Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common problems affecting the hand. People with this condition may feel pain, numbness and general weakness in the hand and wrist. Lifestyle changes, like wrist splints and changes to your environment, are possible treatments. Surgery is another option for carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is formed by the bones, tendons and ligaments that surround the median nerve. Since the median nerve supplies sensation to the thumb, index, and middle finger and part of the ring finger, and provides motion to the muscles of the thumb and hand, CTS sufferers notice numbness, pain and weakness in these areas.
Risk Factors
People at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome are those who do activities or jobs that involve repetitive finger use. Motions that can place people at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome include:
High-force.
Long-term use.
Extreme wrist motions.
Vibration.
Many other factors can also contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. These factors can include:
Heredity
Pregnancy
Hemodialysis
Wrist facture and dislocation
Hand or wrist deformity
Arthritic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout
Thyroid gland hormone imbalance
Diabetes.
Alcoholism.
A mass tumor in the carpal tunnel.
Older age.
Amyloid deposits
Carpal tunnel syndrome is also more common in women than in men.
Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
You can prevent carpal tunnel syndrome by making lifestyle changes that reduce your risk factors for developing it. Treating conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis reduces your risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Paying careful attention to hand posture and avoiding activities that overextend your wrist are also important strategies for reducing symptoms. Physical therapy exercises may be helpful as well.
Treatment
Relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in two ways: non-surgically or with surgery. There are pros and cons to both approaches. Typically, non-surgical treatments are used for less severe cases and allow you to continue with daily activities without interruption. Surgical treatments can help in more severe cases and have very positive outcomes.
Non-surgical treatments
Non-surgical treatments are usually tried first. Treatment begins by:
Wearing a wrist splint at night.
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen.
Cortisone injections.
Other treatments focus on ways to change your environment to decrease symptoms. This is often seen in the workplace, where you can make modifications to help with carpal tunnel. These changes might include:
Raising or lowering your chair.
Moving your computer keyboard.
Changing your hand/wrist position while doing activities.
Using recommended splints, exercises and heat treatments from a hand therapist.
Surgical treatments
Surgery is recommended when carpal tunnel syndrome does not respond to non-surgical treatments or has already become severe. The goal of surgery is to increase the size of the tunnel in order to decrease the pressure on the nerves and tendons that pass through the space. This is done by cutting (releasing) the ligament that covers the carpal tunnel at the base of the palm. This ligament is called the transverse carpal ligament.
If you have surgery, you can expect to:
Have an outpatient procedure where you will be awake, but have local anesthesia (pain numbing medication). In some cases, your doctor may offer an IV (directly into the vein) anesthetic. This option allows you to take a brief nap and wake up after the procedure is finished. This is not a general anesthetic, like what is used in surgery. Instead, your healthcare team will monitor you during the procedure. This is also used for procedures like a colonoscopy.
Be in brief discomfort for about 24 to 72 hours after surgery. People usually experience complete nighttime symptom relief quickly—even the night after surgery.
Have your stitches removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. Hand and wrist use for everyday activities is gradually restored by using specific exercise programs.
Be unable to do heavier activities with the affected hand for about four to six weeks. Recovery times can vary depending on your age, general health, severity of carpal tunnel syndrome and how long you had symptoms. You will continue to gain strength and sensation in the following year after surgery.
