Preparing for Hand Surgery: Nerve Tests, Imaging and the Medicines Your Team Reviews

Maria noticed it first while holding a coffee mug. Her thumb and first two fingers had gone quiet, the way a foot does when you sit on it too long, and the mug tilted before she caught it. Months of night-time tingling, a splint that helped and then did not, and now a surgeon’s letter with a date on it and a list of appointments before that date.

That list is the part nobody warns you about. Learning how to prepare for hand surgery turns out to involve more people than the surgeon: a technician who runs tiny currents through your arm, a radiographer, a nurse who wants every tablet and capsule you take written down, and an anesthetist with questions about your breakfast.

Each step exists for a reason, and understanding those reasons makes the whole process feel less like a checklist done to you and more like a plan you are part of.

How to prepare for hand surgery: what actually happens in the weeks before

Preparation for a hand operation runs on three tracks at once, and they usually overlap rather than follow one another neatly.

The first track is confirming the diagnosis. A hand surgeon will often want objective evidence that the problem they can see and feel matches what is happening inside the nerve, tendon or joint. That is where nerve tests and imaging come in. For a compressed nerve, the test measures how fast signals travel; for a fracture or arthritis, the picture shows the bone; for a tendon or ligament problem, ultrasound or MRI shows the soft tissue.

The second track is making sure you are safe to operate on. This is the pre-assessment visit, sometimes called pre-operative assessment or pre-op clinic. A nurse or doctor reviews your medical history, your medicines, your allergies and, depending on the planned anesthesia, may arrange blood tests or a heart tracing. The NHS describes this visit as the point where you receive specific instructions about eating, drinking and medicines, and where you should raise anything that worries you.

The third track is practical. Hand surgery is usually a day-case procedure, meaning you go home the same day, but you cannot drive yourself, and you may be living one-handed for a while. Arranging a lift, sorting out work, and thinking about buttons, jar lids and shoelaces belongs on the same timeline as the medical tests.

None of these tracks requires you to make clinical decisions alone. Every instruction about medicines, fasting and activity comes from your treating team, in writing, and applies to you specifically. What this article does is explain the reasoning behind the instructions so that the questions you ask at each appointment are sharper.

Nerve conduction study before surgery: what it is and why it often comes first

A nerve conduction study is a test that measures how quickly and how strongly an electrical signal travels along a nerve. It is the closest thing medicine has to a speedometer for the median or ulnar nerve, and it is often the first objective test a hand surgeon orders when the suspected problem is a trapped nerve, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome at the elbow.

The test itself is simple. Small sticky electrodes are placed on the skin over the nerve and over a muscle it supplies. A brief, mild electrical pulse is delivered at one point, and the electrodes record how long the signal takes to arrive further down the arm. MedlinePlus describes the sensation as a quick, mild shock; most people find it startling rather than painful. A slowed signal across the wrist, compared with the rest of the nerve, points to compression at that spot.

An electromyogram, or EMG, is frequently done in the same session. A very fine needle electrode is placed into a muscle to record its electrical activity at rest and during a gentle contraction. According to Mayo Clinic, this can cause brief discomfort or a small bruise but rarely lasting problems. EMG helps show whether a nerve problem has started to affect the muscle it feeds, which matters because long-standing muscle wasting recovers more slowly after surgery than sensory symptoms do.

Preparation is light. Mayo Clinic advises telling the testing team if you take blood thinners, have a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device, or have a bleeding disorder, and arriving with clean skin free of lotions or creams that could interfere with the electrodes. Wear clothing that lets the arm be bared to the shoulder.

The result does not by itself decide whether you need surgery. It gives your surgeon a baseline, helps rule out a problem higher up in the neck or elbow, and becomes a reference point if symptoms return later.

X-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT: which imaging shows what

People are sometimes surprised that a nerve problem leads to an X-ray, or that a broken bone leads to a CT after an X-ray has already been done. Each type of imaging answers a different question, and surgeons choose the one that answers the question in front of them.

