What You Should Know About Carpal Tunnel Surgery

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by Tom Nicholson

Thousands of Americans are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome as we speak. It is a condition that plagues legions of office workers, construction workers, artists and musicians alike! It leaves many who are afflicted with this condition to seek some form of medical treatment, pain reliever or even surgery!

Unfortunately many sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome think surgery is a quick fix. In this they would be wrong as with any surgical procedure there are risks involved and serious consideration should be taken prior to making the decision to take such action. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve. This nerve travels the length of the arm and increased compression can cause the arm ligaments to become fused together. This problem is the focus of the surgery.

It could be worth having surgery for if your job depends on you to have effective use of your hands. Many who type at the keyboard, throw a baseball or work construction for a living cannot afford to be down for too long. For them, surgery may be an option. However, one must think about the consequences of surgery and whether or not they are willing to make some improvements in the way they work.

The surgery itself is not very complicated and takes only a few hours. It can be done with a twilight anesthetic and is as un-invasive as a surgery can be. However, any surgery can be risky no matter where it is. The hand is a delicate part of the body and one should be careful when considering having surgery on it.

The procedure involves the cutting of the transverse carpal ligament to sever it completely and in doing so relieve the pressure on the median nerve. The patient feels relief immediately but it takes two to six weeks for a complete recovery. There will be loss of work time even if you choose the surgical route.

Doctors often recommend physical therapy as a first line of defense to avoid taking the risks of surgery. Stretching exercises are very helpful in coping with the pain and discomfort associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Before thinking about surgery, there are exercises and stretches you can do with your wrists and arms to stretch the transverse carpal ligament and relieve the pain naturally. Through several days of doing these, you should feel some relieve. However, if you’ve already gone down this path and had little results, surgery might be right for you. Regardless of how you handle your carpal tunnel syndrome, make sure you work on good posture, some sort of stretching, and that you get at least two opinions so that you know your full range of options.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is not a pleasant experience for anyone, especially those who take a lot of pride in their work. That is why it is important to treat your carpal tunnel syndrome right away!

About the Author:

Before submitting to invasive surgery, there are things doctor’s might not tell you about carpal tunnel syndrome. Because of the nature of repetitive stress injuries such as CTS, surgery is not always the best option. There are many exercises and lifestyle adjustments that a sufferer will benefit from over carpal tunnel surgery.

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