Carpal Tunnel: Consider the Treatment Options

If you are tired of your hands or wrists hurting due to carpal tunnel syndrome, it may be time to see a plastic surgeon about it. While splinting can often solve the problem, surgery can relieve the pressure on the median nerve that causes the discomfort, meaning that you can be pain-free after the procedure. Consider the details of the two main types of treatment before you schedule an appointment with an experienced doctor.

Most cases of carpal tunnel can be solved with nonsurgical treatments, even at home. For example, you can usually try to solve the issue taking frequent breaks if you work at the computer often. Since this syndrome is usually caused by repetitive motions, which can also often occur during sports, you should think about the movements you might be making that cause this problem. Taking a break from the motions may relieve the pain of carpal tunnel, whether it is likely using a computer mouse and keyboard all day or golfing. You can also do hand and wrist exercises throughout the day.

If none of these methods work, you can go to your local doctor, who may give you a splint to wear at night so that your hands ands wrists remain straight and motionless. If the pain remains, you may need steroids injected to the site to take care of the issue. In some cases, this is all that is needed to get rid of the pain, but if you have a severe case, you may need surgery.

A plastic surgeon can typically use surgery to help get rid of the pain associated with carpal tunnel. This is because he or she cuts into the ligament in order to take pressure off the median nerve, as its compression is often what is causing the pain. This type of surgery does not take long to heal from, and results in you having less pain in your hands and wrists.

Your first move should be to try to treat the issue on your own by taking lots of breaks throughout the day and doing hand and wrist exercises. However, if this approach does not work, you should go to a plastic surgeon to consider other treatments, including steroids, splints, and surgery. Though the thought of a surgical procedure is often scary to many people, know that it may very well be the only method that works, meaning that it may be just the thing to get rid of your carpal tunnel pain for good.