by Tom Nicholson

Many people who are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome first imagine that the only way they can get relief is through surgery. For those who have spent days or hours stuck behind a computer trying to plug away at their projects, dealing with the numbness and pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, this is not a pleasant sounding option. But it’s not only office workers who are considering surgery as an option. It is construction workers, painters and many other types of workers as well.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs in the wrists and hands when a person uses a repeated motion for hours at a time through out their day. And if they have bad posture or poor technique then they are likely to make the situation worse. Imagine a person slouched over their computer keyboard for hours on end, never taking a break or stretching their hands and wrists. This person is looking for trouble and they will likely find in with carpel tunnel syndrome.

To understand carpal tunnel syndrome, you need to understand the physiology of the syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome, quite simply, is the tightening of the wrist that compresses the median nerve and causes all of the typical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. It can be a debilitating and sometimes excruciating condition that requires some sort of intervention to repair.

While there are many types of intervention, 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”, a somewhat reduces form of 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 surgery is without its risks, and those who have carpal tunnel syndrome may even lose a great deal of strength in their wrists as a result. You also risk damaging any other nerves or tendons in the area. It just isn’t a very viable option unless it is absolutely your last resort. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome can cost up to $10,000 dollars and leave you with weeks of recovery time.

Better solutions recommended by most therapists are to create an environment that is ergonomically sound. Also, use proper posture and technique so that the strain of your job is not limited to your wrists. Stretching of the wrists and taking breaks every now and again is also a great way to relieve that pressure. You can even have hand and wrist massages done that will greatly loosed the soft tissue in the hands and should prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. With all of these options available, it seems amazing that any one would choose surgery first.

Before considering surgery, be informed about carpal tunnel syndrome and make the right choice when it comes to your health. You want to focus on healthy habits first!

About the Author:
When something goes awry, trying to fix the problem is more than a small task. The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is more difficult than the prevention of it, especially when you consider invasive tactics. Often the invasive tactics is not even effective,and it has been known to worsen the symptoms of cts. Learn all you can about carpal tunnel invasive tactics before considering it!

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