Test	What it shows best	Typical reason before hand surgery	What it involves
X-ray	Bone alignment, fractures, arthritis, bone spurs	Fractures, joint disease, ruling out a bony cause of nerve symptoms	Seconds of low-dose radiation; no preparation
Ultrasound	Tendons, nerve thickness, cysts, fluid	Ganglion cysts, tendon tears, measuring a swollen median nerve	Gel and a handheld probe; no radiation
MRI	Ligaments, cartilage, soft-tissue masses, bone bruising	Wrist ligament injuries, unclear soft-tissue lumps	Lying still in a scanner; metal screening beforehand
CT	Complex fracture patterns in three dimensions	Planning fixation of a shattered wrist or scaphoid	Fast scan; more radiation than X-ray

Mayo Clinic notes that in suspected carpal tunnel syndrome an X-ray is used mainly to exclude other explanations such as arthritis or an old fracture, while ultrasound can directly show the median nerve and its surroundings. MRI is rarely needed for a straightforward trapped nerve but becomes valuable when the story does not fit or a mass is suspected.

Practical points: for MRI you will be asked about pacemakers, metal fragments, certain implants and claustrophobia. Ultrasound needs nothing beyond a bare forearm. If you have imaging from elsewhere, bring the report and, ideally, the images on disc or through a shared portal, because repeating scans costs time and, with X-ray and CT, adds radiation you do not need.

Who is usually offered hand surgery, and who is usually asked to wait

Surgery on the hand is rarely the first step. For most common conditions, from carpal tunnel syndrome to trigger finger to early thumb-base arthritis, guidelines and major health services describe a ladder that begins with non-surgical measures.

The NHS pathway for carpal tunnel syndrome, for example, starts with a wrist splint worn at night for at least four weeks, activity changes, and in some cases a steroid injection into the tunnel, before surgery is considered. People typically move toward an operation when symptoms persist despite these measures, when nerve tests show marked slowing, or when there are signs that the nerve is being damaged, such as constant numbness or thinning of the muscle at the base of the thumb. Fractures, tendon lacerations and infections sit outside this ladder because they often need prompt treatment, and the preparation window shrinks to hours or days.

Being asked to wait is common and usually has a specific reason behind it. A planned operation may be paused when:

• Blood sugar control is poor, because high glucose slows healing and raises infection risk.
• There is an active skin infection or open wound on the hand or arm.
• A recent heart event, stroke or new heart medicine means the anesthetic risk needs reassessing.
• Nerve tests are normal and the diagnosis is uncertain, so further tests are needed first.
• You are pregnant and symptoms are likely to ease after delivery, which the NHS notes is often the case with carpal tunnel syndrome.

A delay is not a rejection. It is the team stacking the odds toward a smooth operation and a hand that heals well. If you are asked to wait, it is fair to ask what specifically would need to change and how the team will know when it has.

Blood thinners and antiplatelets: the medicines that get the closest look

Ask any pre-assessment nurse which part of the medicine list they read twice, and the answer is the anticoagulants and antiplatelets. These are medicines that reduce the blood’s tendency to clot. Anticoagulants, such as warfarin and the newer direct oral anticoagulants, act on the clotting proteins; antiplatelets, such as aspirin and clopidogrel, make platelets less sticky. People take them to prevent strokes, protect stents, or treat clots in the legs or lungs.

The tension is obvious. Surgery causes bleeding, and a hand is a small, enclosed space where even modest bleeding can press on nerves or lift a skin flap. On the other side sits the reason the medicine was prescribed in the first place, and stopping it carries real risks of its own. Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus both list these medicines among those the surgical team must know about in advance, and the NHS is explicit that you should not stop any prescribed medicine before surgery unless your hospital tells you to.

What actually happens is a conversation. The surgeon weighs how much bleeding the specific procedure typically causes; many minor hand operations are done under local anesthetic with the hand raised and a tourniquet on the arm, which changes the calculation. The prescriber, often a cardiologist or hematologist, weighs the clotting risk. Between them they may decide the medicine continues throughout, is paused briefly, or is temporarily swapped for a shorter-acting alternative. Whatever the plan, it arrives in writing, with dates and a named contact.

Your job is to be complete and honest. That includes aspirin bought without a prescription, and it includes telling the team if you have missed doses or taken extra. It also means writing down who told you what, because instructions about these medicines cause more confusion than any other part of preparation.

Diabetes medicines, weight-loss injections and the fasting window

Fasting before anesthesia is one of the oldest rules in surgery, and it exists because a stomach with food in it can empty upward while you are sedated, sending contents toward the lungs. MedlinePlus notes that fasting instructions are set by the anesthesia team and depend on the type of anesthetic planned. A purely local procedure may allow a normal breakfast; sedation or general anesthesia will not.

