I had it for years. I went through the braces, pain pills, and finally surgery. Dr. said if I didn't quit the job I had it would come back. Crocheting was my stress buster and after the surgery it took me a year with exercising with a hand sport exerciser to build up the strength in my hands to even crochet again. From experience, you don't want to get the surgery done over so quit whatever it was that caused it. I was a janitor and years of crocheting and typewriting career caused my hands to get carpal-tunnel. I wish the best for you at whatever decision you make. :-D