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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment

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People often experience weakness, numbness, or tingling in their hands or wrists. It may occur due to carpal tunnel syndrome. To know more, read the article below.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Hardik Nareshbhai Rajyaguru

Published At February 13, 2019
Reviewed AtJuly 12, 2023

Overview of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

It is a nerve disorder affecting the strength and sensations of the hand and wrist caused by pressure on the median nerve. This nerve supplies all four fingers except the small one (pinky finger) and a few muscles at the thumb’s base, which is due to the narrowing of the tunnel. According to studies, women and the elderly are more affected. If it is not treated correctly, then it might lead to various symptoms, such as weakness and numbness of the muscles.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Mostly, the symptoms develop gradually and have on-and-off characteristics. A more severe manifestation of the condition, i.e., in later stages, may include the following symptoms:

  • Tingling, numbness, pain, and burning sensation.

  • Radiating shock-like symptoms in the fingers.

  • Weak and clumsy hands make it challenging to perform small day-to-day activities.

  • Unable to hold things or often dropping them because of loss of proprioception or weakness.

  • The pain might have a different nature and intensity. However, few patients do not report pain at all.

What are the Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Certain conditions make a person more susceptible to acquiring this condition, and they are as follows:

  • Familial or Hereditary: It could be due to genetics. This disease may run in families.

  • Repetitive Movement of the Hands: This may activate the tendons present in the wrist and cause swelling that leads to pressure on the nerve.

  • Pregnancy: Changes in the hormones may cause it. It is identified by some researchers that the pregnancy period is the most crucial one. An increase in the level of hormones might contribute to varying hormone levels. It might result in carpal tunnel syndrome.

  • Gender: Women are more likely to be affected. Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that men are affected too, but in very few numbers.

  • Underlying Medical Condition: General health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and an imbalance of thyroid hormones have been known to be associated with this condition.

  • Alcohol: The habit of drinking alcohol might directly involve the median nerve. This might be very harmful to the patient. In the very few reported cases of carpal tunnel syndrome in males, the main reason was an addiction to alcohol.

  • Tumor: A tunnel region tumor that causes nerve compression is also a risk factor.

What Are Diagnostic Tests?

The following diagnostic methods will be used on visiting the doctor, along with certain tests to conclude.

Physical Examination: A physical examination would be the best way to diagnose.

Tinel’s sign:

  • Gently tap or apply pressure in the median nerve area along with the inside region of the wrist and check for any numbness or tingling sensation.

  • Extend or flex the wrist and look for any numbness.

  • Checking the sensation in fingers with instruments and the patient’s eye closed.

  • Any weakness in muscles near the thumb.

Any weakness might indicate carpal tunnel syndrome. But for the confirmatory part, the doctors will proceed with the other tests. They are:

Electrophysiological Tests: This helps to identify the severity of the nerve damage or compression. It can diagnose any other nerve compression or condition if present.

Nerve Conduction Studies: This helps to identify the nerve that is not conducting the signals and the severity, thus guiding the treatment as well. It also detects how fast the median nerve can transfer the impulse. While performing this procedure, many electrical node patches are attached to the skin. The nerve will be voluntarily stimulated for this study.

Electromyogram: As the name suggests, this investigation measures the conduction of electricity in muscles and nerves. In medical terms, “myo” refers to muscles. The technology of electromyograms records the electrical activity of the skeletal muscles.

Ultrasound: It is a non-invasive procedure and is the best diagnostic tool. This checks for nerve compression via imaging of the soft and hard tissues. Hence, the patient may be advised to go for a wrist ultrasound.

X-ray: A hand-wrist radiograph showing the arrangement of bone will further help in diagnosis. Also, it can be used to rule out other conditions of bone. This might not be helpful in mild cases of carpal tunnel syndrome.

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging can be used to visualize the soft tissue in a more detailed way.

Wrist Flexion Test (Palen Test): In this, the patient is asked to rest elbows on the table and let the wrist fall freely for some time. Usually, patients with this syndrome develop tingling or numbness in the fingers within 60 seconds: the earlier the symptom, the more severe the condition.

What Are the Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

It is always better to visit the doctor in the initial stages of the symptom to get better treatment and outcome. The management can be either conservative or surgical.

Conservative or Non-Surgical Management: When the symptoms are in the initial stages, the following might help and avoid any surgery needed. Lifestyle modification is needed. If the person is addicted to alcohol, they might refrain from the habit.

Bracing or Splinting: Wearing them helps to relax the nerves and thus reduces the symptoms. They are preferred at night, but even during the morning, they can be worn.

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are given to reduce pain, like Ibuprofen and Naproxen.

  • Change the activities that cause them pain or symptoms and give rest to severe wrist movements.

Exercises for Nerve Gliding: Certain exercises help relieve the nerve from the tunnel and can be followed under a doctor’s supervision and advice.

Steroid Injections: Injecting these in the carpal tunnel will help relieve the symptoms temporarily.

Surgical management: In case of severe symptoms of muscle weakness or damage, a surgical method is followed to relieve the nerve, and it is called a carpal tunnel release.

This can be done either endoscopically or through conventional methods. After surgery, the patient will be asked to elevate the hand above the heart level and move fingers to avoid or reduce swelling and stiffness. There can be minor symptoms like pain and swelling for a few months, and it may take time to get the pinch and grip actions back entirely and effectively. The patient may also have to wear a brace or splint for quite some time (weeks).

