Treatment for Carpal Tunnel
The following is information regarding the surgical treatment of Carpal Tunnel. Since surgery has risks associated with it, you should discuss these with your physician
When does surgery become an option?
- Symptoms are still present after a long period of non-surgical treatment. In general surgery is not considered until after 3 to 12 months of non-surgical treatment. But this assures that you are having ongoing symptoms but no sign of nerve damage. Nerve damage would make surgery more urgent. If necessary nerve damage can be assessed by a diagnostic test called an EMG (electromylogram) can detect abnormal muscle electrical activity in conditions such as neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, pinched nerves.
- Severe symptoms (such as persistent loss of feeling or coordination in the fingers or hand, or no strength in the thumb) restrict normal daily activities.
Carpal Tunnel release surgery
During open carpal tunnel release surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut, which releases pressure on the median nerve and relieves the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
An incision is made at the base of the palm of the hand. This allows the neurosurgeon to see the transverse carpal ligament. After the ligament is cut, the skin is closed with stitches. The gap where the ligament was cut is left alone and eventually fills up with scar tissue.
If you have carpal tunnel release surgery, the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. It is usually done under local anesthesia and you can go home the same day.
What should I expect after surgery?
- After surgery, the hand is wrapped in a bulky dressing, including several layers of gauze and an Ace bandage. The stitches will remain in place for a minimum of 10 days post-op. The pain and numbness may go away right after surgery or it may take several months to subside. Try to avoid heavy use of your hand for up to 3 months.
- When you return to work depends on whether the dominant hand (the hand you use the most) was involved, on your work activities, and on the effort that you put into rehabilitative physical therapy.
- If you have surgery on your nondominant hand and do not do repetitive, high risk activities at work, you may return to work within 1 to 2 days, although 7 days is most common.
- If you have surgery on your dominant hand and do repetitive activities at work, you may require 6-12 weeks for a full recovery before you can return to previous work duties. Physical therapy may help speed your recovery.
Treatment for Carpal Tunnel
The following is information regarding the surgical treatment of Carpal Tunnel. Since surgery has risks associated with it, you should discuss these with your physician
When does surgery become an option?
- Symptoms are still present after a long period of non-surgical treatment. In general surgery is not considered until after 3 to 12 months of non-surgical treatment. But this assures that you are having ongoing symptoms but no sign of nerve damage. Nerve damage would make surgery more urgent. If necessary nerve damage can be assessed by a diagnostic test called an EMG (electromylogram) can detect abnormal muscle electrical activity in conditions such as neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, pinched nerves.
- Severe symptoms (such as persistent loss of feeling or coordination in the fingers or hand, or no strength in the thumb) restrict normal daily activities.
Carpal Tunnel release surgery
During open carpal tunnel release surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut, which releases pressure on the median nerve and relieves the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
An incision is made at the base of the palm of the hand. This allows the neurosurgeon to see the transverse carpal ligament. After the ligament is cut, the skin is closed with stitches. The gap where the ligament was cut is left alone and eventually fills up with scar tissue.
If you have carpal tunnel release surgery, the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. It is usually done under local anesthesia and you can go home the same day.
What should I expect after surgery?
- After surgery, the hand is wrapped in a bulky dressing, including several layers of gauze and an Ace bandage. The stitches will remain in place for a minimum of 10 days post-op. The pain and numbness may go away right after surgery or it may take several months to subside. Try to avoid heavy use of your hand for up to 3 months.
- When you return to work depends on whether the dominant hand (the hand you use the most) was involved, on your work activities, and on the effort that you put into rehabilitative physical therapy.
- If you have surgery on your nondominant hand and do not do repetitive, high risk activities at work, you may return to work within 1 to 2 days, although 7 days is most common.
- If you have surgery on your dominant hand and do repetitive activities at work, you may require 6-12 weeks for a full recovery before you can return to previous work duties. Physical therapy may help speed your recovery.