Fasting is exactly what makes diabetes medicines a focus. Insulin and sulfonylureas lower blood glucose whether or not you have eaten, so a normal dose on an empty stomach can drive sugar dangerously low. Other classes matter for different reasons. SGLT2 inhibitors, which lower glucose by making the kidneys excrete it, have been associated with a form of ketoacidosis during fasting and illness, and many anesthesia services ask about them specifically. Metformin is usually less of a concern for short procedures but still needs to be on the list. The pre-assessment team, ideally with your diabetes clinician, gives you a plan that says what to take, what to hold, and when to check your glucose. That plan is personal; do not borrow one from a friend.

A newer question involves GLP-1 receptor agonists, the once-weekly injections used for type 2 diabetes and increasingly for weight management. They slow the emptying of the stomach, which is part of how they reduce appetite, and anesthesia bodies have raised the concern that food may still be present after a standard fast. Guidance is still developing, and practice varies between teams. The evidence-based position today is that you must tell the team you use one, when you last injected, and whether you have nausea or bloating, and then let the anesthetist decide on timing.

If you use a glucose monitor or insulin pump, bring it, along with its settings, on the day.

Anti-inflammatories, steroids, immune medicines and supplements

After the blood thinners, the medicine review widens to a group people often forget to mention because they do not think of them as medicines.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen and naproxen, ease pain by blocking enzymes involved in inflammation, and the same action makes platelets slightly less effective. For a small procedure this is usually manageable, but the team wants to know. Acetaminophen works differently and is generally not a bleeding concern, though it still goes on the list.

Oral steroids such as prednisolone, taken for asthma, inflammatory arthritis or bowel disease, suppress the body’s own cortisol production. Surgery is a stress, and a body that cannot mount a cortisol response may struggle with blood pressure. Anesthetists often give extra cover around the operation for people on long-term steroids, which is another reason to declare them.

People with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis are frequently referred for hand surgery, and many take methotrexate, other disease-modifying drugs, or biologic injections that dampen the immune system. Here the team balances infection risk against the risk of a flare that could undo the benefit of the operation. Rheumatology guidance generally supports continuing some agents and briefly pausing others, timed around dosing cycles, and the decision belongs jointly to the surgeon and the rheumatologist.

Supplements deserve their own line on the form. Fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo and ginger have all been reported to affect platelet function or clotting, and St John’s wort interacts with a wide range of anesthetic and pain medicines. The NHS advises bringing a full list, including herbal and over-the-counter products, to pre-assessment. If in doubt, put it on the list and let the team decide it is irrelevant.

What to expect before hand surgery at the pre-assessment visit

Pre-assessment can happen in person, by phone or through an online questionnaire, and for a minor procedure under local anesthetic it may be brief. For anything involving sedation or a general anesthetic, expect a longer conversation.

The nurse or doctor will go through your medical history in more detail than the surgeon did: heart and lung conditions, previous anesthetics and any reactions, sleep apnea, reflux, smoking, alcohol, and whether anyone in your family has had a problem with anesthesia. Allergies are recorded with what actually happened, because a rash and anaphylaxis are handled very differently.

Tests depend on your age, health and the anesthetic planned. According to the NHS, these may include blood tests, a heart tracing (ECG), blood pressure and, in some cases, a swab to check for bacteria on the skin or in the nose that could complicate wound healing. Many healthy people having a small procedure need none of these.

Practical instructions arrive at this visit, usually in writing:

• When to stop eating and drinking, if fasting applies to your anesthetic.
• Which medicines to take on the morning of surgery and which to hold.
• Skin care, such as washing with a particular soap and avoiding creams on the arm.
• Removing rings and nail polish from the operative hand; a ring left on a swelling finger is a genuine problem.
• Arranging a responsible adult to take you home and, after sedation or general anesthesia, to stay with you overnight.

Smoking comes up because nicotine narrows small blood vessels and slows wound and bone healing. The NHS encourages stopping before any surgery and can direct you to support. Ask about it rather than waiting to be asked.

This is the visit for questions you were too rushed to ask the surgeon. Write them down beforehand.

Local, regional or general anesthesia: how the choice shapes your prep

The type of anesthetic decides much of what preparation looks like, and hand surgery offers more choice than most specialties.

Local anesthesia numbs only the operative area with an injection near the incision. Many carpal tunnel releases, trigger finger releases and small cyst removals are done this way. The NHS notes that carpal tunnel surgery is usually performed under local anesthetic and typically takes around 20 minutes, with the patient going home the same day. You are awake, you can talk, and in a growing number of units the local anesthetic includes a medicine that constricts blood vessels, allowing surgery without an arm tourniquet. Fasting is often not required, and most regular medicines continue, but only your team can confirm that.

Regional anesthesia numbs the whole arm by injecting local anesthetic around the nerves near the collarbone or armpit, often guided by ultrasound. It suits longer procedures such as fracture fixation or tendon repair. You may also receive sedation to help you relax. Because sedation affects the airway, fasting rules usually apply, and you will need someone to take you home. The arm may stay numb and floppy for many hours afterward; protecting it from knocks and heat during that time is part of your instructions.

General anesthesia puts you fully to sleep and is used for complex, lengthy or bilateral operations, for children, and for people who cannot tolerate being awake. Preparation is the most involved: full fasting, careful medicine review, and an escort who stays with you overnight, as MedlinePlus describes.

Risks differ. Local anesthesia carries the fewest systemic effects; regional blocks carry a small risk of temporary nerve irritation; general anesthesia carries risks related to breathing and the heart. The anesthetist will recommend an option based on the operation and your health, and you can express a preference.

Setting up home and work for a one-handed stretch

The clinical side of preparation ends at the hospital door. The practical side begins at home, and it is the part people most often underestimate, especially when the operation is on the dominant hand.

Start with the first 48 hours. Your hand will be bandaged, possibly splinted, and you will be asked to keep it raised above heart level as much as possible to limit swelling. Pillows on the sofa and beside the bed make that realistic. Pre-cook or buy meals that can be eaten with one hand, open packaging in advance, and move frequently used items to counter height so you are not reaching into cupboards with a bandaged arm.

Then think about the ordinary tasks that quietly need two hands:

• Fastenings: slip-on shoes, elastic waistbands, front-fastening tops.
• Hygiene: a waterproof cast cover or a sturdy bag and tape for showering, and a plan for washing the other hand.
• Kitchen: jar openers, a non-slip mat, a kettle that is not overfilled.
• Care roles: young children, pets, or a relative you lift or support need cover arranged.

Driving deserves a blunt sentence. You cannot drive home after any sedation or general anesthetic, and with a bandaged or splinted hand you may not be able to control the car safely or legally for some time afterward. Ask your team when driving is reasonable for your specific operation and check with your insurer; do not assume.

Work depends entirely on what you do. The NHS advises that after carpal tunnel release, return to work varies with the job, and heavier manual work takes longer than desk work. Talk to your employer early about adjusted duties and get a fit note from the team if needed.

Finally, line up a second adult. Even a confident person is glad of company on the first evening.

Hand surgery recovery time: what the first days and weeks usually look like

Timelines vary with the operation, so treat the following as a shape rather than a schedule, and follow the dates your own team gives you.

The first two or three days are about swelling and protection. Elevation, gentle movement of the fingers that are not splinted, and the pain plan your team provided. Numbness from a regional block wears off over hours; pain usually peaks in the first day or two and then eases. The dressing generally stays dry and intact until the first clinic check.

The first two weeks bring the wound check and often stitch removal. The NHS notes that after carpal tunnel release, a bandage is typically worn for a couple of weeks. For tendon repairs, this is when a therapist fits a protective splint and begins a graded exercise program, because a repaired tendon that never moves becomes stuck, while one that moves too hard can rupture. Hand therapy is not an optional extra; it is half the treatment.

Weeks two to six are about rebuilding. Light daily tasks return first. The NHS states that after carpal tunnel surgery it can take about a month to get back to normal activities, with grip strength and scar tenderness improving over a longer period. Fractures fixed with plates or screws often follow a slower course as the bone knits, guided by follow-up X-rays.

Beyond six weeks, most people are doing most things, but scar sensitivity, stiffness in cold weather and pillar pain at the base of the palm can linger for months. Numbness that was constant before surgery improves most slowly, because nerves regrow gradually; your pre-operative nerve study helps the team set expectations here.

Two facts hold across almost every hand operation: swelling is the enemy of movement, and movement within the limits you are given is the friend of a good result.

Risks and alternatives, in plain language

A good consent conversation covers what can go wrong and what else could be done, and preparation is the time to have it properly rather than on the morning of surgery.

