Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common and painful condition that is prevalent in people around 45 years of age. The progression of its symptoms is progressive, so timely diagnosis and treatment is the best way to stop the pressure and avoid irreparable damage to the median nerve.
At COPAC we provide you with a specialized medical approach to give relief to carpal tunnel syndrome and reactivate the proper functioning of the fingers, hand and wrist.
Carpal tunnel is a condition caused by impingement or compression of the median nerve in the segment where it connects the wrist to the hand (carpal tunnel area).
The median nerve is responsible for providing sensation and movement to the palm of the hand; as well as the index, middle, thumb and part of the ring finger.
The carpal tunnel canal is relatively narrow, which causes even the slightest inflammation to compress the nerve and cause the appearance of the characteristic symptoms of the syndrome, which include:
Pain in the hand and wrist that may radiate to the forearm and elbow.
Numbness or tingling sensation mainly in the fingers of the hand.
Weakness in holding objects.
Decreased proprioception.
Limitation to execute fine movements.
Signs of carpal tunnel syndrome may come and go as the condition develops. As the syndrome progresses, they become more noticeable and frequent for increasingly long periods of time; That’s when most patients attend their first medical evaluation.
During the physical exam, in addition to talking about the medical history and the symptoms that bring him to the consultation; The specialist will examine your hand, wrist and fingers in detail, performing different tests to check the nerve damage and the levels of sensitivity, flexibility, strength and mobility present.
It is very normal for some people to be born with a narrow carpal tunnel, but there are also many others in which the condition is caused as a result of:
A previous fracture in the wrist that when healing has caused the tunnel to shrink.
Anatomical changes in the wrist (cysts, tumors, arthritis...)
By routine and repetitive movements of the hand and wrist for a long time; whether it is due to work activity, the use of musical instruments or sports practice.
Conservative treatments are usually very effective in cases where the condition is in its early stages, including patients who are less than 1 year old with intermittent symptoms of mild to moderate intensity.
Non-surgical treatment consists of:
Decrease all activities that cause discomfort in the area to prevent symptoms from becoming more intense. Applying cold compresses is very helpful in reducing inflammation and soothing pain.
Your treating doctor may suggest some nonsteroidal medications to relieve pain; however, these do not provide a definitive solution for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Corticosteroid injections directly on the lesion have been shown to be very useful in reducing inflammation in the area and reducing nerve pressure, making the signs disappear for a few months.
Wearing splints at night is a common alternative for carpal tunnel syndrome, soothing symptoms that intensify during sleep (numbness or tingling) and preventing them from appearing again during the day.
When the compression of the median nerve does not improve with the previously mentioned treatments, it is time to evaluate the surgical options that allow the release of the carpal tunnel; the most common procedures for these cases are the following:
During the intervention, the surgeon makes an elongated incision on the palm of the hand and wrist, and then cuts the transverse carpal ligament that is causing the median nerve impingement; The procedure concludes by closing the incision with stitches.
Endoscopic surgery offers more benefits as it is a less invasive procedure and with a faster recovery compared to the previous method. In this case, a pair of small incisional points are made to introduce the endoscopic instruments and perform internal maneuvers to free the tunnel.
Recovery time may vary from patient to patient depending on the type of treatment applied. People who have responded favorably to nonsurgical treatments can achieve a full recovery in a couple of weeks. On the other hand, the general prognosis after surgery is approximately 3 or 6 weeks. After this time, the patient will be able to progressively return to their normal routine enjoying the full mobility of their hands without pain.
Among the possible risks derived from carpal tunnel release surgery we can point out:
The incisions made during the surgical procedure close and heal, so they will inevitably leave a scar over the wrist and palm of the hand. The length of the scar will depend on the type of surgery you underwent.
Most people notice a huge improvement with conventional treatment. However, when these do not serve to control the symptoms and the patient begins to show signs of atrophy, loss of muscle mass and numbness in hands and fingers, it is time to take concrete actions to achieve a definitive solution for this annoying and limiting condition.
The Panama Clinic, Tower B, 23rd Floor, Office 2315
