With health care costs soaring, everyone is looking for ways to trim the budget. Financial experts are taking common problems like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and doing a cost analysis between operative and nonoperative treatment to help patients and surgeons in the decision-making process.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common problem affecting the hand and wrist. Symptoms begin when the median nerve gets squeezed inside the carpal tunnel of the wrist. This is a medical condition known as nerve entrapment or compressive neuropathy. Any condition that decreases the size of the carpal tunnel or enlarges the tissues inside the tunnel can produce the symptoms of CTS.

Studies show that the number one reason for persistent or recurrent symptoms after carpal tunnel release surgery is an incomplete decompression. That means the retinaculum (band of tissue that goes across the wrist and puts pressure on the nerve) is cut but not all the way through. This doesn't happen very often, but it is usually easily rectified by repeating the surgery to get a complete release of the retinaculum.

With health care costs soaring, everyone is looking for ways to trim the budget. Taking common problems like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and doing a cost analysis between operative and nonoperative treatment makes a lot of sense. It can help patients and surgeons in the decision-making process.

Imagine this patient scenario: a 50-year-old woman had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) but didn't get better. She now goes to a different surgeon for help. What should the surgeon do? Is another surgery needed?

Actually, you may be in luck. Researchers from the Netherlands took the time to review studies published and listed in PubMed (search engine for the U.S. government's record of publications in the National Library of Medicine). They confined themselves to four specific hand disorders: 1) trigger finger, 2) Raynaud's phenomenon, 3) Dupuytren's disease, and 4) De Quervain's disease.

Specialists such as hand surgeons and hand therapists treating hand disorders will be interested in the results of this study. Researchers from the Netherlands took the time to review studies published and listed in PubMed (search engine for the U.S. government's record of publications in the National Library of Medicine). They confined themselves to four specific hand disorders: 1) trigger finger, 2) Raynaud's phenomenon, 3) Dupuytren's disease, and 4) De Quervain's disease.

Cupping is not well-known or used that often in the United States. People in China, India, Arabia, Central Europe, and parts of Africa may be more familiar with it. Cupping is a treatment used in folk medicine to improve circulation to a specific area of the body.

Cupping is a healing method used in folk medicine in countries such as China, India, Arabia, Central Europe, and parts of Africa. Glasses applied to the skin create suction of the underlying skin and soft tissue. The stimulation helps improve circulation to the area.

You've probably heard of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) -- hand and wrist pain with numbness and tingling of the thumb, index, and middle finger. Pressure on the median nerve in the wrist can produce these symptoms. But have you ever heard of a technique called cupping to treat it?