Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect many people. Typists who are at a keyboard all day, construction workers who use tools like hammers all the time, or anyone who does something repetitive with their hands each day can be susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include chronic pain and swelling in the hands, wrists, and elbows. People will try many things to relieve the discomfort, including surgery.
But surgery is extreme, and you really have to think whether it is worth it. The compression of the median nerve, which travels the length of the arm, is the main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. There is a point in the wrist where the ligaments of your arm are bound together by the transverse carpal ligament. This point is where the median nerve becomes compressed. The repetitive motions of some jobs and hardening of soft tissues in the hands cause the compression.
Surgery can be considered as an option to relieve your symptoms, but it is something that should be thought about carefully. If your job is what has caused your carpal tunnel syndrome, that would mean that your livelihood depends on your hands being fully operational. Recovery from carpal tunnel surgery can take 6 weeks or more. On top of this, the surgery itself can cost $10,000 or more. Even if you have good insurance, you may have trouble with a bill that size.
Even though it is expensive, the surgery is considered a light surgery. A twilight anesthetic can be used, and the surgery is very un-invasive. But due to the fact that the hand is a very complex and delicate part of the body, healing takes a long time. Also, any surgery carried risks with it, so you need to be careful when considering whether you will have this surgery, and who will perform it.
During the surgery, the surgeon severs the transverse carpal ligament, cutting it completely and immediately relieving the pressure on the median nerve. This can bring instant relief to the patient. However, you have to understand that you may not immediately be able to go back to work because the transverse carpal ligament still needs to heal-several weeks as was said before. Once it does, there should be a much better area of movement and less aggravation, however, there could be a chance that you might lose some strength in your hands as a result.
Thankfully, there are ways of relieving your symptoms and even healing your carpal tunnel syndrome without surgery. Physical therapists and some websites can provide some exercises you can do to loosen or relax the transverse carpal ligament. Doing this will take pressure off the median nerve. To keep the soft tissue of your hand tension-free, you can get your hands massaged. Keeping an eye on your ergonomics and posture to ensure they are good is another way to keep tension off your wrists and hands.
Many people are surprised when they learn of these techniques to relieve carpal tunnel symptoms. So many act like surgery is the only option, and really surgery should not be gotten if it is at all avoidable. Trying less extreme methods before surgery is always a good idea. There have been people who have ended up with worse pain after surgery than they had before.
But surgery is extreme, and you really have to think whether it is worth it. The compression of the median nerve, which travels the length of the arm, is the main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. There is a point in the wrist where the ligaments of your arm are bound together by the transverse carpal ligament. This point is where the median nerve becomes compressed. The repetitive motions of some jobs and hardening of soft tissues in the hands cause the compression.
Surgery can be considered as an option to relieve your symptoms, but it is something that should be thought about carefully. If your job is what has caused your carpal tunnel syndrome, that would mean that your livelihood depends on your hands being fully operational. Recovery from carpal tunnel surgery can take 6 weeks or more. On top of this, the surgery itself can cost $10,000 or more. Even if you have good insurance, you may have trouble with a bill that size.
Even though it is expensive, the surgery is considered a light surgery. A twilight anesthetic can be used, and the surgery is very un-invasive. But due to the fact that the hand is a very complex and delicate part of the body, healing takes a long time. Also, any surgery carried risks with it, so you need to be careful when considering whether you will have this surgery, and who will perform it.
During the surgery, the surgeon severs the transverse carpal ligament, cutting it completely and immediately relieving the pressure on the median nerve. This can bring instant relief to the patient. However, you have to understand that you may not immediately be able to go back to work because the transverse carpal ligament still needs to heal-several weeks as was said before. Once it does, there should be a much better area of movement and less aggravation, however, there could be a chance that you might lose some strength in your hands as a result.
Thankfully, there are ways of relieving your symptoms and even healing your carpal tunnel syndrome without surgery. Physical therapists and some websites can provide some exercises you can do to loosen or relax the transverse carpal ligament. Doing this will take pressure off the median nerve. To keep the soft tissue of your hand tension-free, you can get your hands massaged. Keeping an eye on your ergonomics and posture to ensure they are good is another way to keep tension off your wrists and hands.
Many people are surprised when they learn of these techniques to relieve carpal tunnel symptoms. So many act like surgery is the only option, and really surgery should not be gotten if it is at all avoidable. Trying less extreme methods before surgery is always a good idea. There have been people who have ended up with worse pain after surgery than they had before.
About the Author:
Most medical professionals and insurance companies insist on carpal tunnel sufferers trying alternative methods of treatment in alleviating their symptoms before trying carpal tunnel surgery. This is because CTS surgery is known for being an ineffective treatment. Learn all you can about natural, non-invasive treatments before considering surgery.
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