Carpal tunnel syndrome affects 4-10 million Americans, causing symptoms that range from numbness and weakness to pain and loss of hand function. Unfortunately, many people suffer in silence, unaware that numerous treatments can provide relief.
Thomas F. Saylor, MD, of Orthopaedic Care Specialists in North Palm Beach, Florida, brings the most advanced solutions available for hand and upper extremity conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. If your symptoms haven’t responded to conservative treatments, here’s how carpal tunnel release might help.
Before exploring carpal tunnel release, it’s helpful to have a general understanding of what’s to blame for your symptoms.
You have a median nerve that starts at your neck and runs all the way down your arm to your hand and fingers. At your wrist, the median nerve passes through a small channel called the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the channel narrows, putting pressure on the median nerve. Several things can cause the carpal tunnel to narrow, such as:
Experts also believe there is a congenital predisposition for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Simply put, some people have smaller carpal tunnels than normal.
Whenever possible, Dr. Saylor tries nonsurgical treatments first to resolve carpal tunnel syndrome.
Conservative treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome can vary from medications, steroid injections, and wrist splints to physical therapy and improving body mechanics. However, if your symptoms don’t respond to these therapies or if you have severe median nerve constriction, Dr. Saylor could recommend minimally invasive carpal tunnel release surgery.
During this procedure, Dr. Saylor makes a small incision in your wrist and inserts an endoscope with a tiny camera on the end. This thin, tube-like device enables him to see your carpal tunnel channel and perform your entire surgery without making a larger incision.
To release your carpal tunnel, Dr. Saylor inserts miniature surgical instruments through the small incision and cuts the transverse carpal ligament, which stretches across the top of the channel. This releases pressure on your median nerve immediately by creating more space in the carpal tunnel.
Finally, Dr. Saylor closes your incisions with small stitches, and you go home the same day.
Most people undergoing this treatment have few, if any, remaining carpal tunnel symptoms after their procedure. However, it can sometimes take a few months for symptoms to fade after your procedure.
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery comes with much faster recovery times than traditional surgeries with a large incision. However, you should still expect a short recovery period where you avoid heavy use of your hand for a few weeks. However, with careful hand use, you can typically resume light, aerobic activities within a few days.
Are you looking for effective relief for carpal tunnel syndrome? Release surgery might be able to give you the help you need. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Orthopaedic Care Specialists today.
