Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused as a result of pressure on the meridian nerve.
The meridian nerve is responsible for the sensation on the thumbs and the fingers, except your pinky.
Any swelling or inflammation on the wrist may cause pressure to the tunnel, making it pinch against the meridian nerve, necessitating intervention – medical or otherwise. One of the remedies for dealing with this condition is carpal tunnel operation.
If you are due for one, then here are some of the things you need to know about the procedure.
When surgery may be an option
There are various treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, and surgery is never the very first option. Before surgery is explored, other methods such as braces and daily routine changes have to be given a chance.
If all these fails, then surgery may be your only option. If you already have pain, numbness, or tingling in the arm that doesn’t go away after six months, then this is another instance when surgery may be recommended.
Surgery options for carpal tunnel
There are two primary surgical interventions for carpal tunnel release – endoscopic and open surgeries.
Both procedures involve the doctor cutting the ligaments around the carpal tunnel to relieve pressure from the median nerve and, consequently, the syndrome’s symptoms.
Once that is done, the ligaments are then taken back together, only that this time, there will be more space for the median nerve to maneuver around.
Risks of carpal tunnel surgery
Just like any other surgery, carpal tunnel syndrome surgery also comes with its fair share of risks.
The procedure involves the use of anesthesia to make the wrist numb. In most cases, local anesthesia is typically used, though there are some cases where general anesthesia is used.
Some of the known risks of this procedure include injuries to the inner blood vessel, injuries to the median nerve, infections, bleeding, and a sensitive scar once the process is over.
Recovery time for Carpal tunnel surgery
With this procedure’s nature, the recovery time for carpal tunnel varies and will mostly take between a few weeks to several months.
The recovery time will mainly depend on how long the nerve had been compressed. If it was shortened for a long time, then it will take a long time for a full recovery.
During the recovery process, your wrist may be put into a splint, and there may also be a need for physical therapy to aid with the healing process.
