Invasive Treatments - Do They Really Work For
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Jeff P. Anliker, LMT
If you have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS),
you may be wondering – what next? Below you will find
information regarding the most common (not the best) treatment
options currently in use in the medical industry and their
success and failure rates.
If you have received a positive carpal tunnel diagnosis, most
doctors will push for cortisone injections and/or surgery,
procedures that have poor success rates and ones that should
only be performed as a last resort, after all other
conservative treatment methods have been utilized.
The following information provides details about what each
current procedure entails as well as statistics that reveal why
conservative therapy should be implemented over the following
invasive treatment methods.
CORTISONE INJECTIONS FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Cortisone is medication that treats inflammation only. Often
the carpal tunnel pain will subside because the inflammation of
the median nerve is reduced from the use of the cortisone, but
this is only a temporary effect.
The one main problem with cortisone is that for 21 days
following the injection, the tendons have the consistency of
rubber and can be seriously overstretched and damaged. This is
a common side effect that most doctors fail to tell their
patients. If the patient continues overusing and/or stressing
their hands and wrists, the tendons can overstretch and cause
the structural integrity of the joint to diminish greatly,
causing the joint to become loose and sloppy, resulting in an
even greater possibility of further injury and damage.
Cortisone can be used wisely as a part of a carpal tunnel
treatment program along with the implementation of proper
stretches add exercises, the most important tool that can be
used to recover from carpal tunnel. If cortisone is utilized,
it is good for the patient to take this time, when the carpal
tunnel is not inflamed, to be on a conservative therapy program
to correct the existing muscle imbalance in the wrist joint and
eliminate the carpal tunnel symptoms for good. The problem is
that most doctors give the cortisone shot and the patient goes
home and either does nothing, or does too much, causing greater
trauma to the median nerve within the carpal tunnel and
exacerbating the symptoms.
Steroid (Cortisone) Injection Statistic:
*Failure rate (Including "partial success" as failure) is 72.6%
after 1-year follow up. Source: Irwin, et al. J Hand Surgery.
SURGERY FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Carpal tunnel surgery consists of releasing (severing) the
transverse carpal ligament that forms the roof of the carpal
tunnel. Surgery is utilized to open and widen the carpal tunnel
in order to allow more room for the median nerve, artery and
nine flexor tendons to move around. There are several surgical
procedures that are utilized to achieve this:
· Open Release Surgery: A local anesthetic is injected into the
wrist and/or hand and a 2-3-inch incision is made in the palm
and cuts the carpal ligament free from the underlying median
nerve. This operation takes about 20-25 minutes.
· “Mini” Open Release Surgery: The mini-open release technique
involves an incision that is about 1.5 inches long and can be
performed in the doctor's office with only a local anesthetic.
The operation takes only about 12 minutes.
· Endoscopic Release Surgery: The Endoscopic technique is less
invasive and uses involves one or two .5” inch long incisions
in the wrist and or palm, and one or two endoscope
(pencil-thin) tubes are inserted. A tiny camera and a knife are
inserted through these lighted tubes. While observing the carpal
ligament on a television monitor, the surgeon cuts the ligament
to free the compressed median nerve.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery Statistics:
*“Only 23% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients were able to
return to their previous professions following surgery.”
Source: NIOSH
*“Carpal tunnel surgery has about a 57% failure rate following
patients from 1-day to 6-years. At least one of the following
symptoms re-occurred during this time: Pain, Numbness, Tingling
sensations.” Source: Nancollas, et al, 1995. J. Hand Surgery.
CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Conservative therapy is really the only key to preventing
carpal tunnel syndrome as well as for the successful recovery
and long-term relief of existing carpal tunnel symptoms, even
for post-surgery patients that have experienced little relief.
Always try conservative therapy first and eliminate future
injections and surgical procedures – Try the "Conservative
Alternative".
About The Author: Jeff P. Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and
Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by
Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the
world. Balance Systems, Inc.
http://www.repetitive-strain.com
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