Introduction
Have you ever experienced numbness or pain in your hands? You must know that this is one of the most common conditions. While women and people with obesity are more prone to it, carpal tunnel syndrome can happen to anyone.
CTS is a common condition where the person experiences pain, numbness, and tingling sensation in the hands. When the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of wrists gets under pressure, it causes pain and numbness. People suffering from CTS often find it difficult to do simple day-to-day life chores like lifting objects, typing on a keyboard, having a strong grip on objects, etc. Early treatment can be quite helpful in managing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In the wrist bone, there is a space that’s known as carpal tunnel. Through this passageway, tendons, nerves, and ligaments pass and reach your hand. One of these nerves in the wrist is the median nerve. When the median nerve experiences extra pressure or gets irritated due to some reason, it results in carpal tunnel in the arms.
There can be several reasons for CTS, like injuries of the wrist, sprains, arthritis, etc. You must also note that CTS is quite different from several other conditions that may cause pain in the arms or hands. Common conditions are tennis elbow, pinched nerves, arthritis, sprain in the wrist, etc. In these conditions, specific ligaments or tendons may get affected, while in carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve gets affected. Hence, CTS is a nerve disorder.
Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Now comes the most essential part: the causes of CTS. There can be a range of causes that may trigger CTS. Anything that puts unwanted pressure on the median nerve has the capability of causing carpal tunnel syndrome. These conditions may arise due to:
- Strains and injuries of the wrist, especially repetitive injuries
- Excessive use of wrists for certain activities like typing, manual labour, etc.
- Arthritis may also affect median nerves, thus causing CTS. Rheumatoid arthritis of the hands is one of these causes
- Fractures in the wrist may also cause CTS in some cases
- Ganglion cysts near wrist nerves may also affect median nerves, thus causing CTS
Early diagnosis and nerve inflammation treatment can help manage the symptoms and bring relief. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, gout, hyperthyroidism, and amyloidosis may also be at a higher risk of CTS.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
People suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome may experience several symptoms. Common symptoms of nerve weakness are:
- Numbness in fingers, wrist, or hands may affect even basic activities typing and gripping
- One may also experience tingling in fingers and hands due to CTS
- There may be pain in the hands and discomfort
- In some cases, people may also experience weakness in their hands that restricts them from lifting objects
Symptoms of nerve inflammation develop gradually over time. Initially, people may experience a few symptoms. If not treated early, it may advance and affect daily life, making treatment more time-consuming and complicated.
Diagnosis & When to See a Doctor
If you are experiencing one or more symptoms of hand numbness, do not delay to visit your healthcare provider. Remember, early medical intervention can help bring relief. Your doctor may perform certain physical tests and imaging tests as well to reach a conclusion.
The diagnosis may include the following procedures:
- Physical examination of your wrist and arms, like:
- Tinel’s sign
- Phalen’s test
- Imaging tests may also be required. These may include:
- X-rays of wrists
- In certain cases, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) may also be needed
- Electromyography (EMG) may also be required
- Ultrasound
These combination diagnoses will help your doctor reach a conclusion regarding symptoms of numbness in your hands and the cause behind it.
Treatment Options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Broadly, there can be three types of treatment procedures that your healthcare provider may follow. Depending on the severity of the case, one or more treatments may be carried out. These are:
A. Non-Surgical Treatments
Usually, doctors start with non-surgical treatments. With proper home care, lifestyle changes, medications, and physical therapy, it may be possible to manage CTS. The healing process may also depend on the type of remedy. These may involve:
- The doctor may recommend wearing splints, especially during the night, to release pressure from the median nerves
- Physical therapy is also one of the carpal tunnel remedies
- For hand treatment, doctors may also recommend certain ergonomic changes like the way you work, posture tweaks, etc.
- Certain over-the-counter (OTC) medicines may also be recommended by the doctor for pain relief
B. Advanced Treatment Options
If lifestyle changes and postural tweaks do not help much and the condition prevails, the doctor may follow advanced treatment options. These may include:
- PRP injections (Platelet-Rich Plasma) or plasma therapy can be given to the patient for nerve healing
- The doctor may recommend specific pain relief injections for pain in the hands and inflammation of the nerves
- If nothing helps much, corticosteroid injections may be suggested. These anti-inflammatory medications are injected into the affected area.
C. Surgical Intervention (If Needed)
In case the patient feels no relief from non-surgical treatments like plasma therapy, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, lifestyle changes, or medications, surgery may be suggested.
During surgery, the surgeon will make a cut in the ligaments that connect the wrist and palm. Doing so reduces the pressure on the median nerve and allows more space for nerves and tendons in the space.
Usually, carpal tunnel surgery is an outpatient treatment. So, the patient can go home the same day. The healing process, however, may take a few weeks. Your doctor may tell you the expected recovery time and the precautions that have to be taken. Make sure to give ample rest to nerves in the wrist for quick recovery.
Prevention Tips for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome may not always be possible since certain tasks cannot be avoided and preventing injuries may not always be in your control. However, you can definitely reduce the risks and protect your hands and wrists. Some of the preventive tips are:
- If you are indulged in physical activities, make sure to stretch your wrists before and after the activity
- Wear proper gear when undergoing intense physical activities
- If your wrist is constantly at work, make sure to give breaks in between
- Maintaining correct posture is crucial to avoid unnecessary pressure on your hands and other body parts
- If you experience pain, stick to the exercises for carpal tunnel that your healthcare professional has advised.
Conclusion
Carpal tunnel syndrome, if left untreated, may start to interfere with your daily activities. Since the use of hands and wrists is inevitable, it is always best to notice alarming symptoms early. With early diagnosis, it may be possible to get quick relief and avoid unnecessary complications. Lifestyle changes, postural tweaks, timely medications, and exercises can fasten the healing process. So, do not delay but seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Get in touch with Regencare Ortho today.
