Reasons for Carpal Tunnel Release: An Overview
The goal of
carpal tunnel release is to relieve pressure on a specific nerve in your wrist, called the median nerve. When the median nerve is compressed, symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain (usually in the thumb, index, and middle fingers) begin to develop. It is also common for your affected hand to feel clumsy.
Patients with medical conditions such as
diabetes, hypothyroidism, and
rheumatoid arthritis are more often affected with
carpal tunnel syndrome. It is also more common during pregnancy, after wrist injuries, and in people who perform repetitive tasks with their hands.
Non-surgical methods to help relieve the symptoms of
carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Modifying or changing wrist movements
- Wearing a wrist splint
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications.
If these treatment methods fail to provide relief of the symptoms, an injection of steroids around the nerve can be used. However, if these non-surgical methods have not provided significant relief of your symptoms, your doctor may feel that a carpal tunnel release is appropriate for your situation.
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