colej
Have not had the condition but worked on a hand clinic team that say dozens of cases a year.
As you know its a very common , repetitive use injury that results in inflammation of the tendons that pass through your wrist. Also passing through that same "tunnel" in the wrist are blood vessels and the median nerve. When the tendons become inflamed the space in the wrist becomes compromised and you begin to get pressure on the nerves and vascular structures resulting in pain, weakness and sensory loss in the area of the hand supplies by those structures.
There are really only 2 ways to remedy the condition
1. Stop all repetitive use of the hand in question, often a night splint is prescribed along with ice and anti-inflammatories , steroid injection, and rest until symptoms go away. Typically , stopping the activities permanently that caused the condition is needed.
- Surgical release of the transverse carpal ligament that makes up the palmar side of the tunnel. This will result in immediate relief of the pressure in the wrist/tunnel. its a quick and simple procedure.
The problem with putting the surgery off is that you are going to be living with pain and reduced function of the hand but more importantly, you risk permanent sensation and nerve issues with long term compression of the nerve.
Corticosteroid injections can be effective for temporary relief but unless the activities that caused the condition are stopped , chances are high that the condition returns. Any credible Dr will only give 2 injections.
Conservative management is always the preferred choice to surgery....
Good luck