Do you commonly experience pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your hand or arm? If so, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome. There’s a nerve that extends from your arm into your hand (the median nerve), and it has to travel through a narrow opening in your wrist (the carpal tunnel). When the carpal tunnel becomes narrowed—usually due to swelling—it places pressure on the median nerve, which in turn produces the symptoms mentioned above.
Luckily, if you’re in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, or a nearby area, you can look to North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic for treatment. We’ve been serving patients in this community since 2003 and we’re known for providing specialized care and personalized service. Our skilled orthopedists have extensive experience treating carpal tunnel syndrome and can even perform carpal tunnel surgery if needed.
When Is Carpal Tunnel Surgery Necessary?
In many cases, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be relieved using conservative measures, such as taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), bracing or splinting the wrist, performing nerve-gliding exercises, undergoing corticosteroid injections, and periodically resting the wrist. However, carpal tunnel surgery may be necessary if your symptoms have lasted for an extended period of time, you’re having a hard time grasping objects with the affected hand, or conservative techniques haven’t provided sufficient relief.
What Does Carpal Tunnel Surgery Involve?
The goal of carpal tunnel surgery is to reduce pressure on the median nerve. During the procedure, the surgeon divides the transverse ligament, which forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. Even after the ligament heals, there will still be additional room for the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
Find Out More
If you’re in the Chapel Hill, NC, area and think you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, contact North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic today to schedule an appointment. After performing an examination, talking with you about your symptoms, and possibly performing some diagnostic tests, we’ll be able to let you know whether you’re a candidate for carpal tunnel surgery. Don’t wait to seek help—carpal tunnel syndrome tends to get worse over time, sometimes even leading to nerve damage, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.