The risks common to most hand operations are infection, bleeding or bruising, a tender or thickened scar, stiffness, and a period of numbness around the incision. Less common but important are injury to a nerve or tendon near the operative site, incomplete relief of symptoms, recurrence of the original problem, and complex regional pain syndrome, an uncommon condition of persistent pain, swelling and sensitivity that can follow injury or surgery to a limb. Mayo Clinic and the NHS list these in their patient material for carpal tunnel release, and similar lists apply to other procedures. Anesthetic risks, from nausea to rare serious reactions, sit alongside these. Your surgeon should tell you how each applies to your operation and your health; a smoker with diabetes and a person in good health do not carry the same risk of wound problems.

Alternatives depend on the condition. For compressed nerves and trigger finger, splinting, activity change and steroid injection are established options; the NHS describes injections as often effective for a period of weeks or months, with symptoms sometimes returning. For thumb-base arthritis, splints, injections and therapy come before surgery. For fractures, a cast may be a reasonable choice instead of fixation when the bone is well aligned. Doing nothing is also an alternative, and for some people with mild, stable symptoms it is a sensible one.

Neutral does not mean indecisive. When nerve tests show significant damage, or a tendon is cut, waiting has its own cost, and your surgeon will say so. The decision, weighed with your goals and your circumstances, sits with you and your treating team.

What people often get wrong about preparing for hand surgery

Some misunderstandings show up in almost every pre-assessment clinic. Correcting them early saves cancellations and worry.

“It is only a small operation, so I do not need to mention my tablets.” Size of incision has little to do with medicine safety. A blood thinner, a diabetes medicine or a steroid matters just as much for a 20-minute procedure as for a long one, and the team can only plan around what it knows.

“I should stop my blood thinner myself to be safe.” This is the most dangerous myth on the list. Stopping without a plan can lead to a stroke or a clot, and the NHS is explicit that prescribed medicines should continue unless the hospital says otherwise. The safe version is: tell, then follow written instructions.

“Nerve tests hurt terribly.” Most people describe a nerve conduction study as odd and briefly uncomfortable; MedlinePlus calls the impulses mild. The needle part of an EMG can sting, but the electrodes are very fine and the discomfort is short.

“A normal X-ray means nothing is wrong.” X-rays show bone. Nerves, tendons and ligaments are invisible on them, which is why different tests are ordered for different suspected problems.

“Surgery will fix everything immediately.” Tingling that comes and goes often eases quickly after nerve release, but constant numbness and muscle wasting recover slowly, and sometimes only partly. Your pre-operative nerve study is the honest guide.

“I can drive myself home from a local anesthetic.” Even without sedation, a numb, bandaged hand cannot safely grip a wheel. Arrange a lift regardless of anesthetic type.

“Supplements are natural, so they do not count.” Several common supplements affect clotting or interact with anesthetic drugs. List them all.

Questions to ask your care team

Bring these to the surgeon’s clinic and to pre-assessment, and write the answers down. A relative or friend in the room helps, because people remember surprisingly little from medical appointments.

About the diagnosis and tests:

• What did my nerve conduction study or EMG show, and how does it affect what you expect from surgery?
• Do I need imaging, and if so which type and why?
• Is there anything in my results that suggests I should wait or try something else first?

About the operation:

• Which anesthetic do you recommend for me, and can I choose?
• How long will the procedure take, and will I go home the same day?
• What are the specific risks for my hand and my health, and how often do they occur in your experience?
• What are the non-surgical alternatives, and what happens if I do nothing?

About medicines:

• Which of my medicines, supplements and inhalers do I continue, and which will you ask me to pause? Can I have that in writing with dates?
• Who is coordinating the plan for my blood thinner or diabetes medicine, and whom do I call with questions?
• What pain plan will I go home with?

About afterward:

• When is my first follow-up, and who removes the dressing or stitches?
• Will I see a hand therapist, and when do exercises start?
• When can I drive, shower normally, type, lift, and return to my particular job?
• What signs mean I should call, and which number do I use out of hours?

One more question is worth asking directly: “What would you want a family member to know before this operation?” Surgeons tend to answer that one plainly.

When to call your doctor

Most people preparing for or recovering from hand surgery never need an urgent call, but knowing the red flags means you will not hesitate if one appears.

Before surgery, contact the team promptly if you develop a fever, a cough or chest infection, a skin infection or open sore on the arm, or a new health problem such as chest pain, breathlessness or a suspected clot. Call as well if you have taken a medicine you were asked to hold, missed one you were asked to take, or are unsure about any instruction. It is far better to ask than to arrive and be cancelled, or worse, to proceed unsafely.

