Carpal Tunnel Treatment Cost

• Without health insurance, non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel typically costs about $300 or less. A doctor visit would cost $200 or less, and a splint or brace costs about $20 to $40.
• Without health insurance, surgical treatment of carpal tunnel would cost about $7,000 or more per hand -- or $14,000 or more for both hands. For example, according to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center^[1] out-of-pocket cost calculator, a carpal tunnel release surgery for one hand would cost $6,928, including the hospital facility fees and the doctor fees, with an uninsured discount.
• Health insurance typically covers carpal tunnel treatment, including surgery for severe cases when conservative treatments have failed. With insurance, typical expenses would include a doctor visit copay of $10 to $30 or more and, for surgical treatment, coinsurance of 30 percent or more that could reach $1,000+.

• For mild cases of carpal tunnel, treatment typically involves rest, ice packs if necessary and use of a splint to keep the wrist immobilized. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might also be prescribed.
• For more severe cases where symptoms last longer than six months, surgery might be required. In carpal tunnel release surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision into the wrist and cuts the carpal ligament, taking pressure off the carpal nerve. The outpatient surgery requires local anesthesia. According to WebMD^[2] , patients whose surgery was on the non-dominant hand and whose job duties do not involve repetitive motion will typically need to take one to two weeks off, while patients whose surgery was on the dominant hand and who do perform repetitive motions will need six to 12 weeks away from those duties.
• The National Institutes of Health^[3] offers a fact sheet on carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Some orthopedic specialists offer discounts for uninsured/cash-paying patients or prompt payment. For example, Southern California Orthopedic Institute offers discounted services for cash-paying patients, and Northwest Community Hospital Orthopedic Services Center^[4] , in Chicago, offers discounts for prompt payment.
• Some free clinics, such as Community Health Free Clinic^[5] in Chicago, offer orthopedic specialty care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services^[6] provides a directory of federally funded health centers; if the nearest clinic doesn't offer orthopedic care, ask for a referral .

• For carpal tunnel treatment, look for a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with experience treating carpal tunnel. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery^[7] offers a locator for board-certified orthopedic surgeons. To find a surgeon who specializes in hand surgery, check the doctor locator at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand^[8] ; check to make sure the surgeon also is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon.
• Carpal tunnel braces or splints can be obtained from a doctor or purchased through online medical supply companies such as Allegro Medical^[9] .
• Risks of carpal tunnel surgery include pain, infection, stiffness, nerve damage, scarring and loss of strength in the wrist.

1.  patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/billing_questions/charges_for_healthcare_services.html
2.  www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/open-carpal-tunnel-surgery-for-carpal-tunne...
3.  www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm
4.  www.nch.org/medical-services/orthopedic-services/index.php
5.  www.communityhfc.org/referals.htm
6.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
7.  www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx
8.  www.assh.org/Public/Pages/HandSurgeons.aspx
9.  www.allegromedical.com/browse/browseProducts.do?categoryKey=6489&searchPhrase=carpal+tu...

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