 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
By Dr. Darayes Mobed
General Surgeon
Have you been trying to ignore the tingling or numbness that you’ve had in your hand and wrist? Are you attributing the sharp, piercing pain that shoots through your wrist and up your arm as passing cramps? More than likely, you have carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful and progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist, the Median nerve.
Carpal tunnel is a medical condition in which the Median nerve, running from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. The result may be pain, weakness or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.
Although many associate carpal tunnel syndrome with hours spent working on a computer keyboard, carpal tunnel can actually result from a variety of other job tasks, where the motions of your hands and wrists are stressed. A few examples of these include using power tools, participating in heavy assembly line work, sewing, etc.
Carpal tunnel symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling or itching numbness in the palm of the hands and fingers, especially around the thumb and the index finger and middle fingers. The dominant hand is usually affected first and produces the most severe pain.
Women are three times more likely to develop carpal tunnel than men, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Conditions such as thyroid problems, diabetes, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of this disorder.
It is important to seek early diagnosis and treatment to avoid permanent damage of the Median nerve. A physician can examine the hands, arms, shoulders, and neck to determine if a patient’s complaints are related to daily activities or an underlying disorder such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The physician can also use specific tests to try to produce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Sometimes, it may be necessary for the physician to confirm the diagnosis by performing other tests that use electrical activity (EMG).
In special circumstances, various drugs can ease the pain and swelling associated with this condition. When therapy, exercise, and drugs do not alleviate the symptoms, surgery may be recommended. With tiny cutting tools, the surgeon would make a small incision at the wrist and release the compression on the Median nerve by gently transecting the transverse carpal ligament. The small incisions are closed with stitches.
When a patient undergoes carpal tunnel surgery, he/she usually goes home on the same day as the surgery and can expect a quick recovery period. The pain and numbness may go away right after surgery, or it may take several weeks.
If you have any symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, please seek an evaluation from a physician. The treatment is quick and successful. For additional information regarding carpal tunnel syndrome, call 863-983-5026 or 863-675-2356. |