After surgery, seek same-day advice, or emergency care if severe, for any of the following:

• Pain that is escalating despite your pain plan, or pain out of proportion to the operation.
• Fingers that become pale, blue, cold or increasingly numb, or that you cannot move when you previously could; this can mean a dressing or splint is too tight or a circulation problem.
• Bleeding that soaks through the dressing and does not settle with elevation and pressure.
• Spreading redness, warmth, pus, an offensive smell, or a fever with chills.
• Calf pain or swelling, sudden breathlessness or chest pain, which can signal a clot in the leg or lung.
• A wound that opens, or a splint that cracks or slips so the repair is unprotected.

These are the signs the NHS and Mayo Clinic highlight in their post-operative guidance, and they are the ones surgical teams would rather hear about early. Keep the number you were given somewhere visible, and if you cannot reach the team and the problem is severe, use emergency services. Every decision about what happens next belongs with the people who operated on you and who can see your hand.

Frequently asked questions

What to expect before hand surgery if I have never had an operation?

Expect three things: tests to confirm the diagnosis, a pre-assessment visit to check you are safe for anesthesia, and written instructions about fasting, medicines and transport. For a minor procedure under local anesthetic the process may be a single phone call; for sedation or general anesthesia it usually involves an in-person review and possibly blood tests or a heart tracing.

Is a nerve conduction study before surgery always necessary?

Not always, but it is commonly requested for suspected nerve compression such as carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome. It confirms where the nerve is slowed, helps exclude a problem higher in the arm or neck, and shows how severe the compression is, which shapes what improvement to expect. For fractures, tendon injuries or cysts it is usually not needed.

Which medicines to stop before hand surgery?

None on your own. Your team reviews every medicine, and any pause is decided by the surgeon and prescriber together and given to you in writing with dates. Medicines that receive the closest attention include blood thinners, antiplatelets, insulin and other diabetes drugs, steroids, immune-modulating medicines and supplements that affect clotting. Continuing as instructed is as important as pausing when told.

How long is hand surgery recovery time for common procedures?

It depends on the operation. The NHS states that after carpal tunnel release a bandage is worn for a couple of weeks and normal activities usually return in about a month, with grip and scar comfort improving over longer. Tendon repairs and fracture fixations follow slower, therapist-guided timelines. Constant numbness present before surgery recovers most slowly because nerves regrow gradually.

Does an EMG hurt?

It is uncomfortable rather than painful for most people. The nerve conduction part uses mild electrical pulses that feel like brief taps or static shocks. The EMG part uses a very fine needle placed into muscle, which can sting briefly and occasionally leaves a small bruise. Mayo Clinic notes that serious complications are rare, and no recovery time is needed.

Will I need to fast if my surgery is under local anesthetic?

Often not, but the anesthesia team decides, and instructions differ between units and procedures. Fasting protects the lungs if you become sedated or need a general anesthetic unexpectedly. Some teams ask for a light meal only; others impose full fasting whenever sedation is a possibility. Follow the written instruction you receive, and ask if anything is unclear.

Can I have imaging done elsewhere and bring it?

Usually yes, and it can save time and avoid repeat radiation. Bring the written report and the images themselves, either on disc or through an image-sharing portal, rather than a printed picture. Your surgeon may still request additional views or a different type of scan if the earlier imaging does not answer the specific question relevant to planning your operation.

What happens if I have a cold on the day of surgery?

Tell the team as soon as symptoms start rather than on arrival. A mild cold may not affect a local-anesthetic procedure, but a chest infection, fever or productive cough usually means postponing anything involving sedation or general anesthesia, because airway irritability raises anesthetic risk. The team will decide and can often rebook quickly.

Why does my surgeon want me to stop smoking before hand surgery?

Nicotine narrows small blood vessels and carbon monoxide reduces oxygen delivery, both of which slow skin and bone healing and raise infection risk. Hand surgery depends on small vessels and precise healing, so the effect is noticeable. The NHS recommends stopping before any operation and can connect you with support; even a short break helps, and any reduction counts.

Do I need someone with me after hand surgery?

Yes for transport in every case, and for overnight company after sedation or a general anesthetic. MedlinePlus advises a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you because judgment and coordination can be impaired for a day. Even after a local anesthetic, a numb, bandaged hand makes driving unsafe and the first evening easier with help.

References

• NHS: Having an operation (surgery), preparation
• NHS: Carpal tunnel syndrome
• MedlinePlus: Nerve conduction velocity
• MedlinePlus: Anesthesia

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.