Non-Surgical And Surgical Treatments For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that can affect your hand and arm. A number of factors can lead to its development, including having an inflammatory disease or repetitive flexing throughout the day while working. If you have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, your orthopaedic specialist can opt for non-surgical or surgical treatments.

Non-Surgical Treatments

The non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome focus on relieving pain and giving the distressed area time to heal. Part of a specialist's plan usually includes refraining from the activities that led to the development of the condition. 

Other treatment options can include using cold packs to help alleviate swelling. A splint could be used to limit the amount of movement from the wrist. This is especially important during nighttime hours while you sleep, since you are less aware of your wrist's movement while sleeping. 

To control the pain that you can experience, over-the-counter pain medications can be used. The medications do not play a role in healing the wrist, but they can help you with alleviating the pain. If you continue to experience pain, your specialist might inject corticosteroids into the carpal tunnel. Not only do the injections help with the pain, but they also help with swelling. 

Surgical Treatments

In the event that the non-surgical options are not effective in treating your symptoms, surgery could be recommended by your specialist. There are a few surgical options that could be utilized. For instance, your orthopaedic specialist could recommend endoscopic surgery. 

During endoscopic surgery, the surgeon relies on a camera to see the interior of your carpal tunnel. He or she will use this as a guide while cutting ligaments to relieve pressure on the median nerve that it is pressed against, which is causing the pain and swelling you are experiencing. 

Open surgery is also an option that is performed to alleviate pressure on the median nerve. In open surgery, an incision is made in the palm of your hand. Through the incision, your doctor will cut the ligament pressing on the median nerve. 

The most important thing to do if you have carpal tunnel syndrome is to seek medical help immediately. The earlier the condition is detected and treated, the less likely it is that your doctor will have to resort to surgical treatment to relieve pain and swelling. You might have to have a combination of treatments to get the most relief from your symptoms.

For more details, get in touch with a center like Martin Medical Center.