Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

If you have carpal tunnel pain that persists for at least 6 months and have tried several other treatment options to no avail, then it should be time to consider carpal tunnel surgery.

Wrist Surgery Procedures

There are two types of surgery – endoscopic and open.  Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique.  A small incision is made at the wrist and then an endoscope, a scope which the surgeon can see inside the body with, is inserted into the incision to perform the surgery.  Open surgery requires a large incision and completely opens up the wrist so the doctor can see and perform the surgery directly.  Both are effective, but the endoscopic approach has the advantage of an easier recovery period afterwards.

To carry out the carpal tunnel surgery, an incision is made at the bottom of the hand.  The doctor will cut the transverse carpal ligament next.  This will relieve pressure put on the median nerve, which should purge the symptoms of CTS.  Afterwards, the cut is stitched up and that is the end of the surgery.  The procedure itself should be about an hour long.  Because it is a relatively short procedure and only pertains to the wrist, only localized anesthesia is needed, which significantly hastens the time required before the hospital can release you, as well as avoids the risks of using general anesthesia.

For those interested in seeing an endoscopic procedure, see the video below.

NOTE: The following video is very graphic and should only be watched at your own discretion.

Post Operation

After the surgery, the patient may feel a temporary decrease in grip strength and movement.  The stitches in the hand are removed after about 2 weeks.  Additionally, a wrist splint may be necessary for a few weeks.  The length of time that passes before one can engage in strenuous activities, such as work, is usually about two or more weeks.  However, the time that passes before the full range of motion and strength come back in the wrist can range anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

Fortunately, the symptoms vanish and the pain relief is felt almost immediately after surgery.  It is estimated that about 70% of people are satisfied with the results, and 90% experience no night pain the day of the surgery.  There are some cases where the pain lingers and takes significant time to heal.  Rarely, there have been times where symptoms return, or there is a significant drop off in strength.

Overall, carpal tunnel surgery is a very safe and simple procedure.  It has a very high success rate, where cases of nerve damage and other complications are very rare.  If you have consistent problems with CTS lasting at least 6 months and want to explore more options for carpal tunnel pain relief, be sure to contact your doctor about the possibility of surgery.

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Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a painful and annoying condition to live with.  Fortunately, there are a wide variety of treatment options available to pick from.  They can range from therapy to surgical procedures.

Non-Surgical Pain Relief Methods

Non-surgical procedures are always suggested first.  These treatment options include splinting the wrist, applying cold to it, while using the affected wrist as little as possible.  A wrist splint will immobilize the wrist, while the cold will reduce inflammation to hopefully reduce the pressure on the median nerve.  It is also suggested to change your daily habits to reduce use of the wrist and to buy products that will are ergonomically better for your wrist, such as a gel mouse pad if you type a lot every day.  You should also engage in a series of exercises for your wrist to stretch it out.  If your case of CTS is not that serious, then these techniques are usually good enough for carpal tunnel pain relief.

Of course, analgesics will also help you deal with the pain.  NSAIDs (Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) will reduce inflammation that commonly occurs with CTS, as well as reduce pain felt.  Vitamin supplements may provide long term benefits – it has been reported that Vitamin B6 can help relieve some symptoms.

Corticosteroids are for more persistent cases of CTS.  They can be taken orally or injected directly into the wrist, though injections are more effective.  These can provide immediate relief of symptoms.  However, they are not the most convenient of treatment options, as taking too many over a short period of time (or just taking them over a prolonged period of time) can lead to side effects.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

For advanced symptoms of CTS, or for those looking for a definitive treatment to end CTS once and for all, carpal tunnel surgery should be considered.  It is a good idea to think about surgery if carpal tunnel pain persists for at least 6 months and other treatment methods fail.

Wrist surgery will involve cutting away some of the ligaments around the median nerve, yielding more room and reduce pressure on the nerve.  Endoscopic wrist surgeries will only require a small incision, and are performed from using a scope inserted through the incision.  Open surgeries require a large incision and opens up the wrist completely.  Because endoscopic procedures are minimally invasive, they tend to have easier recovery periods.  Be sure to talk to your doctor and surgeon for much more information about what is best to relieve your pain.

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Signs and Symptoms of CTS

The Early Stages

During the beginning stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, a person will feel achiness and soreness present in the wrist.  As it gets worse, the achiness will spread up through the arm and down into the hand.  If these signs go unnoticed, advanced symptoms will start to appear.

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome will start out small and gradually get worse.  Aches become pain in the wrist and arm.  The pain may feel localized at the wrist or spread throughout the arm.  When using the wrist for strenuous motions, this pain may become very aggravated.

Advanced Symptoms

Other symptoms include a tingling sensation in the wrist, hand and fingers.  This feeling is especially felt in the thumb and index finger, though interestingly, it should not be felt in the pinky finger.  That is because the median nerve does not provide sensation for the pinky.  Doctors use this as a test to diagnose CTS.  Besides tingling, one may experience a burning feeling and numbness in more advanced cases.

Finally, those affected with carpal tunnel pain and/or numbness may experience weakness in the wrist.  Though it is unsure if CTS actually responsible for the weakness instead of other many possibilities, the correlation is logical.  People also claim to have a tendency to drop things.

These symptoms are often most noticeable at night.  When a person is asleep, they tend to flex their wrists, creating a lot of pressure on the median nerve.  People who do have carpal tunnel syndrome will find that the pain is much worse throughout the night, which usually disrupts sleep.

If there is consistent and persistent achiness and pain in the wrist and throughout the arm, it is imperative you see a doctor as soon as possible to find the problem and address it early before the symptoms grow unbearable.

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