How Do I Know If I Need Hand Surgery?

 

How do I know if I need hand surgery?

If you live with chronic hand or wrist pain, chances are you're desperate for relief. Many times, non-surgical treatment is quite effective as a cure for hand and wrist pain. However, there are circumstances where hand surgery is the only long-term solution. So when is it time to consider hand surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or another hand condition? When do I need carpal tunnel surgery? You may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome if you have: Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, or half of the ring finger  Severe night pain Pain radiating to forearms, shoulders, and neck Dropping objects Objects falling from the hand Weak grip strength Pain relief is the primary purpose of most hand surgeries, including carpal tunnel release surgery. Individual pain thresholds vary, so some individuals let the condition progress further than others before considering hand surgery. In most cases, carpal tunnel patients decide that hand surgery is necessary when they begin to experience numbness in the fingers, severe pain at night, and radiating pain in the hand. There are three different surgical options for treating carpal tunnel pain: Open carpal tunnel release - traditional surgery with a large incision, longer recovery time. Mini Carpal Tunnel Release - traditional open surgery with a smaller incision. Endoscopic carpal tunnel release (also known as sutureless procedure) – minimally invasive, 10-minute procedure, no sutures, short recovery time. Can You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis Surgery? Rheumatoid arthritis has no known cure. It is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disorder, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its tissues. For this reason, the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis focuses primarily on controlling symptoms and preventing joint damage. You may have rheumatoid arthritis if you suffer from: Tender, warm, swollen joints Morning stiffness that can last for hours Rheumatoid nodules - firm lumps of tissue under the skin on the arms Fatigue, fever, and weight loss Because there is no absolute cure for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand, medications can reduce joint swelling, relieve pain, and prevent or slow joint damage, but very little else. The best treatment is to manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis as best as possible from the very beginning. Being proactive in this way will hopefully prevent or slow down irreparable damage to your hands. Unfortunately, many who suffer from hand and wrist arthritis do not take action until the pain is severe and the damage has already begun. Severely damaged joints due to rheumatoid arthritis of the hand require hand surgery. If medications and other treatments do not prevent joint damage from rheumatoid arthritis, several surgical procedures should be considered: Total joint replacement - The damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis made of metal or plastic Tendon Repair – Surgical repair of tendons around joints that may have become loose or ruptured Joint fusion – for cases where joint replacement is not possible; two joints may be fused to stabilize or realign the joint, often resulting in pain relief It is difficult to restore full finger function after damage from rheumatoid arthritis, but significant improvements in function, pain, and appearance can be expected after this type of hand surgery. Removing or repairing arthritic areas will not remove the cause of the disease, which means the problems may return, requiring further attention from your GP. Is there surgery to remove ganglion cysts? Ganglion cysts are very common and usually appear on the wrist. A cyst is a pocket of fluid that has formed at a weak spot in the fibrous wall. Ganglion cysts are almost always benign, meaning they are not cancerous. Ganglion cysts generally do not cause pain or limit a person's range of motion. Of course, this is not always the case. In some individuals, cysts like these can be chronically painful and must be treated.