Carpal Tunnel Release

Description

In a world of keyboards, laptops, texting and other repetitive hand motions, it’s no wonder many people experience pain, numbness and tingling in the hand, wrist and arm.

Surgery to Release Unnerving Wrist Pain

Known as carpal tunnel syndrome, if you’ve got it, you know exactly how aggravating the symptoms can be. If non-surgical methods, such as wrist splits and activity avoidance, have failed and your doctor recommends Carpal Tunnel Release to relieve the pain, here’s what you should know.

Understanding Carpal Tunnel Pain

The carpal tunnel is an area located in the wrist and contains the medial nerve, flexor tendons, connective tissue, and carpal bones. When the tunnel narrows (from disease, heredity, or repetitive hand use), the surrounding tissues may become inflamed. This inflammation puts pressure on the medial nerve, which then causes the symptoms.

Carpal Tunnel Release to Relieve Pressure

To relieve the pain and pressure, your physician may suggest Carpal Tunnel Release. This open surgical technique involves your doctor making a surgical incision from the palm of your hand to your wrist, and exposing the transverse carpal ligament.

During the outpatient surgery, your doctor will divide the ligament, creating space within the carpal tunnel. This, in turn, helps relieve pressure within the medial nerve.

Post Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery

After surgery, your doctor will likely recommend a combination of bracing or splinting, as well as physical therapy. While surgery can improve your symptoms, expect your recovery to be gradual and take as long as 6 to 12 months.

Take a look at this video to learn more about the carpal tunnel syndrome and to see what’s involved with Carpal Tunnel Release surgery: