by Tom Nicholson

Many of us have encountered times in our lives when we’ve done repetitive tasks with our hands, whether it was for fun or work. Our hands became stiff and painful. So many jobs now require long periods of time spent on the computer and pointing and clicking is a sure way to increase the odds of experiencing at least a touch of carpal tunnel syndrome.

As the number of personal computers owned has risen, so has the number of cases of carpel tunnel syndrome. If you are among the victims and have consulted with a physician about your condition, you may be facing the prospect of surgery. Understanding what is involved in carpal tunnel surgery may help you make this difficult decision.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed. When you involve your hands and wrists in repetitive motions over a long period of time it causes a tightening of the transverse carpel ligament. This ligament encircles the other ligaments that run parallel to one another down your arm. The purpose of carpel tunnel surgery is to lessen the pressure being place on the median nerve by the transverse carpel ligament.

When surgery is performed, the surgeon will make a small incision in the palm of the patient’s hand. It is done under twilight anesthesia and is a simple procedure. The surgeon cuts the transverse carpel ligament and this immediately eases the pressure on the median nerve. The ligament does take time to heal and it normally takes from two to six weeks for a full recovery. This surgery creates more room for the other ligaments and is intended to relieve the pain and pressure the patient has been experiencing.

There are risks involved. There is a chance that the surgery will not be 100% effective and that the carpel tunnel syndrome will reoccur. There is also a slight risk that the patient will lose strength in their hand or arm as a result of the surgical procedure. The outcome is somewhat unpredictable if your particular surgery involves a number of tiny nerves, muscles and ligaments. The surgery is also expensive and usually costs in the neighborhood of $10,000. Considering these factors does not make the decision an easy one.

And keep in mind there are many alternative methods to preventing carpel tunnel syndrome naturally before resorting to surgery. If you can have a physical therapist recommended to you by your doctor, they can show you some exercise techniques that will help loosen that transverse carpal ligament and return the strength and flexibility to your arms. Regardless of whether you have surgery or not, you will need to spend some time learning these types of stretches and techniques, so you might want to give them a try before resorting to surgery.

Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery may not be the quick fix you once thought it was. Therefore, you may benefit from first trying alternative forms of treatment before undergoing a surgical procedure that bears some risk.

About the Author:

The discomfort of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can make people desperate enough to take drastic measures in trying to find relief. Find out what doctors have known for years about carpal tunnel surgery that they might not tell you. There are alternatives!