Carpal Tunnel

It causes sensory conduction changes in the nerves, so people perceive that their hand is numb. Sometimes, they perceive it as pain," said Dr. Peter Murray, a surgeon at the Mayo Clinic.
Murray says it may also cause weakness.

"If I was using a wrench or something, it would just slip out of my hands," Mendez said.
The treatment you choose will likely depend on the severity of your symptoms. If you've had the condition for less than 12 months, splinting, injections and time may help resolve the problem.

If symptoms have lasted longer than a year, surgery may be necessary.
During carpal tunnel release surgery, doctors make a small incision through which they cut the tight carpal ligament. This releases pressure off the nerve.
Some studies show up to 99 percent of people who have carpal tunnel surgery gain relief from symptoms.

But, Murray has shown in a recent study that results of surgery may not be as good if you're over 75 years of age, or have had carpal tunnel for a long time.
Older people may also have other conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis, that cause overlapping symptoms.
However, Mendez, who's only 58 years old, says surgery has allowed him to return to work in full force.
"
I'm back in action now," he said.
About 250,000 carpal tunnel release operations are performed each year, and almost half of those patients say their conditions are work-related.