Alternative treatment for CT and CTS Q: What do you do when standard operations for carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome simply do not work?
Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes are two of the most common upper extremity ailments. In these conditions, compression or entrapment of the median or ulnar nerve cause the hallmark symptoms of pain and numbness in the arm, hand, and digits. These syndromes usually respond well to treatment, but some patients continue to experience symptoms after surgery. In difficult cases, patients may undergo revision surgery that duplicates the first operation. Unfortunately, re-operation of this kind often fails to improve on the initial surgery, and patients remain symptomatic. Patients with persistent symptoms after surgery may also undergo endless physical therapy sessions without any real benefit. When repeat surgery and therapy fails, patients may hear the harsh words that the surgeon has nothing more to offer, and they must live with their discomfort. To deal with this difficult and often relentless problem, a new surgical approach has been developed. This new procedure involves re-
