The carpal tunnel is made up of the carpal bones on one side, and the other side is closed by a tight connective tissue (transverse carpal ligament). Through this tunnel, from the forearm to the hand, enters the median nerve, but also the muscle tendons that move the fingers.

When the median nerve is under constant pressure, or any prolonged exertion and irritation, carpal tunnel syndrome arises. If left untreated this condition can lead to carpal tunnel surgery.

Carpal tunnel surgery involves reducing pressure on the median nerve. The surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia and is a quick outpatient surgery.

How Will I Know If I Need Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
The symptoms can be mild but also very severe. You may feel pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in your hand, wrist, and/or fingers. As a result, their function is impaired and fine motor skills are impeded: it is difficult to open a bottle, cut bread, pour coffee, etc.

Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is performed if:

• After prolonged nonsurgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (several weeks or months), you have intermittent problems.
• You have serious disturbances (such as loss of coordination of movement of the fingers or hands or loss of strength of the thumb muscles) that adversely affect your daily functioning.
• There are signs of nerve damage (proven by testing nerve function or impairing hand or thumb function) or there is a risk of nerve damage.

[Learn more: How To Avoid Carpal Tunnel Syndrome]

If any of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome above seem all too familiar to you, it might be time to speak with a hand surgeon about your condition to find treatment options. With a fellowship in surgery of the hand, Dr. Yospur can talk to you about whether or not you will need carpal tunnel surgery.

Contact us today.