When Carpal Tunnel Impacts Quality Of Life
While carpal tunnel is a well-known degenerative disease, for some individuals, the condition can be debilitating. The diagnosis often comes after repeated motions create inflammation in the carpal tunnel. The location is where the median nerve runs along the wrist and hand. The inflammation can lead to increased pressure on the nerve. A byproduct can be discomfort like numbness, tingling, or pain. For many people, at-home treatment is all that’s needed to achieve relief. However, in more severe cases, surgery may be required.
Causes of carpal tunnel
Repetitive movement in the wrist and hands is the most common cause of carpal tunnel. In some cases, a person's profession can increase the likelihood of suffering from the condition. Office work like typing on computers, or even working on a factory assembly line can influence whether an individual will develop carpal tunnel. Likewise, arthritis sufferers, people with diabetic-related nerve damage, and even obesity can also put a person at a higher risk of experiencing symptoms.
Treating carpal tunnel
The proper course of action for treating carpal tunnel depends on the severity of the condition. In more minor cases where pain doesn't impact quality of life or functionally, at-home solutions can work. Options like implementing a wrist brace, using ice, or even resting the joint can all provide relief. For more serious cases where a person's mobility or range of motion is impaired, carpal tunnel release might be a better solution. Previously an open surgery that often required a hospital stay, carpal tunnel release is now minimally invasive and performed as an outpatient procedure.
What to expect
Carpal tunnel release is usually the preferred solution for eliminating pressure on the median nerve. The surgery can be either open or endoscopic, meaning that tools are fed through small incisions to correct the damage. The latter is often more popular for both patients and surgeons.
Quicker recovery
Open carpal tunnel release surgeries usually require the recovering patient to wear a splint for several weeks, initially after the procedure. After removal, full recovery may still take several months. That timeline is often reduced with an endoscopic surgery. However, individual recovery ranges will vary depending on the severity of the carpal tunnel damage.
Reduced pain and scarring
Surgery will always have some type of discomfort or pain. However, endoscopic releases usually yield fewer scars and less pain since less surrounding tissue was disturbed during the procedure. As a result, the recovery period may be less uncomfortable for people and make the process easier.
Fewer complications
Complications are always a possibility, but endoscopic carpal tunnel release greatly lowers those chances. The minimally invasive procedure is less likely to result in additional damage since surrounding tissues and nerves aren't disturbed during the surgery.
Get back to normal life
Carpal tunnel can be incredibly debilitating for many people. Struggling to hold objects, open items, or simply experiencing intense pain in the wrist and hands is not normal. People shouldn't ignore any of the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel, especially if the condition sidelines regular activities and functionality. In more severe cases, individuals may need surgery to reduce inflammation and get back to normal life. A minimally invasive endoscopic open release can be performed as an outpatient procedure and should be considered for more severe cases.
