants increased their grip strength by six kilograms (13.2 pounds) by seven months post-op.
If you’re preparing for wrist arthroscopy or are struggling with wrist pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Call the location closest to you or click here to schedule an appointment.