Jay M. Shah MD is a leading care provider at Samwell Institute for Pain Management, offering comprehensive assessment and treatment for this condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs after compression or squeezing of the median nerve through the wrist, one of the primary nerves traveling to the hand. If the condition goes untreated, then the symptoms worsen. The more you ignore the symptoms, the worse your condition becomes, causing nerve damage that may require surgery to treat.
Anatomy of the carpal tunnel
The narrow space in the wrist is called the carpal tunnel. The passageway is small, only about an inch wide. Carpal bones make up the floor and sides of the tunnel. The transverse carpal ligament forms the tunnel's roof and is a rigid band of connective tissue. This strong nature puts pressure on the tunnel; therefore, it does not stretch or increase in size much.
The median nerve is a major nerve and is the aftermath of a group of nerve roots originating from the neck. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel from the arm to the hand, where it provides sensation to the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. Furthermore, the median nerve provides a control for the muscles at the base of the thumb.
There are also nine tendons called the flexor tendons that travel through the carpal tunnel and are responsible for bending the fingers.
How carpal tunnel syndrome occurs
The tunnel has limited capacity to expand due to the rigid band of connective tissue. So as space narrows more, it puts a lot of pressure on the median nerve. The pressure can also result from synovium tissues surrounding and providing lubrication to the flexor tendons, swelling. The increasing pressure on the medium nerve causes symptoms like pain, weakness, tingling, and numbness of the hands.
Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
Diagnosis and treatment are essential because the condition progresses slowly and might cause permanent nerve damage. Nonsurgical treatment options of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Reducing pressure on the median nerve by maintaining the wrist straight through wearing a splint or brace.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Like ibuprofen can help with the swelling of the synovium.
- Sometimes patients experience symptoms after having placed their wrist in a flexed or extended position for long periods. Massaging or performing nerve gliding exercises can offer relief.
The doctor may recommend surgical intervention if a patient does not seek treatment in time and suffers severe symptoms like nerve damage, or if conventional treatments did not offer relief. Carpal tunnel release is the procedure your doctor will conduct that involves cutting the ligaments forming the tunnel's roof, thus increasing the size of the space and decreasing the pressure on the median nerve. Contact the Samwell Institute for Pain Management if you are experiencing any symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and get a thorough diagnosis and commence treatment before your condition worsens.
