Health Tips

March 25, 2010

The Benefits of Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Filed under: Health Care — Nancy @ 5:33 pm -0700

It might seem unfair that carpal tunnel surgery may be the only fully effective treatment for the wrist and hand problem that threatens to incapacitate so many people. Doctors often suggest other things to try first, in an effort to ease the patient’s pain somewhat. For example, wearing a brace will limit flexing of the person’s wrist that cramps the nerve, which is the cause of the problem. And there are a few other treatments that help on a temporary basis. But in the end, if the person wants a permanent cure for their carpal tunnel syndrome, then they probably have no other choice but to resort to surgery.

However, in an effort to avoid surgery for carpal tunnel, people usually try many of the other suggestions first, such as steroid injections. These do bring about some temporary relief, but they can’t be used for the long term. Drugs like the anti-inflammatory aspirin or ibuprofen may reduce inflammation in the carpal tunnel area, while injections of Vitamin B12 or cortisone also help, but only up to a point. Doing any carpal tunnel exercise might actually cause some harm, since a lot of flexing of the wrist would likely just aggravate the conditions inside the arm, and worsen the symptoms.

There are two types of carpal tunnel surgery: open and endoscopic. The carpal tunnel itself consists of bone on three sides with the transverse carpal ligament on the fourth side. In the open type of surgery, a two-to-five-inch incision is made in the hand and palm, and the ligament is split in two, so it no longer presses on the median nerve going into the hand. The endoscopic surgery creates two much smaller incisions, in wrist and hand, and an endoscope is used to cut the ligament with tiny blades.

The results of carpal tunnel surgery are generally quite good, and most people are able to return to normal activities afterward. In the endoscopic version of the surgery, the rationale is that there is less damage to the soft tissue and skin of the wrist and palm, so recovery is quicker and less traumatic. A return to carpal tunnel health is possible for almost every person who undergoes one of these types of surgery. There may be some difficulties during diagnosis and this final treatment, but the high likelihood that the person will return to using their hands normally is very encouraging.

from: http://healthandwellnessnow.net/the-benefits-of-carpal-tunnel-surgery/

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