Might carpal tunnel syndrome ever require surgery?

Yes: Many patients can adequately treat symptoms of cts with simple, non-operative treatment. This might include night splints, nsaids, cortisone injection into carpal canal. If symptoms continue or progress, with incrasinain, weakness, or worsening numbness and tingling, surgery may be required.

I can: When carpal tunnel syndrome is mild causes only occasional numbness and tingling in the fingers. Typically the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring. If the symptoms are only every now and then it is merely a nuisance and does not cause any permanent nerve damage. A carpal tunnel release if an option if the symptoms are bothersome.

Yes: Carpal tunnel release is the most common operation done by hand surgeons and the only proven disease modifying available therapy.

Carpal tunnel: Treatment for carpal tunnel can range from conservative to surgical. Antiinflammatory medication, splints to start. Injections in the wrist. Nerve studies and at times surgery. Carpal tunnel release can be done open or endoscopic. A hand surgeon can help but the questions to ask are is there potential damage if i wait and can conservative treament work ., .

Yes: A carpal tunnel release is a very effective procedure for patients that have failed conservative care.

Variable: Surgery often addresses years of symptoms which have been managed mostly palliatively, and have lead to a sequence of remissions and exacerbations. Since surgery can have risk, often used as a last resort. But skilled experienced hand surgeons can truly effect miraculous outcomes, and newer techniques leave almost un-noticeable scarring.