Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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All About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A Message About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diagnosing
Treatments
Prevention

The Carpal Tunnel is a passage in the wrist, where the median nerves pass through this tunnel to connect the hand and forearm. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is used to describe the compression or pinching of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist joint, causing numbness and pain in the wrist, palm, and fingers.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is most commonly triggered by repetitive motions such as typing or sports. Some of the risk factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are as follows:

High-force and extreme wrist motions
Hand or wrist deformity
Pregnancy
Haemodialysis
Heredity (smaller carpal tunnel can run in families)
Health conditions (Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and thyroid imbalance)

Symptoms Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Pain

Pain, tingling or burning sensation in the fingers. The pain may rarely radiate to the forearm towards the shoulder. The pain may initially come and go; however, it may stay for a longer period as it worsens.

Weakness

You may find difficulties in doing small tasks such as buttoning the clothes, holding a book, writing or using a computer keyboard.

Other symptoms

Other symptoms include numbness in your palm, thumb, or index and middle fingers, tingling in the fingers, and decreased feeling in the fingertips. It usually spares the little finger of the hand.

A Message About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The pain and numbness of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome often mimic symptoms of nerve compression. Together with pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulder, the pins and needles in the hands may cause the patient to worry about cervical spinal nerve compression. The feeling of “poor blood flow” in the hand may cause weakness, resulting in difficulty opening jugs or containers. The fine motor skills of the fingers may be affected, causing difficulties in buttoning or picking up things with fingers.

Depending on the severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, significant narrowing of the tunnel may have to be surgically decompressed. Mild to moderate narrowing usually may be treated adequately with less invasive injections.

Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Our team of experienced primary care physicians or pain care specialists together with a hand surgeon will conduct a thorough diagnosis. This includes a physical exam, questions about your symptoms, and an evaluation of your medical history. Additional tests may be conducted such as the Tinel sign test where the physician taps over the median nerve at the wrist and see if it produces a tingling sensation in the fingers. An X-ray may be needed if the wrist is limited in motion or there is evidence of arthritis or trauma.

What Treatments Are Available for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that worsens over time, early diagnosis and treatment can make the treatment easier and more effective. At Singapore Paincare, we strive to treat your pain with the least invasive option possible after accurately identifying the cause. Our approach to pain resolution focuses on the removal of pain generators via specialised injection and minimally invasive procedures. Combined with pharmacological treatments and cognitive and physical rehabilitative therapies – we help patients improve functions and prevent pain from recurring.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Splinting

Immobilization of the wrist reduces the pressure off the nerves. Our doctors may recommend splints with other treatments to boost effectiveness and recovery. These splints can be used for a period of six to ten weeks.

Coreflex Steroid Injections

Cortisone is a steroid used to treat inflammation. It is a form of anti-inflammatory which can be used to relieve pain quickly. This simple intervention provides immediate relief without significant risks. The steroid causes a profound reduction in swelling, “opening” up the tunnel space without the need for surgery. This is amendable in mild to moderate tunnel stenosis.

In general, if one should need repeated injections (more than 2 times), further evaluations with MRI investigations may be warranted by our specialists before more injections are administered to the painful area.

Physiotherapy

Exercises can help to reduce stiffness and accelerate the restoration of wrist function.

Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs may be prescribed to help minimize pain and swelling.

Surgical Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome generally responds well to conservative treatments. If the problem does not respond to non-invasive treatments or if it becomes severe, surgery may be an option. As surgery always comes with associated risks, complications, and downtime – it may not be suitable for everyone. You should carefully weigh the decision before deciding to go under the knife by considering the pros and cons of both non-surgical methods and surgical reconstruction.

Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery

This procedure is specifically used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. It is done as open surgery with local or general anaesthesia; patients are likely able to return the same day after a period of supervision. Even in open surgical decompression, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain and numbness may recur again.

How Can I Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome can be difficult since the condition is caused by so many activities in a person’s daily life. Here are a couple of methods that can help minimise some factors that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome:

Keeping your wrists straight when using tools
Avoid curling, flexing or extending your wrists repeatedly
Ensure proper seating, hand and wrist placement when using computers
Take frequent breaks when doing repetitive activities

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome