Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is two-fold and directed at decreasing pressure. First, what is commonly done is to open the thick band over the carpal tunnel also known as carpal tunnel release. The band is called the volar carpal ligament or also referred to as flexor retinaculum.
An analogy would be removing a bottle cap from a bottle of soda. This relieves the pressure. Some surgeons do the procedure through a small scope (endoscopically).
Others, including myself, do an open procedure. A small neat incision is made in the wrist. Under direct visualization, the ligament is opened. It also allows me to take care of the second aspect - the thick lining called the flexor synovium. I remove the flexor synovium lining in the carpal tunnel. I believe the real offender in carpal tunnel syndrome is the flexor synovium -- opening the ligament and removing the lining relieves pressure and creates more space.
Results are quite good and definitive. The incision is small and neat and cosmetically acceptable. The operation is a same day procedure - the individual goes home the same day. The individual can be awake. Medication is injected into the arm to "freeze" the hand and wrist or directly into the wrist area to numb the area. Full recovery is 2 to 4 weeks depending on level of activity.
Related Topics: Avoid Desktop Stress, Office Ergonomics
Technorati Tags: carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist surgery, endoscopy, open wrist surgery
An analogy would be removing a bottle cap from a bottle of soda. This relieves the pressure. Some surgeons do the procedure through a small scope (endoscopically).
Others, including myself, do an open procedure. A small neat incision is made in the wrist. Under direct visualization, the ligament is opened. It also allows me to take care of the second aspect - the thick lining called the flexor synovium. I remove the flexor synovium lining in the carpal tunnel. I believe the real offender in carpal tunnel syndrome is the flexor synovium -- opening the ligament and removing the lining relieves pressure and creates more space.
Results are quite good and definitive. The incision is small and neat and cosmetically acceptable. The operation is a same day procedure - the individual goes home the same day. The individual can be awake. Medication is injected into the arm to "freeze" the hand and wrist or directly into the wrist area to numb the area. Full recovery is 2 to 4 weeks depending on level of activity.
Related Topics: Avoid Desktop Stress, Office Ergonomics
Technorati Tags: carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist surgery, endoscopy, open wrist surgery
29 Comments:
I used C-Trac for my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and it helped me without surgery. My doctor recommended to do conservative therapy prior to considering surgery. This device was invented by 2 physicians who practice in Florida. It helped me, I hope it can help many of the readers. Their website is WWW.CARPALDOCTORS.COM They have their research results on their website
I had CTS in both wrists. Five years ago I had the operation on the worst wrist..my right one and since then..it has gone numb only once and there has been no pain at all! My left one is due soon. It is definetly worth it!!! It was great watching the operation too!!! I am ambidextrous so the short inconvienience of recovery doesn't interfer with my day to day stuff at all.
I broke my wrist in 3 places in 1995
and still have pain especially since
I got the PC. Seems like the numb
feeling has gone almost up to my
elbow. I had 3 surgeries.. pins in
pins out then a piece of bone removed. I have no strength in the
hand and drop things. Had 6 weeks
of therapy but didn't help.
My disability with wrists and grasping with the forefinger and the thumb are results of a non-specified autoimmune disease. The muscles in the area under the thumbs have atrophied and cause extreme pain when I do simple things such as using the computer keys, just to write this message, mopping the floors, carrying bags from shopping.Any suggestions?
I doctored Carpal Tunnel for years (I was a keypunch operator). After a car accident, whiplash, things seemed to have gotten worse. Medication didn't help anymore. I started seeing a chiropractor and no longer have the symptoms. So it wasn't Carpal Tunnel at all, but a pinched nerve in my neck....and they wanted to do surgery on my wrists!!
I had carpal tunnel relief surgery about three years ago and both of my hands have been fine eversince. But lately both of my elbows have become almost unbearably sore. I have pains when I move my arms,when I grip something hard or when I lift something relatively heavy. My elbows are sensitive to outside pressure as well. If I bump them or press on them it is really painful. Can you have carpal tunnel in your elbows?
