Overview of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful medical condition caused by the nerve and tendon inflammation in the passageway on the palm side of the wrist. Carpel tunnel is the name of this narrow passageway through which the median nerve runs up to the hand and fingers. Any inflammation in the carpel tunnel causes space crunch and the median nerve is trapped or squeezed. This causes feeling of pain, numbness and weakness in fingers and parts of the hand fed out by the median nerve.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

The median nerve and nine other flexor tendons pass through the carpal tunnel surrounded by bony structures on three sides and a ligament above. When there is swelling or inflammation in tendons, the median nerve is squeezed or entrapped in the carpal tunnel. The nerve becomes irritated as it is constricted and prevented from carrying sensation and impulses to muscles in the palm and finger bases. Hence, symptoms like pain, weakness and others become visible and the patients is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

How does carpal tunnel syndrome occur?

pain and weakness in hand and fingerspain spreading to forearmweakness to hold an object with a firm gripnumbness, tingling or electric shock

sensation in upper extremitiesweakened thumb musclessymptoms worsen at night

What are signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Swelling or inflammation in flexor tendons

Wrist injury impacting the tunnel structures

Synovial tissue inflammation

Sheath/ ligament injuryCongenital deformity of

carpal tunnelWrist sprain or fracture

What are causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?

People with diabetes, thyroid disorder, obesity or working on packing units are prone to be attacked by carpal tunnel syndrome. The disorder is also common to impact musicians and those working on computers for long hours.

Who are at enhanced risk of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Physical examination of symptomsAnalysis of active and passive motion of hand

and fingersChecking the reaction of the median nerve to

pressureWrist x-rayElectrophysiological study of the median

nerve function

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?

NonSurgical Methods

Surgical Treatments

What are available methods to treat carpal tunnel syndrome?

Open release method: where an open incision is made on the palm side of the wrist to observe and cut the transversal ligament making the roof of the tunnel. This reduces pressure in the tunnels as the roof opens up and relieves the entrapped median nerve.

Endoscopic release method: where the carpal ligament is cut using endoscopic procedure. Two tiny incisions are made on the forearm side to put through endoscopic equipment and cut the ligament without opening the skin above the tunnel.

How is carpal tunnel release performed?

Methods of carpal tunnel release

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is considered better than open surgery as it is less invasive and offers faster recovery. There is no scarring and negligible chance of complications. However, not all patients are suitable for endoscopic procedure.

A knife-like instrument is also inserted to dissect the carpal ligament from inside without violating the skin of the palm. This loosens roof pressure on the tunnel and relieves the medial nerve from being squeezed. The skin incision is stitched.

Which type of carpal tunnel release is the best?

Patients return to normalcy within six weeks. The pain relief is immediate, though it is not felt until properly until 2/3 weeks, as soreness caused by the surgery remains apparent. The recovery can be faster with light activities, finger movements, soft tissue massage and avoidance of stressful work and grasping.

How long is the recovery period?

3000 Center Green Drive,Suite 120Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: (970) 221-9451Fax: (877) 535-9359

Brought to you by