"Finger flexibility is key for recovery after carpal tunnel surgery," says Dr. The timetable for post-surgery recovery can vary, depending on the severity of your condition, how smoothly the healing process goes and how well you rehabilitate your hand. It's also important to restrict heavy lifting.
Immediately after the procedure, it's important to keep the incision clean and dry for two weeks. In some cases, the severity of your condition may make the decision for you, since open surgery is sometimes required to see if there is something else in the tunnel compressing the median nerve." What to expect during carpal tunnel surgery recovery? "Some people simply prefer one over the other. "Which surgical option is best for you typically depends," explains Dr. Open surgery – it uses an incision made along the palm side of the wrist to access and cut the carpal ligament.Endoscopic surgery – also referred to as minimally invasive surgery, it uses one or two small incisions and a tiny camera to guide surgical tools to the carpal ligament and cut it.There are two ways carpal tunnel surgery is performed: "This is why the surgery is also sometimes called carpal tunnel release." "During carpal tunnel surgery, pressure on the median nerve is relieved by cutting the transverse carpal tunnel ligament, which essentially releases the ligament so that the passageway is more open and there is more room for the median nerve," says Dr. "Of course, we may also recommend surgery if your clinical exam or test results indicate that we need to intervene before your condition get worse." What is carpal tunnel surgery? "If your pain is continuous and has progressed to the point that it's interrupting your everyday life, it's likely time for surgery," explains Dr. Alexander says it's time to consider surgery when conservative approaches aren't enough or if the severity is a concern. "Carpal tunnel syndrome can progress and become severe, potentially leading to loss of dexterity, sensation, and fine motor skills."ĭr. "If your symptoms are getting worse or aren't improving with treatment, it's important to let your doctor know," explains Dr. Left untreated, severe carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage. "If the condition appears severe or if the patient is having significant symptoms, that's when we start to consider surgery," says Dr. Corticosteroid injections may be recommended for temporary symptomatic relief. These tests help determine the appropriate treatment, both the conservative course to be followed initially but also possible other options if more aggressive steps ultimately need to be taken.įor instance, if carpal tunnel syndrome is mild, initial treatment may include wrist splinting, anti-inflammatory medications and occupational therapy. "The first step to treating carpal tunnel syndrome is to use electromyography (EMG) and neuroconductive testing to determine the severity of the syndrome and whether there's compression elsewhere," says Dr.
What carpal tunnel syndrome treatment options are available? "There's a lot of variety in how carpal tunnel syndrome presents from person to person, so it's important to be evaluated so you can understand what the best course of action is for your specific situation," says Dr. And the symptoms can range from mild to severe and be felt only now and then or more often than not. "This can lead to uncomfortable symptoms felt in the arm, hand, wrist and fingers and potentially even permanent nerve damage in severe cases."Ī person can have carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands or just one, either the dominant hand or the non-dominant one. Jamie Alexander, a hand orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist. "Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when your median nerve - which runs down your forearm and into your hand, where it helps provide sensation and muscle movement in the palm side of some of your fingers - becomes compressed as it travels through a passageway in your wrist called the carpal tunnel," says Dr. The tingling and numbness that accompanies carpal tunnel syndrome may start gradually and be only mildly annoying, but it can progress to debilitating pain or weakness, sometimes despite taking steps to alleviate it.īut how do you know when it's time to consider carpal tunnel surgery?
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