Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Surgery is the last thing anyone wants to have to do, but sometimes it is completely necessary to fix an issue we are having. If Carpal Tunnel is left untreated and the problem continues to grow and cause you discomfort, your doctor may suggest that you have the surgery to try to ease your pain and correct the problem and damage. Why might your doctor recommend surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome? Your doctor might recommend surgery if  You’ve had very bad symptoms for a long time, so you’re at risk of having lasting nerve damage. Test show that you have nerve damage. Surgery is usually only considered if symptoms return regularly and problems associated with the painful sensations increase despite trying other treatments such as splints or corticosteroid injections. In those cases surgery can provide better relief than repeat injections or splint treatments. Often times it is best to go ahead and take the big step if all other options seem to be failing to bring you the relief you are seeking. Carpal tunnel surgery treats carpal tunnel syndrome and can improve the function of your wrist. It’s considered medically necessary when your doctor determines that it’s the best way to treat your carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal Tunnel goes in levels of severity. You can just start off with some discomfort, then it can lead to complete numbness. When this happens it can have a huge effect on your daily routines and activities. It is very important to seek a doctor when you first begin to notice that something is not right. This way more thank likely surgery will not have to happen. It is hard for the person who is suffering to really know how serious the carpal tunnel is. But the general medical consensus it that “severe” is when carpal tunnel symptoms are so intense they interfere with almost every aspect of your life. That means: Symptoms are constant, with practically no rest from them. Most patients have lost significant finger dexterity and hand strength. Again, this is what your doctor wants to prevent, and why you need to make an appointment as soon as you are able to go ahead and begin looking into the problem as well as solutions.

If you are set to have carpal tunnel surgery you may have a lot of questions. We are going to try to address those for you. Keep in mind that we all react and recover differently, but in most cases this is the recovery process, as well as pain levels after. How long does carpal tunnel release surgery take? The surgery itself typically takes about 15 minutes. However, patients usually spend about 45 minutes in the operating room while equipment is set up and anesthesia administered. At three months following carpal tunnel surgery, your numbness and pain still could be byproducts of the procedure. During carpal tunnel release, a surgeon makes an incision in the palm of your hand over the carpal tunnel ligament and cuts through the ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. The surgery may be done by making one incision on the palm side of the wrist, or by making several small incisions. Many people find the incision causes pain and irritation as it heals. In addition, a condition called ‘pillar pain,’ which is a localized reaction to the surgery, can lead to discomfort. If you have open carpal tunnel release surgery, you typically do not need to stay in the hospital. It is usually done under local anesthetic, and you can go home on the same day. The recovery from carpal tunnel surgery takes time – anywhere from several weeks to several months. If the nerve has been compressed for a long period of time, recovery may take even longer. Recovery involves splinting your wrist and getting physical therapy to strengthen and heal the wrist and hand. Patients undergoing Carpal Tunnel surgery have been subjected to either deep sedation or general anesthesia, which puts you under entirely. People who are sedated via IV or inhalation are completely unconscious and unable to feel any pain. For up to 2 weeks after surgery, avoid lifting things heavier than 0.5 to 1 kilogram and using your hand. This includes doing repeated arm or hand movements, such as typing or using a computer mouse, washing windows, vacuuming, or chopping food. Do not use power tools, and avoid activities that cause vibration.

What to expect as far as managing your pain, normally we do not expect much pain after Carpal Tunnel Surgery. Many people do well with only non-narcotic medication, but pain pills for the first day or a few days are OK. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome has a very high success rate of over 90%. Many symptoms are relieved quickly after treatment, including tingling sensation in the hands and waking up at night. Numbness may take longer to be relieved, even up to three months. After your surgery, you may be encouraged to do the following: Elevate your hand above your heart and move your fingers to reduce swelling and prevent stiffness. Ice the surgical site for a given amount of time, a few times a day. You may need to wear a splint or wrist brace for several weeks. All in all your recovery should go over very well, just manage your pain and discomfort and know that you will be feeling much better after it is all said and done.

If you are in the Draper Utah area and you are suffering from carpal tunnel pain, check out our company. We perform every level of carpal tunnel care within our clinic which translates into cost savings for our customers. The result: an all-inclusive price of $2,100, which includes the surgery and all pre and post op care. Contact us today to book your appointment so you can begin to live your life normally again.