Avoiding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery

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by Tom Nicholson

If you happen to have a job where you constantly use your wrists and hands, you may be familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome. You may be all too familiar with the tightening in your wrist and forearm, the numbness and tingling, and even pain. You may even wake up in the night with these sensations, leaving you to wonder what you can possibly do about it.

To understand what carpal tunnel syndrome does, you need to learn about the physiology of your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed. This debilitating and sometimes painful condition usually needs some type of treatment to make it better.

This problem can be terrible for those who need to use their hands and arms every day to work. Typists, data entry clerks, and others who work on computers know that carpal tunnel can make you lose your job. Those who paint houses, work in construction or even style hair for a living may be under similar pressure. Most people just take it for granted that their hands and wrists will always do exactly what they need to do. It comes as a surprise to them when they begin feeling numbness or pain.

Surgery is often recommended for those who are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery may be done under local or regional anesthesia. During surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. This ligament passes horizontally around all the other ligaments that run vertically from the arm to the hand. The theory is that cutting this ligament will release the compression on the median nerve. The transverse carpal ligament will then fuse together more loosely with scar tissue, making more room for the nerves and ligaments.

Surgery outcomes cannot be predicted, and when you are dealing with a delicate area like the wrist, it can become complicated. Carpal tunnel surgery and rehabilitation may cost up to $10,000, plus all the time you will need to recover properly. You may also find that you lose strength in your wrist or arm.

Preventing and relieving carpal tunnel syndrome is much easier than you think. To start, you should take some time off from doing what you are doing to cause your pain. Even if this is only a couple of days, the time off will help. Simple wrist exercises to stretch the transverse carpal ligament can be done to ease the pressure on the other ligaments. Work with a physical therapist to find the right stretches that work for you and you should see results almost immediately. Always use surgery as a last resort.

Preventing carpal tunnel is fairly easy. With only a little effort, the stretches and exercises will reduce the compression of your median nerve so you can avoid surgery.

About the Author:

Many carpal tunnel sufferers resort to surgery to try when looking for relief from their pain. However, what some doctors don’t tell you is that invasive surgery doesn’t always alleviate all of your symptoms and can actually create more pain. Follow this link to learn about avoiding carpal tunnel surgery.

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