Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Flowood, MS

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. When the swelling from this increased pressure becomes great enough to disturb the way the nerve works, numbness, tingling, and pain may be felt in the arm, hand, and fingers. Symptoms are usually felt during the night but also may be noticed during daily activities such as driving or reading a newspaper.

If you suspect that you suffer from CTS, a personal consultation with a Face & Body Center surgeon should be your first step. At our Jackson, MS practice, your carpal tunnel syndrome specialist will take a detailed look at your medical history, including medical conditions, how the hands have been used, and whether there were any prior injuries. Thyroid conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes can be associated with CTS.

Symptoms can often be relieved without surgery through wrist splints and steroid injections. If symptoms persist, surgery may be needed to make more room for the nerve. Following surgery, soreness around the incision may last for several weeks, and it can take several months for strength in the hand and wrist to return to normal. Your Jackson, MS carpal tunnel syndrome specialist will consult with you to determine the best course of treatment for your CTS.

• Open release: After a general anesthetic, this surgery involves a small incision, 1 –2 inches in size, made in the wrist area. The hand surgeon is then able to see and sever the carpal tunnel ligament clearly, and relieve the painful symptoms.
• Endoscopic release: A local anesthetic is implemented before 2 small incisions are made in the hand, and tiny tubes are inserted into each of the incisions. A small endoscopic camera is fed through an incision, and a small knife through the other. The camera gives a clear view of the carpal ligament, which allows the hand surgeon to cut through it without having to open the skin or carpal tunnel cover.

Carpal tunnel syndrome cannot be cured completely, but its symptoms can be alleviated and the success rate of a surgical procedure is up to 90% or more. Once the surgery is successfully completed, the chances of recurrence in the patient after years is rare. The surgery is not very complicated or time consuming, and in the hands of some of the best hand surgeons at Face & Body Center, there is no reason to be fearful.

If you are suffering from irreversible pain in your hands and wrists, or have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, please call and schedule a carpal tunnel consultation today. When you have a profession where using your hands is an important part of your job, being pain-free is essential. Our hand surgeons at Face & Body Center can provide you with long-term relief.