Most of the Time Carpal Tunnel Surgery Doesn’t Work
Written by Lovelyn on July 28, 2008 – 11:05 am -
Most of the time carpal tunnel surgery doesn’t work. This might sound shocking to some, but it’s true. As a massage therapist, I’ve worked on quite a few people who have had carpal tunnel surgery and continue to have symptoms.
When you get carpal tunnel surgery the doctor cuts the transverse carpal ligament. This is the roof of the carpal tunnel. Cutting this tissues gives the median nerve (compression of this nerve causes the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome) more room. This relieves pressure on the nerve. The relief of pressure is usually only temporary due to the formation of scar tissue after the surgery. Many times the surgery has to be repeated two years later. The surgery can also lead to loss of grip strength and has a 57% failure rate with some or all of the symptoms returning from one day to six years after surgery.
When people feel the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome starting they’re scared. I understand. I’ve had these symptoms. When I’m not taking proper care of myself they reoccur. When you feel these symptoms coming on go to your doctor and get a diagnosis, but don’t let your doctor scare you into getting surgery right away. There are other alternative treatments to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Concentrate on keeping your wrists in a relaxed neutral position when you perform tasks. Don’t let them be overly flexed or extended. When I feel symptoms of carpal tunnel reoccurring, I start doing self-massage and wrists exercises immediately.
I wrote an ebook called Self-Massage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that explains the massage, stretching and exercise techniques I use. This ebook is for sale for only $10 because I wanted it to be affordable for everyone. So try it out. It worked for me.
Find alternatives to surgery that are right for you.
Photo by daveparker.
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Tags: carpal tunnel syndrome, heath
Posted in Healthy Living |
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Nice post…and very true. I would suggest also neuromuscular massage therapy techniques as this relieves the muscle tension that causes CT to begin with. Keeping the muscles relaxed is the key to keeping that nerve channel open. You can learn to do something called trigger pointing too if you ask your therapist to teach you how to recover from a flare up using the technique. Blessings!!
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
@Greenwoman
Those are all very good points. Neuromuscular massage works well. Getting the muscles loose from the hand all the way up to the neck on the effected side also helps tremendously.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I have to go see a doctor since i might have it! I really do not want surgery and i am scared i will always have this problem!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Surgery is used as a last resort. If you change the way you do things to practice good ergonomics and stretch your forearm flexors and strengthen your forearm extensors you should be all right. It just depends on how badly you have the condition. You probably will always have a tendency towards getting it, but if you take good care of your hands you won’t have to worry. Occasionally, I start to get a burning feeling in my hands that reminds me that I have to take care of them. This happens very rarely though and doesn’t stop me from doing things in my life that I really want to though.