How to Determine if Carpal Tunnel Surgery Is Necessary

Because the severity and duration of the symptoms can vary, you will need to determine if carpal tunnel surgery is necessary. Several non-surgical treatments for the disorder exist that can provide effective relief from the pain and discomfort without the risks that any surgical procedure carries.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Try to reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome with ice packs. If this does not provide effective relief, consider a more aggressive non-surgical therapy such as splinting.
2. Consult with your doctor about splinting your wrists. By holding the hands and wrists in a certain position while you sleep, splinting can reduce the pressure on the nerves which cause the symptoms. If this does not reduce the symptoms, you will have to move on to more effective treatments.
3. See a chiropractor. By keeping the bones of your forearm and wrist in proper alignment, the pressure that the carpal ligament exerts on the median nerve is reduced. If chiropractic care fails to solve the problem, you will have to try other treatment options.
4. Take medication. Depending on your specific condition you may be able to get prescription anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve your pain. Your doctor may inject corticosteroids into your carpal tunnel to alleviate symptoms. If this fails to achieve results, you may have to consider surgery.
5. Consider surgery as a viable option if you have exhausted the other common methods of treatment. Although the surgery is effective, the procedure should be viewed as a last resort when other options fail.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding a routine of sensible wrist exercises to your daily activities can be effective at keeping the symptoms of carpal tunnel at bay. Consult with your physician about appropriate exercises you can perform.
• Some alternative therapies have had limited success in alleviating carpal tunnel syndrome. Massage therapy and herbal therapy have been able to mitigate the symptoms of mild short-term carpal tunnel syndrome. Their efficacy with more serious cases of carpal tunnel has not been clinically proven.
• If the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are interfering with your daily activities, you should seek professional medical advice about your symptoms.