The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Peripheral nerve release
Peripheral nerve release can relieve pain or numbness in your hands, arms, legs or feet caused by pinched nerves.
What is nerve release surgery?
Peripheral nerves run from your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to control movement and sensation in your muscles and limbs.
If a nerve becomes pinched due to an injury or condition, it can cause pain, tingling or a lack of sensation. A surgical procedure can relieve these symptoms.
Need to know
Your procedure will depend on the cause and type of peripheral nerve condition you have. Common procedures include:
- ulnar decompression (elbow)
- peroneal decompression (knee)
- median nerve decompression (wrist) — also known as carpal tunnel surgery.
Surgery involves releasing the pinched nerve from the surrounding tissue that's compressing it. This can often be done as a minimally invasive procedure, which can offer instant relief and a faster recovery. Your consultant will recommend the best approach for you.
Surgery may be done using local or general anaesthetic, depending on the area and complexity of the procedure.
Your consultant will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. They'll let you know what you need to do to prepare, including how long you may need to avoid eating or drinking beforehand.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you.
Depending on the procedure you've had, you may need to be cared for in hospital overnight. Your consultant will let you know what to expect. It can take a couple of months to fully recover from peripheral nerve release surgery.
Your consultant may recommend physiotherapy exercises to help rebuild your strength and range of movement. They'll also let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, including work or exercise.
Mr Marco Sinisi - Peripheral Nerve Specialist
At HCA Healthcare UK, we work with leading consultants to enable access to the the latest techniques and treatment.
Mr Marco Sinisi is our lead consultant for Peripheral Nerve Injuries based at The Wellington Hospital. Mr Sinisi has a comprehensive knowledge of nerve injuries and has experience in a wide range of nerve problems from trauma through to sports injuries. He is experienced in managing complex nerve conditions as well as performing complex nerve operations.
Paying for medical treatment
You don't need medical insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our Peripheral nerve release locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
Beaufort House WD6 3BS Elstree
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.