I had carpal tunnel surgery on 1/31 and since my middle finger has become completely numb and hard to bend. What do you make of this
What about vitamin B6? Don't you think a lot of surgeries (including mine) could be avoided with a trial period using B6?
I will be having surgery for Trigger finger, my thumb and for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on my left hand. I would like to know if there is a site that I can look up if the doctor that is doing the surgery has had any malpractice or disciplinary actions against him. It would be less I have on my mind before the surgery.
Thanks, Lori
I had CT release surgery and ulnar transposition in Dec. The elbow pain is improved, but the same hand and wrist pain as before surgery. My EMG didn't show up on CT, just the ulnar nerve, but he did the CT release for free and said it was tight. Could I have something else that resembles CTS? I never had numbness, just a lot of wrist pain and cramping in the hand, like writers cramp. Still do.
One of my co-workers is having some C.T.S. symptoms (mainly pain in wrist & numbness in fingers). She refuses to see a specialist because she doesn't want surgery even though I tell her that if it's treated in the early stage, she most likely can avoid that. I also told her about B6 or B12 that helps it naturally. I don't want to see her go thru what I did-I had it for about 10 years before I had to have surgery on both hands-it got so bad that the braces & cortisone didn't help any longer. I need some outside input as I only know how it effected me. Thank you.
My mom has carpal tunnel really bad in both wrists. I know that everyone is different but if your fingers are numb and can't grasp very well, is surgery the only answer? She has just gotten splints.
i had neck surgery about 3 yras ago and i am on oxy for pain .Lately i have been experoencig extreme pain in mostly my right hand , it is so excruciating it wk=akes me at night. I was wondering if it is related that it is not only carpal tunnel but neck and medication related. Has anyone has this problem?? i fell on a bus while standing 2 yrs ago and broke my fall with my rught hand but i am left handed mostly thumb,index and middle fingers..i just started wearing a hand splint but it is cumbersome i was wondering if a side effect of oxycontin is numbness and pain. My emg was not that bad but the pain is excruciating. Anyone had this problem ?? I cannot take antiflam . Help ???
I had carpel tunnel surgery on both hands a year ago.The numbness and tingling have gone away.But I now have pain everyday in my forearms and elbow area.I've done physical therapy,splints,more therapy,shots,nothing is helping.I can't work.I'm so FRUSTRATED and desperate to find a cure.Has anyone ever tried Acupuncture??I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
I had CTS endoscopic on 9/06 and since then my thumb & index finger have been numb. Had EMG in Jan -- still carpal tunnel. I had CTS open in Feb, no help. Had another EMG with a neurologist yesterday & he says still Carpal Tunnel. Any other suggestions???
I had carpal tunnel surgery in June 2007. Since the surgery my hand has been swollen, my fingers number and my grip is poor. I wish I had never had it done. What has happened to my hand.
Hello, my husband just found out he has carpel tunnel in his left wrist. He had a nerve conduction test done and they told him that it was in its early stages. His primary gave him a number to a neurologist and surgeon. But he is refusing surgery. I was wondering if surgery was the only way to fix the problem? Are there any other resolutions
I need to have carpal tunnel surgery and ulnar nerve transposition done asap; failed the conservative treatments and the pain and numbness is intolerable. I understand that this can be done with a "bier block" and is usually done with some sedation; I don't want any sedation and am willing to put up with the pain. A previous terrible reaction to "conscious sedation" rules this out for me. I am willing to go anywhere and pay whatever it takes to have these procedures done without sedation, but the local surgeons seem to insist on sedation and amnesia drus; is there anywhere that I can get this done with just block/regional anesthesia? I"m desperate. thanks.
