Carpal tunnel surgery

What is the carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the types of compression neuropathy. In brief this means that – a nerve is compressed in the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a sort of tunnel in the wrist, where flexor tendons and the median nerve, which ensures sensitivity in the fingers, are situated. When the nerve is compressed, sensitivity of fingers is limited, pain appears and fine movements of fingers are impaired.

Causes of the carpal tunnel disease

The most common causes of the development of carpal tunnel syndrome include inheritance, overload, trauma, uniform monotonous movements or various other diseases. As a result of these causes, the sheath of the nerve and nerve fibres are damaged and the first symptoms of the disease appear. Usually, people who perform monotonous work with their hands, who constantly keep their hands in a tense position or hold them up for long periods of time, develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Nowadays this syndrome is common among office workers, because their work is closely related to the use of computer, although, historically, this disease had been called milker’s hand, because it most commonly occurred in women – milkers.

Treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome may cause multiple different complications in daily life; therefore, the patients should not ignore the disease and promptly seek medical care. Once a physician has diagnosed you with carpal tunnel syndrome, the therapy should be commenced immediately. Different methods of treating carpal tunnel syndrome exist, for instance, use of medicinal products, treatment by rest and recreation. However, in cases where the disease persists, it can be easily treated by surgical intervention. Prompt surgery may give hope of quick and stable recovery. If untreated for a long period of time, the disease may result in incapacity of your hand to perform elementary movements and even disability.

Surgery process

Carpal tunnel surgery is a painless procedure and is performed under local anaesthesia. It is a comparatively simple operation that on average lasts less than half an hour. A small incision in the wrist is made, thus revealing the carpal tunnel and reducing the pressure on the nerve. The patient may feel mild pain and discomfort in the operated area during the post-surgical period. The wound usually heals within two weeks and no redressing of the wound is required. Night pain usually disappears on the night that follows the operation.

How can you reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?

Try to hold your wrist joints as straight as possible to best suit the natural physiological position of the joint. Frequent and constant flexion and extension of the wrist should be avoided. Keep your hands warm, make time in order to relax your hands after long-term physical load. Keep your hands and arms in the correct position while working. Performance of works that expose hands to long-term load and monotonous, repeated movements is not recommended.

Why choose us?

“Ādažu privātslimnīca” specialists have many years of experience in carpal tunnel and Dupuytren’s contracture surgeries. The long-term experience, extensive knowledge and modern working methods of highly qualified doctors, using state-of-the-art medical equipment, give hope for the best possible result.