Taking Back Control When Carpal Tunnel Strikes
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a specific inflammation that impacts the wrists and hands. While the condition can occur in any individual, people who engage in constant repetitive hand or wrist movements are more at risk. Specifically, the median nerve, which runs from the wrist into the hand, gets compressed in the carpal tunnel opening. Over time, carpal tunnel can be degenerative and reduce mobility. In more severe cases, individuals may even lose grip strength.
Treating carpal tunnel
Although some individuals can control symptoms with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, more serious diagnoses may require prescribed medical interventions, with the most common solutions being corticosteroids or surgery. Corticosteroids may be given as oral doses but typically are delivered via injection. Sometimes, shots may be given as a temporary treatment before surgery. A recent study found that opting for corticosteroid injections reduced the likelihood of needing a follow-up surgery.
When surgery is best
Surgery is usually saved as the last solution if an individual's carpal tunnel doesn't respond well to other treatments. Formally known as carpal tunnel release, the procedure can either be performed as a noninvasive or open outpatient surgery. To be considered a good candidate for carpal tunnel release, a person must have pain, numbness, and tingling that doesn't improve over a period of six months. If the reported discomfort interferes with daily life, such as having difficulty pinching, grasping, or gripping objects, surgery may also be recommended.
Carpal tunnel release
If minimally invasive carpal tunnel release is suggested, the surgery is usually performed endoscopically. By contrast, an open surgery creates a larger incision between the wrist and palm and has a longer recovery window. Endoscopic surgeries make smaller cuts, typically no more than a half-inch in length, and rely on a tiny camera and instruments to remove damaged tissue. With both versions, surgeons widen the carpal tunnel channel to relieve pressure being placed on the median nerve. If speedy recovery is the goal, the minimally invasive version is a better choice that usually yields quicker healing with less pain and fewer scars.
Associated risks
Even a minimally invasive surgery still has potential risks, but typically, patients respond well to carpal tunnel release. Most people recover without incident and report fewer or no symptoms. For individuals who had more serious cases, pain may still return occasionally but has less intensity or frequency. Risks specific to the surgery can include bleeding, infection at the incision site, visible scarring that's sore, and damage to the median nerve and surrounding blood vessels in more severe cases.
Get back to regular life
If carpal tunnel pain is so intense that noninvasive at-home or in-office treatments aren't working, then carpal tunnel release may be the only solution. Most people who agree to have the surgery go on to enjoy an enhanced quality of life with minimal to no recurring symptoms afterward. Individuals concerned with carpal tunnel pain interfering with daily life should consider speaking to an orthopedic surgeon to see if carpal tunnel release surgery is the best option.
