Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CTS is treated by immobilizing the wrist in a splint. Then, either anti?inflammatory drugs or injections of cortisone are used to reduce swelling in the wrist. There is also a surgical procedure in which doctors can open the wrist and cut the ligament at the bottom of the wrist to relieve the pressure. However, only a small percentage of patients require surgery.

Most people with CTS recover completely and can avoid re-injury by changing the way they do repetitive movements, the frequency with which they do the movements, and the amount of time they rest between periods when they perform the movements. Approximately 1 percent of individuals with CTS develop permanent injury.