Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Carpal Tunnel Surgery Specialist in Aurora, IL Dr. Ramsis Ghaly
From open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release to peripheral nerve surgery, Dr. Ramsis F. Ghaly provides personalized evaluation and surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve compression, and other peripheral nerve conditions for patients in Aurora and throughout the greater Chicagoland area.
Condition Overview
Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in the wrist.
Common symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning, or pain involving the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger. Symptoms are often worse at night and may eventually interfere with gripping, typing, driving, sleeping, or other everyday activities.
As compression continues, symptoms can become more persistent. In more advanced cases, patients may develop hand weakness or wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb.
Talk With Dr. Ghaly About Your Symptoms
⚠️ Common Warning Signs
🌙 Nighttime Symptoms
Numbness or pain that repeatedly wakes you up at night.
✋ Finger Numbness & Tingling
Affecting the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.
Treatment Pathway
When Conservative Treatment Isn't Enough
Initial Conservative Approaches
Not every patient with carpal tunnel syndrome needs surgery. Depending on severity, initial care may include:
Nighttime wrist splinting
Activity modification
Physical or occupational therapy
Corticosteroid injection
Other non-surgical approaches recommended after evaluation
Surgery may become appropriate when symptoms persist despite conservative treatment, interfere significantly with daily life or sleep, or when testing and clinical examination indicate significant or progressive median nerve damage.
Carpal tunnel release surgery works by dividing the transverse carpal ligament, creating more space for the median nerve and relieving pressure within the carpal tunnel.
Important Patient Message
The decision to have surgery should be based on your symptoms, examination, medical history, and the severity of nerve compression—not simply on a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Surgical Techniques
Open and Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
Dr. Ghaly offers both open and endoscopic approaches to carpal tunnel release. The appropriate technique depends on your anatomy, symptoms, nerve involvement, previous treatment, and overall clinical situation.
Open Carpal Tunnel Release
Open carpal tunnel release uses a small incision in the palm to access the transverse carpal ligament. The ligament is divided to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
Open release is a well-established surgical technique and may be appropriate when a more direct surgical approach is preferred or when additional anatomical or nerve-related considerations are present.
Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release uses a small incision or incisions and a specialized instrument with a camera to visualize the transverse carpal ligament.
- Single-portal incision near the wrist
- Two-portal approach involving the wrist and palm
Because endoscopic surgery generally involves less disruption of surrounding tissue, some appropriately selected patients may experience less early postoperative discomfort and a quicker return to certain activities.
Surgical Philosophy
Is Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release Right for You?
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release provides a minimally invasive surgical option using smaller incisions and specialized camera-guided instruments. However, minimally invasive surgery is not automatically the best choice for every patient.
Your anatomy, severity of nerve compression, previous wrist procedures, associated nerve problems, and other clinical factors may influence which approach is safest and most appropriate.
Key Surgical Goal
The goal is not simply to choose the smallest incision. The goal is to choose the surgical approach that provides the safest and most effective treatment for your specific condition.
Comprehensive Care
Peripheral Nerve Surgery Beyond Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one type of peripheral nerve disorder. Peripheral nerves carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. When these nerves become compressed, injured, or affected by another condition, patients may experience pain, numbness, weakness, or loss of function.
Depending on the condition, surgical treatment may involve nerve decompression, repair, or other techniques designed to protect or improve nerve function.
Discuss Your Peripheral Nerve Condition
Conditions Treated Include:
Ulnar nerve compression
Entrapment neuropathies
Acute peripheral nerve injuries
Selected nerve sheath tumors
Neurological Precision
More Than Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms involving the hand or arm do not always originate from the carpal tunnel. Compression of the ulnar nerve can cause numbness or tingling, particularly in the ring and little fingers, as well as weakness or difficulty with hand coordination.
Because symptoms can overlap between different nerve disorders—and can sometimes originate from the neck or another location—a careful neurological evaluation is important before deciding on surgery.
The right diagnosis comes before the right procedure.
Dr. Ghaly's neurosurgical background allows him to evaluate peripheral nerve symptoms within the broader context of the nervous system.
When to Seek Help
When Should You Seek an Evaluation?
Consider seeing a specialist if you experience:
Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, or middle fingers
Symptom
Symptoms that repeatedly wake you at night
Nighttime Disruption
Hand weakness or difficulty gripping objects
Grip Strength
Difficulty with typing, driving, or other hand activities
Daily Function
Expertise & Distinction
Why Patients Choose Dr. Ramsis F. Ghaly
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Dr. Ghaly brings specialized neurosurgical expertise to the evaluation and treatment of carpal tunnel and peripheral nerve conditions.
