Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common hand condition in which pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist causes symptoms. This tunnel is a kind of narrow passageway surrounded by ligaments and bones. When the median nerve is compressed, a person may feel numbness, weakness, or tingling in the fingers.
In today’s article, we’ll talk about the common causes of this syndrome and how it can be treated. Let’s get started.
Signs and Symptoms
The syndrome generally develops slowly. At first, you may experience only minor symptoms that can become serious over time. Common symptoms include wrist pain and numbness in the entire hand or fingers. You may also find it difficult to hold or control objects (such as the steering wheel or your phone).
Most people notice the symptoms at night, where the pain may wake you up. As time passes, you’ll start feeling the symptoms during the day (especially if you use your hands for typing or writing).
It’s always recommended to see a healthcare provider immediately to prevent the situation from worsening.
Treatment Options
Carpal tunnel treatment is usually done either surgically or non-surgically. In non-surgical treatment, the doctor may advise you to wear a splint at night. It holds your wrist in a neutral position to ease the pressure on your median nerve.
Physical therapy is also used to strengthen the muscles around your wrist. A therapist may also ask you to change your posture during everyday tasks.
If the above treatments don’t work, then the surgery is recommended. A surgeon first creates more space inside your wrist by performing a tunnel release. Then the cut is made in the ligament. This reduces pressure on the tunnel and gives your nerves more space.
How to Choose a Reliable Surgeon
You should first check a surgeon’s fellowship training in hand and whether they’re fully experienced in carpal tunnel release. You can also ask how many procedures they’ve performed annually (a higher volume means fewer complications).
Also see their clinical approach. A reliable surgeon will first pursue non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy or splinting. If these options don’t work, they’ll then outline the entire roadmap of how the surgery would be performed. Since surgery is an outpatient procedure, make sure the doctor operates in a well-equipped facility.
How the Issue Can Be Prevented
There is no proven way to prevent this syndrome. But you can reduce stress on your hands by adopting certain methods.
For example, if your work involves a keyboard, you may hit the keys softly. You can also take short, frequent breaks to gently stretch and bend your hands. You can also improve your posture by adjusting the height of your computer screen.
Lastly, make sure your computer mouse is comfortable to use and doesn’t strain your wrist.
Bottom Lines
A little care and lifestyle change will go a long way in making you feel better. Getting the surgery done should be a last resort, as it comes with certain complications.