Has your wrist and finger pain ever made it hard to get through your day? If so, it could be a sign of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Let’s delve further to learn more about its causes and potential treatments.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a progressive condition (disease/ailment that gets worse over time) caused when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel. A carpal tunnel is a location present due to the combination of the transverse carpal ligament and the carpal bone. The thumb, middle finger, part of the ring finger, and the median nerve supply sensory and motor functions. The compression can lead to various neuropathy conditions (nerve damage, impaired function, and movement).
What are the Causes and Risk Factors?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a multifaceted condition (several factors) influenced by a combination of factors, as a single factor cannot be responsible for its cause. It affects more women than men.
Listed are the factors that are responsible for the cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Patient-specific factors:
- Pregnancy in women: hormonal changes and water retention can put a strain on the carpal tunnel. Therefore, it can increase the risk of CTS.
- Genetics: A family history of carpal tunnel syndrome can also affect.
- Specific medical disorders: Disorders such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, repetitive strain injuries, and rheumatoid arthritis can be responsible for elevating risk.
Occupational factor:
- Repetitive Movement: A particular type of repetitive movement, such as playing musical instruments or typing, can put a lot of strain on the fingers and wrist, and can lead to damage or compression of the median nerve.
- Heavy lifting: As heavy lifting puts pressure on the hand, it thus can lead to CTS.
Environmental factor:
- Pressure: Elevated pressure within the carpal tunnel can elevate the risk of CTS occurrence.
- Vibration Exposure: Working with vibrational machinery and tools can influence the strain on the hand.
Risk factors
Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect anyone; however, certain people are more susceptible than others, such as
- Older people, mostly above 40.
- Pregnant women.
- Certain health conditions, such as rheumatism, gout, etc.
- People who do repetitive work and also work with heavy articles.
- Individuals that operate vibrating power instruments (such as jackhammers or drills).
What Are the Symptoms Associated with CTS?
The most common symptoms that are associated with CTS include the following:
- Numbness and Tingling: This may feel like “pins and needles.” It usually starts from the thumb and middle finger and eventually spreads to other fingers.
- Weakness and Clumsiness in Hand: Weakness in the muscles and nerves can lead to challenges in grasping objects, such as fastening clothing. It may feel as though your hand has become numb, resulting in items slipping from your grasp when you attempt to hold them.
- Pain: Aching, burning, and tingling sensations can be felt; this can be quite unbearable. The pain can get worse at night with the person who sleeps by bending their hands or after extended manual labor.
- Swelling: It feels like a swollen finger, although it’s not visible.
The condition may get worse if it remains untreated. Should the pain persist, the nerve has likely sustained damage, necessitating additional surgical intervention for resolution. Consequently, treatment must be administered at the earliest opportunity.
How Do You Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Healthcare professionals usually use a combination of physical examination and diagnostic tests to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.
Here are some common tests that are used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome by healthcare professionals:
- Tinel’ sign
- Phalen test
- Wrist X-ray
- Electromyography
- Ultrasound
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
What are the different types of carpal tunnel syndrome treatments?
Non-surgical Treatments
- Exercises: Patients can be treated with appropriate exercises, such as nerve-gliding exercises, to get relief from pain.
- Steroid injections: Corticosteroid/Cortisone, an effective anti-inflammatory drug that can be injected into the carpal tunnel. It only provides temporary relief but not a permanent cure.
- Bracing and Splinting: The use of splints and braces can offer support to the wrist and hand by immobilizing them, thereby preserving a neutral position that enhances the patient’s functional capabilities.
- Occupational therapy: An occupation therapist can provide certain activities to improve an existing carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy: Recent studies indicate that platelet-rich plasma serves as a safe, enduring, and less invasive alternative to surgical intervention for individuals suffering from mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly when compared to hand support and medical treatment. A single injection session may provide significant pain relief.
Surgical Treatments
There are two types of treatment available for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Open carpal tunnel release
Procedure: In an open carpal tunnel release surgery, the surgeon makes about a 2-inch incision (cut) in the wrist to cut the carpal ligament and make the carpal tunnel larger. Therefore, it reduces the tension in the carpal tunnel and provides more space for the median nerve.
Recovery: The procedure is simple, and the patient can return home the same day after getting prescribed by the doctors.
Endoscopic/ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release
Procedure: In this surgery, the surgeon cuts about half an inch in the wrist and inserts a narrow tube or small probe with or without a camera for the guidance of carpal ligament cutting. Camera/ultrasound will guide the surgeon to cut the ligament that (the transverse carpal ligament) connects your wrist to your palm. Thus, reducing the tension in the carpal tunnel and giving your tendons and nerves more space.
Recovery: It is a typically time-consuming procedure and has a shorter recovery time.
Conditions misdiagnosed as CTS
While Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition, it can still be misdiagnosed as conditions with similar symptoms, such as arthritis, tendonitis, Ulnar tunnel syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, sprained wrist, and diabetic neuropathy.
Is carpal tunnel syndrome preventable?
It can be possible to reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by protecting your wrist.
- Stretch your hand before and after intense exercises.
- Use proper technique and wear protective equipment while working with tools.
- Use frequent breaks while working with your hands.
Key Takeaways
- Early diagnosis is always preferred.
- Avoid excessive exercise, heavy pulling, and sleeping with a bent wrist position.
- If the condition is not severe, then go for non-surgical treatment.
- If the condition is severe, search for the best hospital nearby or across the globe for better treatment.
