Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can occur in either one or both hands and is a result of a pinched nerve (the median nerve) at the wrist, causing tingling (or even pain) and numbness of the fingers in the affected hand. The exact causes are unknown but it occurs when pressure builds up in the carpal tunnel which houses the median nerve, thereby pressing on the nerve. Symptoms can worsen during pregnancy, in patients with diabetes or arthritis, or as a result of overuse of the hand.

If non-surgical treatment fails to alleviate the problem, surgery aims at increasing the size of the carpal tunnel, thereby relieving the pressure on the nerve contained within the tunnel. The procedure is performed as a day only procedure in hospital and sutures are removed on Day 10 post-operatively. Recovery can be aided by hand therapy and patients usually return to work the next day for non-clerical roles, and manual work after two weeks.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. The information provided here is for general educational purposes only. If you would like to know more, please contact us on (02) 9868 5155 to arrange an appointment or e-mail any enquiries to Dr Peter Haertsch.