Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Release
At Cumbria Surgical Services, we provide flexible appointment options designed to help you find relief from carpal tunnel syndrome. Our highly skilled surgeons specialise in minor surgery under local anaesthetic, set in modern community healthcare facilities.
To advise on your best course of action, simply complete our quick online assessment. The outcome of this will determine what type of appointment we recommend you book with us: either Virtual or In-person Consultations, or One-stop procedure appointments.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand.
It is caused when your median nerve, which runs from your forearm to the palm of your hand, becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel structure of your wrist.
This could be due to the space in the carpal tunnel structure becoming reduced, or due to the volume of its contents increasing.
The compression of the nerve causes an uncomfortable “pins and needles” sensation in your hand.
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
The compression of the nerve can trigger a “pins and needles” sensation in the fingers and thumbs.
The pain typically affects the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger. It often causes weakness, difficulty gripping, and an aching pain that can travel up the forearm.
These symptoms often worsen at night or during activities like driving.
In some instances, carpal tunnel syndrome can resolve itself in time, most commonly where it has developed during pregnancy.
Why does carpal tunnel syndrome develop?
Various factors can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome developing, including:
How can we help treat your carpal tunnel syndrome?
The treatment options available to you depend upon the severity and frequency of the pain you experience.
First, we request you complete a short questionnaire. This will help determine the severity of your symptoms, and if you would like further support from Cumbria Surgical Services, it then guides you to the most appropriate appointment to book with us.
Surgery is not always the best course of action for carpal tunnel syndrome. We also offer consultation appointments with our surgeon, who can offer advice, provide gentle stretching exercises and if suitable, a steroid injection around the nerve. A splint to wear on the wrist at night can also be offered. If used consistently over the course of 4-8 weeks, you can hope to achieve significant relief from your symptoms as the median nerve recovers. Our consultations are available virtually or in person.
However, if you do want to proceed with a procedure, we offer a ‘One-Stop Shop’ appointment. This includes both a consultation and a Carpal Tunnel Release surgical procedure in one visit. The decompression procedure helps relieve pressure on the median nerve by dividing the ligament overlying it. It is a short procedure carried out under local anaesthetic typically only taking 20 minutes.
Procedures
What will recovery be like from a Carpal Tunnel Release procedure?
The hand can only return to normal when the ligament that was divided during the operation has reformed. This will take several weeks. During this phase the hand will feel sore and weak and although some of the symptoms will have been relieved, sensation in the fingers can take several months to improve, and some pain and discomfort can persist for several weeks.
Following the procedure, you will probably need some time off work. The period will depend on the type of work you do. We would encourage you to use the hand for all day-to-day activities doing whatever is comfortable for you to do, however, heavy lifting and hard manual work should be avoided for about 4 weeks.
Need extra help to make a decision?
Although this operation is thought of as a quick day-case procedure, the recovery period can be prolonged, but the long-term results are generally good.
The following guide produced by the NHS provides an excellent overview of the risks, benefits and potential outcomes. Please click below to view it.
