No one likes to think about having hand surgery, or most any other type of surgery for that matter. Doctors do not take the situation lightly when they recommend surgery either. Nevertheless, it is sometimes necessary, especially for individuals who have been suffering from chronic pain and nothing else they have tried has brought any relief. If you are in a situation like this, it may very well be that hand surgery is a more attractive option than continuing to live in pain. Any discomfort from the process of recovering from surgery is short-lived. The chronic pain has already proven to be long-lasting, which is why you are considering hand surgery in the first place.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common reason for which many people undergo wrist and hand surgery. It happens when the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel becomes irritated. This can happen if the space through which the nerve passes becomes too narrow and pinches or otherwise puts pressure on the nerve. People who have jobs that involve a lot of repetitive motion of the hands and wrist are at a higher risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome than the general public.
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include pain in the wrist, forearm, palm and fingers. If the problem persists and does not improve with other treatment methods, it may be necessary to perform wrist and/or hand surgery to open up the tunnel in a way that takes the pressure off the nerve.
De Quervain tendonitis is another condition that can cause chronic pain around one or both hands. It is caused when the tendons at the base of the thumb that connect to the wrist become irritated or inflamed. Like carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive motion is often what leads to its development. People who have the condition often have trouble making a fist or turning the wrist. It can also be difficult to hold objects in the hand. Whenever treatments like cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications have not brought improvement, hand surgery may be the only other option.
Another source of chronic pain can be a condition known as trigger finger. It gets its name because it causes the fingers or thumb to lock in a bent position. Trying to straighten them can be extremely painful at times. It happens when the tendons that control the movement of the fingers and thumb become irritated. Over time, the irritation causes them to thicken within the sheath that surrounds them. While it is unknown exactly what causes it, people with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or gout have a higher risk of developing it. If treatments like corticosteroid injections do not help, hand surgery may be necessary.
If you have any of these or other conditions that are causing you a significant amount of hand pain or are making it difficult to use your hands, you might want to consult our team at Arora Hand Surgery to find out if surgery is a viable option. As much as you may want to avoid going through surgery, it may be your best answer to avoiding a life of pain.
Arora Hand Surgery has offices in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more.