40+ Years of Surgical Experience
With decades of surgical experience, Dr. Ghaly evaluates each patient's condition individually rather than applying a one-size-fits-all treatment approach.
Open & Endoscopic Techniques
Both established open and minimally invasive endoscopic approaches are available when appropriate.
Your Patient Journey
Your Carpal Tunnel Surgery Consultation
Initial Contact
01Contact the office by phone or through the online contact form to request a consultation.
Review of Your Medical History
02You will discuss your symptoms, how long they have been present, previous diagnoses, testing, and treatments you have already tried.
Clinical Evaluation
03Dr. Ghaly evaluates your symptoms and neurological status and reviews relevant medical records or diagnostic studies when available.
Treatment Discussion
04If surgery is appropriate, Dr. Ghaly discusses your treatment options and explains whether an open or endoscopic approach may be appropriate for your situation.
Personalized Surgical Plan
05If you proceed with surgery, your treatment plan will be based on your individual diagnosis, anatomy, and clinical needs.
Postoperative Follow-Up
06Follow-up care focuses on recovery, symptom improvement, wound healing, and return to appropriate activities.
Independent Expert Perspective
Not Sure You Need Surgery?
If another physician has recommended carpal tunnel surgery and you are uncertain whether surgery is necessary, seeking another expert perspective may help you make a more informed decision.
Dr. Ghaly offers second opinions for patients who want an independent review of their diagnosis, medical records, imaging, treatment history, and surgical recommendations.
Request a Carpal Tunnel Second OpinionA second opinion may be helpful if:
- You have been told you need surgery but remain uncertain
- Conservative treatment has not worked
- You have persistent or unusual symptoms
- You have been diagnosed with another peripheral nerve condition
- You want to understand your surgical options before proceeding
Remote Consultation Options
Get Expert Review Before Making a Surgical Decision
Not every patient can travel to Aurora for an initial discussion. Depending on the circumstances, Dr. Ghaly may provide telehealth consultation and medical records review services for patients seeking an expert perspective on their diagnosis or treatment options.
Relevant records may include:
- MRI reports and images
- CT scans
- EMG or nerve conduction study results
- Previous surgical records
- Physician notes and treatment history
Our telehealth and records review services allow out-of-area patients to obtain Dr. Ghaly's expert perspective efficiently and securely.
Request a Medical Records ReviewPatient Testimonials and Stories
What Our Patients Are Saying
To see in-depth daily patient stories, please follow Dr. Ghaly on Facebook.
You can also visit Ghalyneurosurgeon.com for even more case studies and patient stories
You Do Not Have to
Navigate This Alone
Please click the button to request an online appointment. You will be directed to the contact page of this website, where you can fill out a brief form and request an appointment with me.
Otherwise please call the numbers below.
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE
Got Questions?
Carpal Tunnel Surgery FAQs
Carpal tunnel release is a procedure that relieves pressure on the median nerve by dividing the transverse carpal ligament.
Open release uses a single incision in the palm to directly access and divide the ligament pressing on the median nerve. Endoscopic release uses one or two smaller incisions and a camera-guided instrument, often resulting in less post-operative pain and a faster recovery for eligible patients.
Neither approach is automatically better for every patient. The appropriate technique depends on factors such as anatomy, severity of nerve compression, previous procedures, and other clinical considerations.
Not always. Many patients improve with splinting, activity changes, or cortisone injections. Surgery is typically recommended when conservative treatment fails or when there's evidence of nerve damage.
Recovery time varies by technique and individual healing, with many patients returning to light activity within days to a couple of weeks — your surgeon can give you a timeline specific to your procedure.
Yes. Dr. Ghaly offers second opinions for patients who've already been recommended for carpal tunnel surgery elsewhere and want an independent review of their diagnosis and options.
Yes. As a neurosurgeon for carpal tunnel and peripheral nerve conditions, Dr. Ghaly treats carpal tunnel syndrome as part of his broader expertise in nerve and nervous system disorders.
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Phone: 708-532-6029 • Fax: 708-532-6095
Our Practice
Location
Fox Valley Office Commons
4260 Westbrook, Dr.
Suite 127
Aurora, IL.60504
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