Carpal tunnel syndrome: what is it?
Written by:One of the most common in the joints neuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a disease that causes discomfort, such as tingling in the hands and fingers, which can hardly be attributed to a particular disease. the Dr.. Enzo Massimo Caruso, expert in orthopedics, talks about the symptoms and specific treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome
The carpal tunnel is nothing more than a cavity located at the base of the hand inside which pass veins, muscles, tendons and the median nerve. The latter, due to enlarged tendons or other factors, can be compressed and, consequently, cause pain, numbness of the hand and wrist. This is where we talk about carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: what is it?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease characterized by an annoying tingling and pain in the fingers of the hand. The symptoms are localized to the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring, usually the pinky it is saved. Most commonly affects females, patients with concomitant systemic diseases such as diabetes, people subjected to continuous manual work stress.
What are the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome?
Often it affects both hands asymmetrically and disorders are mostly at night, causing an early awakening sleeping with his fingers and with a nagging sense of numbness and pain of the affected hand. With the passage of time the tingling gives way to the loss of sensitivity and strength, with a progressive loss of hand function. The diagnosis is made by an orthopedic specialist with the appropriate clinical tests, detects signs of median nerve pain. To confirm the diagnosis exists an instrumental test called electromyography. Through this test you can measure the nerve impulse conduction velocity.
Such as carpal tunnel syndrome treated?
The treatment in the early stages is conservative. Medical therapy is based on anti-inflammatories and supplements to stimulate nerve conduction. You can use the night splints that can alleviate the symptoms. Also physical therapies can reduce the local inflammatory process.
Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
When the disease reaches an advanced stage treatment is surgical and consists in the decompression of the median nerve through the incision of the ligament that compresses. This procedure can be performed endoscopically or via open. The endoscopic treatment, reserved for the less severe cases, has the advantage of a scar less annoying but is burdened by a higher percentage of relapse and a higher risk of lesion of side branches of the nerve.
What is the post-surgery recovery?
The postoperative is characterized by a bandage that is maintained until the removal of the stitches, about 15 days after surgery. The resumption of activities depends on the type of work done by the patient. For clerical work activities the resumption takes place after removal of the points while those who perform manual activities is advisable a further period of abstaining from efforts.
Editor: Valerio Bellio