Dr. Aida Abaz Quka
Neurology
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My dad is 87 years old. He is in good health. He has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome via an EMG (electromyography). Here are the results of the test:
He has had this for about nine months. He was evaluated by one doctor who tried a steroid injection in one hand that did not help. The doctor at first said carpal tunnel surgery would not help. Then said that it might help. We are taking him to a second doctor on Thursday, but we would like your thoughts on this. He has been in this condition for only nine months and it just started getting bad over the last six months. Keeping ice packs does offer some relief.
What is your opinion on treatment? Kindly help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern and would explain that hand surgery for carpal tunnel can help especially if pain and numbness are more prominent during the night and he experiences severe electrical pain (Tinel's sign - the tingling or “pins and needles” feeling you get when your healthcare provider taps your skin over a nerve, on the carpal tunnel). Tinel's sign may be an indicator that you have nerve compression or damage where they are tapping and indicates that surgery is needed to decompress the nerve.
Considering the radiculopathy, I suggest performing a cervical spine MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) too, in order to investigate for a disk herniation in this region, which would need a steroid shot in the nerve root, near the cervical column too.
I hope you will find this information helpful. I remain at your disposal in case of further questions whenever you need me.
Thank you.
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Neurology
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