When should you consider surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome?
When should you consider surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects your hand and is
caused by excessive pressure on the median nerve that runs through the wrist.
The median nerve goes all the way down our arm into our hand through the carpal
tunnel, which is located on the underside of the wrist. The nerve has pretty
important functions, like controlling the movement and feeling of our thumbs
and fingers, except the little finger. The carpal tunnel provides not only a
passage for the median nerve but also allows your fingers to bend properly.
However, when the wrist is overworked and the pressure on the median
nerve and the tunnel increases, there is a tingling in the hands and some
numbness and before you realize it, the entire arm goes into agony and pain and
does not allow your hand to function properly. The situation is termed carpal
tunnel syndrome.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition. It may appear a minor inconvenience for some individuals who do not experience severe symptoms like pain, numbness, weakness or other symptoms that accompany carpal tunnel syndrome. But the condition can become debilitating for some individuals experiencing severe symptoms and in such cases, the individual may require Wide Dog Collar
A research published by NCBI states that -
Most people with carpal tunnel
syndrome only consider having surgery if other treatments don't provide enough
relief. Surgery can help relieve symptoms or make them go away for good, but it
is not without risks.
Source-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279597/
Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery
If the pressure on the carpal tunnel is
mild and the nerve is not damaged much, non-surgical treatment options can be a
viable and successful option. But in most cases, carpal tunnel syndrome becomes
more severe with time and more activity of the wrist. In situations like this,
surgery becomes a more appropriate option. The goal of carpal tunnel release
surgery is to relieve the pressure on the median nerve by cutting the ligaments
that pass from over the nerve. After the surgery, the ligaments gradually grow
back together while making room for the nerve to pass freely.
When performed by an adept team of
orthopedic surgeons, the median nerve is decompressed successfully, and the
internal healing process is completed in a few weeks as well.
Minimally invasive Carpal Tunnel Surgery
with Endoscopic approach
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery is an innovative and
minimally invasive procedure that uses an endoscope (a thin, specialized device
with a camera attached on one end), inserted through a small incision at the
wrist. The endoscope lets the surgeon clearly view and directly access the
internal structures of the wrist, such as the transverse carpal ligament,
making a long incision on the wrist.
During endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, the carpal ligament is cut,
which releases pressure on the median nerve, and relieves the symptoms of
carpal tunnel syndrome. The gap where the carpal ligament was cut will
eventually fill with scar tissue, while maintaining the sufficient space of the
carpal tunnel. Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery allows faster recovery
and less postoperative pain and discomfort than open carpal tunnel surgery. The
procedure is performed under the influence of general or local anesthesia and
does not require a long hospital stay. During the recovery process, the
Arm Blaster tissues slowly grow back together, with more room for the median
nerve.
How
effective is Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?
Each year, over 4,00,000 carpal tunnel surgeries
are performed across the world and the prognosis is usually very positive.
Most individuals
who undergo carpal tunnel release surgery report to have complete relief from
pain, tingling and other symptoms. With regular physiotherapy, most patients
regain maximum to full strength of the hand, wrist and fingers that was previously
compromised. They also report little to no pain and numbness in their hand and
better hand function after complete recovery.
There are a few
things that can determine the effectiveness of this surgery. The orthopedic
surgeon’s experience is one major factor. To gain maximum benefits from carpal
tunnel surgery, it is recommended to choose an experienced and skilled
orthopedic surgeon and a trusted healthcare provider.
What nonsurgical treatments should I try for carpal tunnel syndrome before considering surgery?
To decide a proper treatment plan for you, the orthopedic specialist
will perform a detailed diagnosis to ensure that the cause of the symptoms is
carpal tunnel syndrome and also find out the severity of the condition and how
it is affecting the individual’s life. Generally,the severity of the symptoms guide the treatment.
For mild to moderate symptoms, the orthopedic doctor will suggest a number of
nonsurgical strategies that may help your hand and wrist feel better. Your
orthopedic doctor will tell you which treatment is right for you.
Nonsurgical
treatments and strategies to manage mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome
●
Rest- If you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome due to repetitive
use of hand or wrist or stress from a repetitive activity like manual operation
of machinery equipment or typing, it may be possible to recover by avoiding
those activities for some weeks. Your orthopedic specialist will discuss your
daily habits and lifestyle to determine which actions or activities might be
straining your wrist, and how to modify them.
●
Wearing a wrist brace- Another nonsurgical treatment for mild to
moderate carpal tunnel syndrome is wearing a wrist brace or splint. You can easily get a wrist splint in local
medical stores. Follow your orthopedist’s directions regarding how long you
should be wearing the splint each day. In some cases, the orthopedic doctor may
recommend wearing the wrist splint even while sleeping.
● Steroid injections- An injection of
cortisone (a steroid solution), near the carpal tunnel area can help reduce the
pain and swelling. These steroid injections can provide immediate pain relief
for most patients but some may also experience that a bit later. Some
individuals also report no relief at all with steroid injections. If you are
interested, your orthopedist will discuss special precautions and potential
complications of the injections and whether or not you should consider them.
● Stretching and strengthening-
Physiotherapy and exercises can help in improving wrist and forearm mobility.
Most individuals with mild to moderate carpal tunnel symptoms find relief with
weeks of regular physiotherapy. However, individuals seeking prompt relief
should speak to their doctor about surgery.
● Use an ice pack- Use an ice pack for your
wrist for 10 -15 minutes. Repeat the same 1 or 2 times every hour if you are
having severe pain.
● Keeping the wrist in a neutral position
at night- for individuals with more serious symptoms, the doctor may recommend
to keep the wrist straight by wearing a wrist splint while sleeping.
● Anti-inflammatory medications can relieve pain and reduce swelling, but should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor.
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