Have you or someone you know been feeling numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand and wrist? These could be signs of a common hand and wrist problem called carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can turn everyday tasks into a painful ordeal. If you’re facing this issue, you’re likely wondering if surgery is your only option for relief.
In this article, we will discuss the full range of carpal tunnel syndrome treatment options and when surgery is necessary to fix carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
CTS happens when the median nerve in your wrist gets squeezed, causing problems with feeling and movement in your thumb and fingers. This can happen because of repetitive hand movements or other health conditions like diabetes or arthritis.
The symptoms are tingling, numbness, and pain in your hand, which can make it hard to do ordinary daily things and affect how well you live your life. It’s best to catch these signs early, so you can manage them well and not have long-term damage to your nerves.
Signs You Might Have CTS
If you’re feeling weird sensations like numbness, tingling, or pain in your thumb and the first three fingers, or if your hand starts to feel weak and dropping things becomes a common occurrence, you might have CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Without Surgery
Thankfully, not everyone with CTS needs surgery. There are several ways to treat CTS without undergoing surgery:
- Rest and Ice: Sometimes, simply resting your wrist and using ice packs can reduce swelling and pain.
- Wrist Splint: Wearing a splint at night can help keep your wrist straight and relieve the nighttime symptoms of CTS such as numbness and tingling.
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help manage the pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Exercises: Certain stretching and strengthening exercises can ease symptoms. A physical therapist can show you the best exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment.
- Changes at Work: Modifying your workspace to make sure your wrists aren’t bent for long periods can really help. This might include ergonomic keyboards or mousepads.
When Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment is Needed
Surgery is typically seen as a last resort for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s only recommended for people whose symptoms are really bad and affecting their daily life, and who haven’t found relief from non-surgical treatments.
The goal of surgery is to release the pressure on the median nerve by cutting a ligament in the wrist, which can help ease symptoms. There are two main ways to perform the surgery: open or endoscopic.
Open Surgery
In this method, the hand surgeon will make a small cut in your hand to reach the ligament pressing on your median nerve. This helps to reduce pressure and gives more room for the nerve. This technique to release the carpal tunnel has been used for many years and is very successful.
Endoscopic Surgery
Endoscopic surgery is a newer way to release the carpal tunnel. The hand surgeon uses a small camera that goes in through tiny cuts in the wrist or palm.
The hand surgeon watches the camera video on a screen and carefully cuts the ligament with special tools. This method is not as invasive as open surgery, so you may have less pain and recover faster after the surgical procedure.
Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery
Recovery after carpal tunnel syndrome surgery can be different for each person. It depends on the patient’s overall health, how severe the carpal tunnel was before surgery, and what type of surgery they had.
After surgery, it’s important to rest your hand and keep it raised to reduce swelling. You should also avoid doing anything too straining with your hand for a few weeks.
You can start moving your hand again soon after surgery, but it might take a few months to fully recover and get back the strength in your hand.
Your hand surgeon may suggest physical therapy as part of your recovery plan. A physical therapist will give you an exercise routine selected just for you. The exercises will help you move your wrist and hand better, make your muscles stronger, and help you get back normal use of your hand again.
It’s important to follow the instructions for taking care of yourself after surgery and go to your follow-up appointments with the surgeon. This helps make sure you’re healing well and can get any problems that come up during recovery addressed in a timely manner.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment in Westminster
Do you experience discomfort and numbness from carpal tunnel syndrome? At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, we know how important your hands are for everyday tasks, like typing or driving.
Our team of expert orthopedic surgeons specializes in procedures such as carpal tunnel release to relieve hand pain and restore function.
To learn more about us or set up an appointment with our hand surgeon, call today at (410) 296-6232 or fill out our appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
