It all starts with tingling and numbness in your hands, and before you realize it, your entire arm is in pain or your hand isn't working properly. When it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, this trend is not unusual, which is why obtaining care as soon as possible is critical.
Check how we may help you regain full function and feeling in your hand.
The basics of carpal tunnel syndrome
Your median nerve passes through your carpal tunnel, which is located on the underside of your wrist, and travels all the way down your arm and into your hand. Except for your pinky, this vital nerve controls the feeling and movement of your thumb and all other fingers.
Your carpal tunnel, like any good tunnel, does more than just offer passage for your median nerve. Nine flexor tendons flow through this narrow channel, which is barely an inch broad, allowing your fingers to bend.
Synovium, which is made up of lubricating substances, surrounds these flexor tendons to let them move freely. When your synovium swells inside the limitations of your carpal tunnel, it pressurizes your median nerve, which usually starts with numbness and tingling.
If the swelling isn't treated, it won't go away on its own and will typically worsen, making the numbness appear far more appealing than the radiating pain and loss of function that greater nerve compression might entail.
Further Treatment
Because CTS is a progressive problem, doctors have plenty of time to come in and alleviate the swelling, starting with more conservative methods.
To begin, a simple brace may be the solution to your issue. A brace relieves pressure on your nerve by immobilizing your wrist in a straight or neutral position. This also gives the edema time to subside.
Swelling is difficult to manage since it compounds quickly and is difficult to avoid. Consider biting the inside of your mouth as an example. When you do that, your mouth expands, and it becomes nearly impossible not to bite down or irritate the area, exacerbating the problem.
The same can be said about CTS. Doctors reduce the activity in the area by keeping your wrist stationary. This allows the swelling to go down. Physical therapy exercises, anti-inflammatory drugs, and adjustments in hand usage are frequently recommended in addition to the brace.
The Case for Surgical Intervention
While carpal tunnel surgeons can usually manage your CTS without surgery, if your issue persists, surgery may be your best option. CTS can develop to irreparable muscle and nerve damage in your thumb if left untreated.
The good news is that CTS surgery is uncomplicated and can be done as an outpatient procedure by Dr. Fitzgibbons. The surgery's purpose is to relieve your carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Fitzgibbons does this by severing the ligament that creates the tunnel's roof.
This procedure can be performed endoscopically or with a very little incision in the palm of your hand, and it usually results in immediate relief. You may need to work on resolving and healing your nerve, but with greater space in your carpal tunnel, your nerve can recover properly.
If you have any additional questions concerning carpal tunnel syndrome, please contact our carpal tunnel surgeon at Neuroscience Specialist.
**Disclaimer- Information presented here is not intended to be qualified medical advice. Nothing expressed herein creates a doctor-patient relationship.