Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel; It is a narrow channel that runs between the carpal ligament at the top and the wrist bones below. Tendons that move the fingers and the median nerve pass through this canal. Carpal tunnel syndrome (entrapment of the median nerve), on the other hand, develops swelling and inflammation in the nerve as a result of compression of the median nerve with the thickening of the carpal ligament in the wrist. In this case, the patient begins to feel numbness and tingling in his hands and fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve entrapment.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Who?

 

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common, especially in women who use the hand a lot, and between the ages of 40-60. It is more common in people who use keyboards, typewriters, musicians, those who work with manual skills (carpenters, technicians, cooks, hand knitters), those who have chronic trauma to the wrist, those with diabetes, rheumatic disease, goiter, obese and pregnant women.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

 

Complaints of numbness, tingling, stinging and pain occur in the median nerve passage areas. Symptoms develop gradually. Complaints occur in the thumb and first three fingers. Patients generally say that their complaints decrease when they shake their hands. They also state that they have difficulty in buttoning their clothes while wearing and dropping objects from their hands. If the pressure on the median nerve continues for a long time; Loss of strength and muscle atrophy may also occur. The pains become more acute and persistent. Pain may start to spread to the elbow.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosis

 

Its diagnosis is very simple. A careful patient story easily leads us to the diagnosis. The examination to be made is EMG (Electromyelography) test. It is a device that measures nerve conduction. It is an examination performed by neurologists. In EMG, the amplitude changes and decreases in the passageway of the median nerve in the wrist make the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

 

Non-Surgical Treatment

 

Activities that cause trauma to the wrist are restricted. It is taken to rest in neutral position. Wrist splint can be used.

Stretching exercises can be done.

It is applied to the wrist once or twice an hour for 10-15 minutes to reduce edema. Ice can be applied.

Anti-inflammatory drugs and B6, B12 supportive therapy are given.

Steroid injection can be made into the carpal tunnel. The effectiveness of this treatment varies from person to person.

 

Surgical treatment

 

If complaints of pain, numbness and weakness persist despite medication and other treatments, a neurosurgeon should be consulted. Surgical treatment is applied in carpal tunnel cases that do not respond to conservative treatments. Operation is extremely simple. A small incision is made in the wrist under local anesthesia. The carpal ligament is laid and cut. Thus, the median nerve compression is eliminated and the nerve is relieved.

After the operation, after a 10-day hand rest, the patient can continue his normal life. After the operation, numbness and tingling complaints can improve in a period that can last from a few weeks to months. Complaints of patients with severe complaints before surgery may persist, depending on the extent of the nerve damage.

Dr. Tamer Tekin