Find Relief Without Carpal Tunnel Surgery

If your job requires you to work closely with your hands and wrists, you may have an inkling about what carpal tunnel syndrome feels like. You can recognize that tightening in your forearm, and the numbness and even pain you will begin to feel in your wrists and hands. You know what it feels like to wake up from a sound sleep with these sensations, and you may be wondering what in the world you can do about it.

To understand what carpal tunnel syndrome does, you need to learn about the physiology of your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed. This debilitating and sometimes painful condition usually needs some type of treatment to make it better.

This problem can be terrible for those who need to use their hands and arms every day to work. Typists, data entry clerks, and others who work on computers know that carpal tunnel can make you lose your job. Those who paint houses, work in construction or even style hair for a living may be under similar pressure. Most people just take it for granted that their hands and wrists will always do exactly what they need to do. It comes as a surprise to them when they begin feeling numbness or pain.

Surgery is one option for those who wish to be rid of the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery is usually done under “twilight anesthesia”. The surgery itself involves cutting the transverse carpal ligament to relieve ongoing damage to the nerves. The transverse carpal ligament is a ligament at the wrist that wraps around all the other ligaments running vertically along the arm. The idea is that cutting this ever tightening ligament will immediately reduce pressure on the other ligaments. The transverse carpal ligament will then “scar” together while leaving more room for the other ligaments.

No one can predict the true outcome of any surgery. When you are dealing with a complicated area containing small bones, ligaments and muscles like the hand and wrist, this can make it even more unpredictable. Costs of surgery and rehabilitation can cost up to $10,000 or more and you may still find yourself with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. There is also the possibility of losing strength in your arms and wrists.

Prevention and relief of carpal tunnel syndrome may be easier than you think. Take a few days off from whatever it is you do that aggravates your condition. This rest period will help, even if it is only a short time. Start some simple wrist exercises that will help stretch the transverse carpal ligament. This will help take the pressure off everything inside the carpal tunnel. You may need to work with a physical therapist to find the perfect stretches for you. Results should be felt almost immediately. Surgery should always be a last resort.

Preventing carpal tunnel is fairly easy. With only a little effort, the stretches and exercises will reduce the compression of your median nerve so you can avoid surgery.

Many carpal tunnel sufferers resort to surgery to try when looking for relief from their pain. However, what some doctors keep from their patients is that invasive surgery doesn’t always alleviate all of your symptoms and can actually cause more problems. Follow this link to learn about avoiding carpal tunnel surgery.

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