Carpal Tunnel Surgery Is Known To Cause Hand Weakness
Posted on July 5, 2009
Filed Under Physical Therapy | Leave a Comment
Relieving the pain when carpal tunnel symptoms flare up is difficult. It is not always possible to stop the activity causing the discomfort as it is usually caused by the work you do daily in the workplace. Performing the same movements repeatedly is the main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. You may have tingling in your fingertips or your entire hand. The pain and numbness may spread to the wrist, forearm, and all the way up through the upper arm, shoulder and neck. This can be extremely painful ranging from moderate to severe pain.
Many people believe surgery to be the only solution to the problem. They believe surgery will take care of this problem, but the truth is the surgery must be followed with therapy and exercise to prevent it from happening again. There are alternatives to surgery that will prevent or even eliminate this condition. Following these alternatives will obtain good results in time
Why does carpal tunnel syndrome happen? Why is it important to understand carpal tunnel syndrome in helping you decide your course of action? Most carpal tunnel syndrome happens in the wrists. It comes from typing too long, throwing a baseball, painting, or any job that requires a repeated action. The result of this repeated action causes the transverse carpal ligament to tighten up. The transverse carpal ligament is the ligament that bundles all of your other ligaments together at the wrist and gives you strength and leverage.
When the transverse carpal ligament becomes tighter, it causes undue pressure to the median nerve from the other ligaments. This irritates the nerve resulting in tingling, numbing of the fingertips or entire hand, loss of strength, and disabling pain through the fingers, hand, wrist, and arm. This results in loss of use of the entire arm and the ability to perform at work.
Would it make you happy to know there are many physical therapy exercises you can do to alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? Yes, through a physical therapist or by looking online, you will see there are many stretches you can do to help stretch out the transverse carpal ligament, as well as other massage techniques you can have done that will keep the soft tissue of your hand in a relaxed state. This also alleviates the pressure on the median nerve and relieves a great deal of carpal tunnel pain.
The only other choice you have is surgery, which involves relieving the pressure on the median nerve by cutting the transverse carpal ligament. This surgery brings quick relief from the pressure on the nerve but it will take time to heal and is also quite expensive.
Knowing this, does it seem worth it to opt for surgery? The best and most immediate option you have is to try and develop better habits and stretching exercises for yourself that will help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Give yourself the benefit of a natural option before considering surgery.
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