Though the symptoms may look initially not so bothersome, it is always advisable to consult the doctor to clear the doubts and get the necessary treatment as soon as possible.

Call a doctor online for further queries.

Conclusion:

To conclude, people should not ignore any unusual symptoms like numbness or tingling sensation in their hands, as this could be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition. Although it can be treated; however, delay in treatment can affect the quality of life of the affected individual as this syndrome affects the hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Will Happen If Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Is Not Treated?

In the case of no treatment, carpal tunnel syndrome will lead to symptoms like numbness and weakness that could be mild, moderate, or even very severe. It might affect the routine activity of the affected individual. Adequate treatment and consultation with the physician are mandatory to prevent complications. Treating at an earlier stage is better.

2.

What Type of Jobs Can Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The following job people have a higher risk of Carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves repetitive hand movements, strong gripping, and mechanical stress in the palm.
Assembly line worker.
Sewer or knitter.
Baker.
Cashier.
Hairstylist.
Musician.

3.

What Are the Warning Signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome are a pain that radiates from the hand towards the shoulder. Secondly, a pain that is more severe on the thumb side of the hand. An untrue feeling of having shocked near the thumb and fingers near the thumb. Numbness, tingling, weakness can also be other presenting warning signs in a patient affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.

4.

Which Nerve Is Compressed in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. This would lead to ischemia of the wrist that can further lead to symptoms like numbness, weakness, and tingling sensation of the hand and wrist. It most commonly presents with pain in and around the wrist region. You should contact your doctor if you have severe discomfort and pain.

5.

What Is the Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The surgery indicated for carpal tunnel syndrome is carpal tunnel release surgery. During the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, the transverse carpal ligament is cut, which was initially causing pressure on the median nerve, and this surgery would involve a cut or incision from the base of the palm.

6.

How to Fix Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is possible at the initial stages of the syndrome that would include wrist splints that can be used to limit the movement of the hands, especially during sleeping. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to help with pain and inflammation. Corticosteroids can be used to treat patients with inflammation, and this group of drugs also aids in relieving pressure over the affected median nerve.

7.

What Helps Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The ways to overcome carpal tunnel syndrome:
Rest to hands and wrist or restricting movements to the hand
Wear splints.
Grip losing exercises.
Warm compress.
Mild stretch.
Elevating hands.
Painkillers.

8.

How to Sleep With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Fetal position during sleeping has to be avoided in all means and ways. To avoid sleeping in a fetal position, one can choose a pillow hugging method of sleeping. Wrist splints can be worn during sleeping to avoid movements making sure the splint does not compress much. For more clarification on this, get help from our experts at icliniq.com.

9.

What Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Feel Like?

Carpal tunnel syndrome initially presents as pain and swelling, mild numbness, weakness, and tingling, which confuses with many other disease presentations. However, on a thorough and focused physical examination, carpal tunnel syndrome can be elicited.

10.

How to Relieve Pain From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Over the counter pain medications, warm compress over the wrist and hand, wearing splints and attempting to perform mild wrist stretching exercises are the various methods to relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome.

11.

How to Know If You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

On having the symptoms of weakness, numbness, pain, tingling sensation, and most importantly, considering your work nature and routine activities, we can conclude that it might be carpal tunnel syndrome. But if you need to confirm the condition, then you should consult your doctor.

12.

Is Carpal Tunnel Serious?

The normal carpal tunnel syndrome is not a serious disorder to be feared off, especially if proper medical care is given there is no need for worrying. Complications occur only if it is left untreated. The tendons and ligaments start getting affected in the later stages.

13.

Does Carpal Tunnel Go Away by Itself?

Carpal tunnel syndrome rarely goes away by itself. You should consider taking proper treatment for this. With medical treatment, it does not usually recur. Also, the treatment does not leave behind any lifetime defects in the hand and wrist of the affected patient.

14.

How Can I Fix Carpal Tunnel Naturally?

The patient should perform a series of physiotherapy exercises to heal naturally. It is possible to fix the syndrome naturally only if the effect or severity of the syndrome is way less. Once the median nerve is severely compromised, natural remedies do not usually help.

15.

What Exercises Are Bad for Carpal Tunnel?

Many people may proceed to their usual workouts with prescribed medical braces, but however to be on the safer side, patients are instructed to avoid wrist gripping exercises like weight lifting and pull-ups and pushups. It would be better if exercises are avoided completely until full cure and recovery of the disease are achieved.

16.

How Do You Stop Carpal Tunnel From Progressing?

Adequate medical care and treatment is the only way to stop the progress of the disease. The other way of treating the disease from progressing is avoiding the activities that aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome. Do not involve in physical activities.

17.

How Painful Is Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

It is a procedure done under anesthesia. So, usually, it is not painful. However, the pain might be present post-surgically. The degree of pain is also related to the cause of the syndrome. If it is only due to repetitive movements, the pain is quite less, but if it is due to any trauma and associated other injuries, the pain could be worse and severe.

18.

Can You Get Permanent Nerve Damage From Carpal Tunnel?

Yes, it is possible that you might get nerve damage. If left untreated carpal tunnel syndrome might lead to permanent injury to the nerve, it might cause ischemia that might lead to necrosis, so treatment is mandatory to prevent permanent damage to the median nerve.
Dr. Hardik Nareshbhai Rajyaguru
Dr. Hardik Nareshbhai Rajyaguru

Neurology

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