The treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This is often directed at decreasing the inflammation of the tendons. Injections of steroids, such as cortisone, can lead to a temporary decrease in the swelling. This will temporarily allow the median nerve more room in the carpal tunnel, and relieve the pain.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are magnified at night because the hand is at the same level of the heart, leading to pooling of the fluid in the soft tissues within the canal. Also, we tend to flex our wrists at night during dreaming, creating pressure within the canal. The most common treatment without the use of medications or injections is a night splint. The splint prevents patients from flexing their wrists at night, which relives some pressure within the canal.

There are also hormonal changes which are quite complicated that can lead to increased fluid retention at night. As a remedy to this, some researchers believe that high doses of vitamin B6 can act as a diuretic and decrease fluid in the carpal canal, leading to relieve of symptoms.

If the compression is severe enough and the patient does not respond to conservative treatment, the next step would be surgery. Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is also misunderstood by the public. People think they will lose function in their hand if they have surgery. The truth is that surgery is extremely successful.

This surgery actually entails a very simple concept. A division is made in the ligament which serves as the roof of the carpal tunnel. This increases the space in the carpal tunnel, allowing the median nerve to function better.