Carpal Tunnel Surgery & LimbO

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a fairly common condition which is characterised by a tingling sensation, numbness and sometimes pain in the hand and fingers.These symptoms usually develop gradually and may be worse during the night. If surgery is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, a LimbO will come in handy!

So what causes carpal tunnel syndrome? Well, compression of the median nerve in the hand which is responsible for sensation and movement of the hand, is to blame. If you’re confused as to why it’s called carpal tunnel syndrome – the carpal tunnel is a narrow passage within your wrist composed of small bones and a strong band of tissue which assists the tendons that bend the fingers.

The main risk factors for CTS are a family history of CTS, injuries to the wrist, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and strenuous, repetitive movement of the hand. Astonishingly up to half of pregnant women suffer from the condition.

Unless your case of CTS is very severe, surgery will not be immediately considered. Often, the patient is given a wrist splint which will hold the wrist in a neutral position as bending of the wrist may place excess pressure on the damaged nerve which would worsen symptoms

. People usually notice an improvement after about four weeks of using the wrist splint. Another common treatment is corticosteroids. These steroids should help to decrease inflammation. Although corticosteroids do come in tablet form, it is more likely that you will have an injection of the steroid directly into your wrist. Whether you are given more than one injection will depend on your response to the treatment.

For serious cases of CTS which have not responded to the other treatments, carpal tunnel release surgery will be considered. The surgery includes making either a single cut or a few small cuts in the roof of the carpal tunnel in order to relieve pressure on the median nerve and it is performed under a local anaesthetic.

Following surgery, you will have a bandage on your hand. You’ll already be uncomfortable enough so we don’t think you should have the added struggle of avoiding getting your bandage wet in the bath or shower. The hand injury LimbO mitt is specially designed for a bandage or dressing on the hand or fingers. The LimbO waterproof protector will allow you to relax in the bath or shower as you should be able to without having to worry about your bandage getting wet. Even once you’ve had your bandage taken off, you may be worried about getting hot water or soap on the area of skin where the operation was carried out, and may want to continue using your LimbO for a bit longer.

If you’re interested in a LimbO because you or someone you know may have to have carpal tunnel release surgery, they are available to purchase on this website. If you’d rather order a LimbO on the phone, feel free to call us on 1300 767888 or if you would like more information, send us an email to info@healthsaver.com.au and we’re happy to answer any questions!