Treating Techniques For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome may not sound serious, but it definitely can be. For those of you who have it, you know what it is and what it feels like. For those of you who aren't sure yet, it is a syndrome where the carpal tunnel, which is located on the underside of the wrist and protects a central nerve and nine tendons, gets squeezed or has other pressure applied to it. This squeezing causes numbness, pain, tingling and can limit the movement of the hands and fingers. It can also radiate up the arm, making this a very painful thing to have.

There are different treatments available out there. There are a few non-surgical options. One option is to splint your wrist at night time. This works better if you've only had symptoms for a short amount of time and if your case is only mild to moderate in range. This does not work for people who have had symptoms for over and year and for those who have more severe cases and symptoms.

You can get cortisone injections from your doctor. If you decide this is what you want to do, it is important that a licensed doctor approves and gives the treatment. The cortisone gets injected directly to the area and is able to release some pressure on the carpal tunnel.

Physical therapy is another option. There are therapists who can specialize in the treatment you would need in order to see improvement. You can get physical therapy or occupational therapy, and can learn how to build life-skills and do exercises to provide some relief.

While these non-surgical treatments may help you, a lot of people opt for surgery. You can gain many permanent fixes from surgery that cannot be gained with simple inflammation control or stability. There are a few different ways to do the surgery, but all of them involve cutting or releasing the ligaments surrounding the tunnel. This takes the pressure off and provides permanent relief.

If you opt to surgically fix your carpal tunnel syndrome, you can have endoscopic surgery or open surgery. Either way, your doctor will use a local anesthesia (meaning he or she will numb the area, not put you under) and will complete the procedure quickly and will close any incisions. This type of procedure doesn't require an overnight stay, and often is done on both hands.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can hinder many things in life. For lasting relief and the ability to do everything you want, surgery will help you accomplish that.

In Houston, carpal tunnel syndrome is treated by board certified surgeon who is solely dedicated to surgery of the upper extremity with a focus on pathology of the hand and wrist. To know more, visit http://www.cyfairhandandwrist.com