I had CT surgery 4 weeks ago on my right hand. It was really bad by the time I had the surgery. I still have numbness in 3 fingers and I think I now have trigger finger in my pointer finfer because of the surgery. I a going to a chiropractor for my left hand. I don't want to have the surgery again
I had surgery Aug 13, where they removed the basal joint of my thumb. I was laid up for 6 1/2 weeks. I ended up with a partially frozen shoulder(no sign of arthritis or injury) also during PT and OT, my 2nd finger started to get numb, which then spread to my thumb, first through third fingers, I had severe edemia. Well they continued to have me exercise, and I ended up have to have tests which showed I had severe carpel tunnel. Now since the tests my good hand has been hurting, and my arm gets hot. Do you have any exercises for the after carpel tunnel surgery. I had that Dec. 20th and just got the stitches out Jan 3. The numbness comes and goes. The numbness is more pronounced when I bend my wrist down. They did the surgery from the bottom of the palm of my hand along the curved line in my hand. I am unable to bend the thumb back to help stretch. I just have been bending my wrist back and holding for 30 seconds, I do 3 at a time. I would appreciate any suggestions, and also suggestions so that I don't get CT in my left hand. I am right handed. I need exercises to be able to get my my arm behind my back, etc. You are welcome to email me with your questions. Thank you Mary
yes it is posible to have carpral tunnel in your elbow my husband just had a emg which showed severe carpral tunnel in the elbow also what do they do for cervical ridiculopathy.
For true CTS...surgery can be a good thing. I have treated over 1000 cases of patients with CTS symptoms with chiropractic care in San Francisco. Less than 10% are actually CTS. The other 90% are something else. Non-surgical treatments should come first...but if they do not produce results...surgery should be considered.
I have severe carpal tunnel in both hands and didn't want surgery. Someone recommended accupuncture. It took away my pain for a couple of days, but to get relief from the pain I had to keep going. It got expensive and I stopped and all the pain is back. It didn't cure it, it was just like an asperin to relieve it for awhile. However, I am a firm believer in accupuncture for many other things. It may also be good for early detection of carpal tunnel, but if it's severe and the doctor recommends surgery, believe him, because it's not reversible.
I have had numbness in the last three fingers of my left hand for 8 months. then about six weeks ago severe numbness and tinging sensations on my forfinger and thumb. My doctor recommended a surgeon who says I have ulnar nerve entrapment and cts. I will keep you posted on the surgry and recovery.
IM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY HANDS AT NIGHT TIME, THE PAIN WAKES ME UP ERY NIGHT, I FINALLY WENT TO DOCTOR AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS CARPAL TUNNEL.... HOPEFULLY I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY, CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH SOME SUGGESTION ON HOW TO MAKE THIS PAIN GO AWAY???? THANKS SO MUCH
MARY PS, IM ALSO A DIEBETICAND IT SCARES ME ALOT!!!!
hi i seem to have the same problem as you i wish to god i never had surgery since i had the nerve untrapped four years ago i have had pain tingling numbness and elbow pain and it never goes a way i am waiting to have more surgery on it you name it i have had it all the the driffent treatments in the world nothing has helped i wish you luck i know what you are going through
To Anonymous who has ulnar nerve entrapment and cts: EMG documents problem.
To anonymous who is diabetic and has cts: Initial treatment- wear splints and keep wrist extended especially at night. Restrict activity if possible. Increased incidence of CTS with diabetics but surgical treatment usually not problem if necessary.
I am about to call the doctor but I have a pain radiating from my albow to my middle finger. Would this be CTS? Earlier this week is was my shoulder. Its weird. Any suggestions?
i was diagnoised with carpral tunnel shortly after a fall i had where i like started falling out of the blue and tried to catch myself and block the fall ended up in the er and b/p was very high so guess that is what caused the fall but thought the reason my arm was bothering me so was because of fall and fell more on left arm than right now both are bothering me and it has been sometime since fall but do not want to have surgery but now it is beginning to affect when i write please pray will get better without surgery anyone with similar issue please reply thank ya God bless
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