Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an uncomfortable pain in the wrists that can be caused by trauma, repetitive motions, or a medical condition. Sometimes, lifestyle choices, such as your job or diet, can put you in the position to get carpal tunnel syndrome. The main symptoms you may experience are severe pain in the wrist that can radiate to the fingers, numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers, and weakness that causes you to drop items. If you believe that your chronic discomfort is due to carpal tunnel syndrome, you may want to consider carpal tunnel release surgery to help you overcome this disorder. You can work with an experienced team that can identify what the issue is and provide pain management, neurosurgery, and orthopedics. Contact Ceda Orthopedic Group for additional information.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?

Because of a previous condition, such as an injury or a medical disorder, you may feel chronic pain in your wrist, making it difficult to grasp or hold objects. When remedying carpal tunnel syndrome, it can take between three to four months for the pain to go away and one year before your full hand strength returns.

The main causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • Trauma to the wrist
  • Repeated movements that wear the wrist down
  • Diabetes
  • Fluid retention due to menopause or pregnancy
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • High blood pressure
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Rheumatoid arthritis 

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens in five stages:

Stage One

Paraesthesia occurs only in the part of the hand that the median nerve goes through. When you experience paraesthesia, it may feel like burning, prickling, numbness, or tingling. It can happen because of restriction to nerve impulses that are delivered by nerves in the affected area. In stage one, this can happen during the day and night. 
Stage Two

Paraesthesia happens during the day after prolonged postures and repetitive movements. This means that activity and positioning can trigger paraesthesia without warning.

Stage Three

Sensory deficiency begins to occur in the region of the hand that is affected by the median nerve. It may be difficult to feel or move your hands normally. 
Stage Four

Hypotrophy and motor weakness occur in the thenar muscles, which are innervated by the median nerve. This can cause you to drop things, making it difficult to turn doorknobs, open containers, and perform other movements that require dexterity. 

Stage Five

This is when there is atrophy and potential plegia of the thenar muscles. When left unchecked, carpal tunnel syndrome can begin to degrade the thenar muscles and cause permanent damage. 

What Is Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?

There are two different types of carpal tunnel release surgery; endoscopic and open surgery. These surgeries target the ligaments around the carpal tunnel. Doctors cut around these ligaments to relieve the pressure on the median nerve to help reduce the pain and increase circulation. When the ligaments heal and return to normal, the median nerve has more room around them. 

Open surgery requires a larger cut of up to two inches, while endoscopic surgery involves one small opening in the wrist that allows a tiny camera to enter to help guide the surgeon. On average there may be soreness and swelling after the surgery, but after a couple of days you can drive, in one week you can write, in six to eight weeks you can perform stronger tasks, and in ten to twelve weeks you can do more laborious tasks. 

How Can Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery Help Me?

When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, the muscles inside your hands and wrists begin to get smaller because the median nerve is pinched. They become weaker and have poor circulation. This can affect not only your personal happiness and wellbeing but also your line of work. Almost every kind of job requires the use of hands. If non-surgical interventions haven’t worked for you at all, then carpal tunnel release surgery would be a solution to vastly improve your healing, expedite recovery, and improve your ability to move and function.

Would I Be A Good Candidate for Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?

If you’ve tried wrist supports, changed your lifestyle and daily routines, and were treated with corticosteroids but none of these remedies worked, then you may be a candidate for carpal tunnel release therapy. This can especially be the case if you have pain and numbness that doesn’t go away after six months. When you are unable to lift and pick up items and struggle with minor tasks that require hand movements, then you should consider more invasive treatment regimes. Your doctor would have to perform an electromyography test on the meridian nerve before deciding if you need carpal tunnel release surgery. This will help show whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Where Can I Find More Information On How The Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery Protocol Works?

Carpal tunnel release surgery may not be for everyone. This is why you should speak with experienced physicians before you decide whether this is an option for you. Choose to work with a healthcare facility that really cares about its patients and provides transportation to and from clinic visits. Carpal tunnel syndrome can greatly impact your quality of life, making even the simplest tasks painful and hard to accomplish. Your hands may be one of your greatest assets; they are necessary when you are working at your job, doing activities with friends and family, or performing tasks at home. If you believe that no other treatment has helped at all, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, stretching, and more, then it is time to talk to a doctor who knows how to help. You can get started by contacting Ceda Orthopedic group to schedule a consultation to get you on the right track.