Carpal Tunnel Release

If you're dealing with persistent pain, numbness, and weakness in your hand or wrist from carpal tunnel, then surgical intervention may make sense for you. Find the right surgeon that fits your needs below, serving Canadians in major cities like Vancouver, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec.

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The founder of Surgency, Dr Sean Haffey smiling
Reviewed and approved by Dr. Sean Haffey
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Decide where to go

To get private surgery in Canada, you'll generally need to travel out of province. So your first step is deciding where makes sense for you.
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Search by specialty

The Surgency app makes it easy to search Surgeons by specialty, location, and procedure.
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Schedule a consult

You can schedule a consult directly on the Surgency platform. It's secure, private, and fast.
Why use Surgency to book your surgery

For Canadians who want surgery in weeks

Surgency is a free resource by a Canadian physician in the public system to help you find the right surgeon for your needs.
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How do I get carpal tunnel surgery in Canada?

  1. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private carpal tunnel  surgery.
  • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
  1. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
  • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
  • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350
  1. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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  2. Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
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  3. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
  1. Surgery. The clinic will provide you with attendance instructions.
  • The operation usually complete within an 1 hour.
  • You will likely be discharged within hours of your surgery.
  1. Post-operative care. The clinic will provide you with an extensive carpal tunnel surgery recovery plan that includes pain management and further monitoring.
  • Note: please take post-operative care seriously. The more diligently this process is followed, the better the outcome tends to be.
visual of write pain from carpal tunnel syndrome at office desk

Carpal tunnel surgery frequently asked questions

How do I know if carpal tunnel surgery is right for me?

Carpal tunnel release is a minimally invasive hand surgery that treats nerve compression at the wrist for people who haven't improved with more conservative measures (i.e. medication, physio).

You might consider non-surgical options if your symptoms are mild and intermittent; symptoms are clearly linked to activities and improved with splints/ ergonomic changes; or you see a good response to a diagnostic/therapeutic steroid injection.

Surgery may make sense for you if you're experiencing:

  • Persistent numbness/ tingling, hand pain, night waking, weakness that continue after 6–12 weeks (or more) of splinting (especially at night), activity modification, NSAIDs, steroid injection, and ergonomics.
  • Nerve conduction studies/ electromyography (NCS/EMG) showing moderate to severe median neuropathy.
  • Thenar muscle weakness/atrophy, dropping objects, difficulty with fine motor tasks.
  • Severe symptoms interfering with sleep or work: Night pain/ paresthesias that won’t settle, frequent waking, inability to perform job duties.
  • Marked sensory loss, constant numbness, motor weakness, or denervation on EMG.

Ultimately, your surgeon will advise you whether surgery makes sense, given your unique circumstances.

How much does private carpal tunnel surgery cost in Canada?

In Canada, private clinics charge $4,000 to $6,000 per hand.

In the United States, the cost is CA$9,600 per hand.

Costs vary so much because of surgery type, location, surgeon experience, facility type, complexity, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

You also need to take into account the cost of travel and accommodation when travelling out of province.

Do I need a referral?

No, you do not need a referral for private carpal tunnel surgery in Canada. You can book a consultation directly with a surgeon, and they will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics.

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What is carpal tunnel surgery? How does it work?

Carpal tunnel surgery (carpal tunnel release) is a procedure to relieve pressure on the median nerve in your wrist, which is squeezed inside a narrow space called the carpal tunnel.

The surgeon cuts the tight “roof” of the tunnel (the transverse carpal ligament). This opens the tunnel, creating more space so the swollen nerve can decompress and heal.

Two main methods:

  • Open release: a small incision in the palm to see and divide the ligament.
  • Endoscopic release: 1–2 tiny incisions; a camera guides a blade to divide the ligament from inside.

How do I prepare for carpal tunnel surgery?

Your surgeon will provide you with guidance on how to prepare.

If you smoke, you will be advised to stop to improve healing outcomes. Depending on your weight, you may be advised to diet and exercise to reduce surgical risks and improve healing outcomes.

Plan help: a ride home; someone to assist first 24 hours; plan time off work (desk: ~1–2 weeks; manual: 4–8+ weeks).

Home setup: easy‑open containers, premade meals, voice dictation/one‑hand tools, loose clothing with wide sleeves.

What are the risks for carpal tunnel surgery?

Carpal tunnel surgery is generally considered safe, but risks vary with technique (open vs endoscopic), your health, and surgeon experience.

Common, usually short-term

  • Pain, swelling, bruising
  • Soreness in the palm and “pillar pain” near the base of the hand
  • Temporary stiffness or reduced grip strength
  • Numbness/tingling that improves gradually (nerve recovery can take weeks–months)
  • Scar sensitivity or tenderness

Occasional

  • Wound infection
  • Hematoma/bleeding
  • Delayed wound healing or wound dehiscence
  • Persistent numbness or pain if the nerve was severely compressed pre-op
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (rare chronic pain condition)

Less common but important

  • Nerve injury (branches of the median or palmar cutaneous nerves) causing numbness or painful neuroma
  • Incomplete release of the transverse carpal ligament (continued symptoms; may need revision)
  • Injury to blood vessels or flexor tendons (rare)
  • Excessive scar tissue/adhesions limiting motion
  • Persistent or recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome
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What can I expect from the carpal tunnel surgery recovery process?

The recovery process varies patient to patient. Your recovery might look quite different, so please seek further guidance from your surgeon. In general here is what you can expect:

Week 1

  • Goals: control pain/swelling; protect the incision; keep fingers moving and hand elevated
  • Activities:
    • Elevate hand above heart.
    • Gentle full finger motion hourly while awake; avoid heavy gripping/pinching.
    • Light daily tasks with the non‑operative hand; short walks.
    • Keep dressing clean/dry; shower as instructed (usually after 24–48h, no soaking).
    • Pain plan: acetaminophen ± NSAID if allowed; start before numbness wears off.

Weeks 2–4

  • Goals: heal the incision; restore comfortable light use; reduce stiffness and scar tenderness; return to desk/sedentary work as able
  • Activities:
    • Dressing/suture removal around 10–14 days (open); earlier comfort for endoscopic.
    • Gentle wrist ROM (flex/extend, forearm rotation) as tolerated.
    • Scar care once closed: massage/desensitization, silicone gel/sheath if advised.
    • Light typing, eating, phone use; avoid forceful grip, vibration tools, or 5–10lbs lifting.

Weeks 5–12

  • Goals: rebuild grip/pinch strength and endurance; normalize hand function for everyday tasks; progress back to manual duties with a graded plan
  • Activities:
    • Hand therapy or home program: tendon glides, nerve glides, progressive strengthening (putty, light dumbbells, grippers).
    • Increase lifting as pain‑free (e.g. 5→10→15+ lbs); avoid painful overuse.
    • Return to manual work typically 6–8+ weeks with modifications; athletes resume noncontact training first.

Weeks 13–52

  • Goals: full function with minimal/no pain; regain strength and dexterity; prevent recurrence/overuse issues
  • Activities:
    • Unrestricted daily use; heavy lifting, power tools, and sports as cleared.
    • Ongoing grip/forearm/core conditioning; ergonomic optimization at work.
    • Continue scar desensitization if tender; manage contributing factors (diabetes, thyroid, vibration exposure).

Red flags anytime: fever, spreading redness/pus, severe swelling, blue/cold fingers, worsening numbness/weakness, or uncontrolled pain—contact your surgeon.

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