Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

Carpal tunnel syndrome treatment is applications for the relief of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is the most common among peripheral nerve compressions, and the complaints caused by the discomfort. The discomfort is usually manifested by numbness, tingling and pain in the hands. Since it has a progressive feature, it can negatively affect the functions of the region over time and cause it to weaken completely. It is a common ailment especially in those who work with hand-wrist power and those whose wrist region is under pressure for various reasons, as it is a discomfort that occurs due to excessive strain and trauma of the region. In the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, non-surgical methods are preferred in the early stages. However, in the future, surgical intervention to nerve and muscle structures may be required to eliminate the problem in the region.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome, commonly defined as “wrist canal impingement syndrome”, is one of the most common entrapment neuropathy disorders in the upper extremity. The area on the wrist called the “carpal tunnel”; It consists of the wrist bones at the base and the transverse carpal ligament at the roof. The median nerve and the tendons that provide the movements of the fingers of the fingers pass through this region . Compression of the median nerve for various reasons causes carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve is responsible for the movement of the fingers, and when compressed, it negatively affects the movements of the wrist and may limit its functions.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is overuse and strain of the wrist. It is more common especially in people who constantly work with wrist power and make repetitive wrist movements. For this reason, the risk of occurrence is higher in those who are engaged in sports such as table tennis and tennis, and in women who constantly do housework. Common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Working actively at the computer
• Posture disorders
• Occupational conditions in which the wrist is actively used, such as work that forces the wrist, such as diaper wringing, carpentry or chauffeur
• Structurally narrow wrist canal
• herniated disc
• excessive alcohol consumption
• Overweight and obesity
• Tissue and joint inflammation

However, the discomfort can also be seen in pregnant women. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurring in this period is usually temporary. For this reason, when the pregnancy period is over, the complaints in the wrist usually decrease and pass.

What Are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The discomfort is manifested by numbness, tingling and loss of sensation in the fingers in the early stages. These complaints can be felt while using the wrist. At night, the severity of the complaints may increase. Symptoms can be severe enough to wake the patient from sleep. The person may try to relax by waving their hands and rubbing their wrists.

If appropriate treatment is not applied in the early period, the compression progresses. Therefore, the patient’s complaints may become permanent or gripping problems may occur. In advanced stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, atrophy (muscle wasting) and severe muscle weakness can be seen.

How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed?

The first step in the diagnostic process is to carefully evaluate the patient’s history. The first signs of the disease can be obtained by evaluating when pain, numbness and loss of strength are experienced most, and the severity of the complaints. Palpation can be done to understand the condition of the wrist joint. In the next stage, the location and severity of the impingement can be determined with the help of EMG (electrophysiological tests).

The pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome can spread to the arm, shoulder, neck and even the elbow in some people. For this reason, they can sometimes be confused with different orthopedic disorders. At this point, the most effective method for differential diagnosis is MR (magnetic resonance).

How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treated?

In the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, both surgical and non-surgical treatment plans can be made. The disease usually occurs due to overuse of the joint. Therefore, the first step is to avoid over-straining the wrist. For this, the area can be relieved with the help of splints and physical therapy. The use of splints is particularly effective in keeping the joint stable and avoiding damage due to overuse. Physical therapy applications prevent the joint from being completely immobilized and help it work without excessive strain. In this process, support from anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to reduce the patient’s pain and improve the quality of daily life.

Surgical treatment methods can also be evaluated when conservative treatments do not produce results. The aim of surgical treatment; It is to relieve the area by reducing the pressure on the median nerve. For this, it may be necessary to cut the ligaments on the carpal tunnel and free the canal.

General anesthesia is generally not needed in carpal tunnel syndrome surgeries. The entire procedure is performed through a small incision made with local anesthesia in the wrist area. In this process, patients do not feel any pain or pain thanks to anesthesia. The application takes about 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, our patients do not need to stay in the hospital and can be discharged on the same day.

Is It Possible to Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The main way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome is to protect the wrist and allow it to move without excessive force. For this;

• Avoiding activities that force the wrist and put excessive load
• Using wrist support and splint when necessary
• Avoiding working by constantly bending the wrist and putting pressure on the area
• To rest the joint by taking breaks at regular intervals in the works that are constantly working with your hand.
• It will be very useful to support the wrist during computer use, and if necessary, to get support from mouse pads with wrist support and similar accessories.