Fact · Accessibility and health
The AAOS patient guide says a doctor may refer you to a hand therapist if significant pain and weakness last more than two months after carpal tunnel surgery.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“If you have significant pain and weakness for more than 2 months, your doctor may refer you to a hand therapist who can help you maximize your recovery.”
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo (AAOS), n.d., Recovery From Surgery.
Open the original- What it measures
- A hand therapist is a therapist who specializes in the hand and wrist. The statement comes from the recovery section after surgery.
- What it does not show
- This applies to recovery after surgery, not to the choice of treatment before it. The guide says recovery may take up to a year.