Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood has revealed he will need surgery to treat a "severe" health condition he has been battling for more than 12 years. On Saturday (October 10), the 60-year-old celebrity chef took to Instagram to explain why he was recently spotted wearing a wrist support while leaving the airport.
Hollywood disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), a common condition caused by pressure on the median nerve as it passes through a narrow, rigid passageway of bones and ligaments in the wrist, known as the carpal tunnel.
Diagnosis and Cause
In a video shared with fans on social media, Hollywood said: "A quick chat. There was a pap at the airport when I got back from holiday. They caught me with one of these straps on. I normally wear them on both, to be honest."
"Basically, I've got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I was diagnosed about 12 years ago now. It's severe in both hands, and it's down to my job, basically, from working on the table with dough, manipulating dough for over 30 years," he added.
"So occasionally it flares up, and I wear a brace," he continued. The TV presenter noted that his condition worsened recently when he hit the top of his hand during a race-car test drive while steering the wheel too quickly.
Surgery Plans and Fan Support
Hollywood said the wrist and arm supports help him recover during flare-ups. While he has previously delayed the operation due to fear of the procedure and his active hobbies, the GBBO star said he will ultimately "have to bite the bullet soon and get the operation done on both of my hands."
Fans quickly flooded the comments section with well-wishes. One user wrote: "Aww, that sucks, Paul. Get well soon," while another reassured him: "I've had the surgery. Well worth it."
Another warned: "Don't wait on surgery. It's simple and prevents more permanent nerve damage and muscle wasting." A third commented: "I had the same thing from years of baking. Got surgery on both and now it's way better. It is a super easy one-day thing, in and out. Go do it, Paul, you will wonder why you waited too long."
NHS Guidance on CTS
The NHS explains that symptoms of CTS include an ache or pain in your fingers, hand or arm, numb hands, tingling or pins and needles, and a weak thumb or difficulty gripping. Wearing a wrist splint or doing hand exercises may also help, but if symptoms worsen and other treatments don't work, patients may be referred to a specialist to discuss surgical options.
On their official website, they state: "Surgery usually cures CTS. You and your specialist will decide together if it's the right treatment for you. An injection numbs your wrist so you do not feel pain (local anaesthetic), and a small cut is made in your hand. The carpal tunnel inside your wrist is cut so it no longer puts pressure on the nerve. The operation takes around 20 minutes, and you do not have to stay in the hospital overnight. It can take a month after the operation to get back to normal activities."
