Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common neurological conditions, which mainly affects the hands. This condition develops when increased pressure is developed in the median nerve that is responsible for providing sensation in the ring, thumb, middle, and index fingers.
Due to the enhanced pressure, you may develop decreased hand and wrist functions with numbness. If you experience any of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome then you can contact the best neurosurgeon in Siliguri. Given below is a brief overview of the common symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Symptoms
The two main symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are weakness and numbness. The tingling feeling will be felt in the hand and fingers that may not affect the little finger. You can also feel an electric shock which can travel to the arms.
The other symptoms are difficulty performing activities with a hand such as writing, typing, holding small objects, and steering the wheel. If the condition is left untreated then the symptoms can become permanent with decreased sensation in the fingertips and dropping objects.
Causes
Increased pressure in the median nerve can be considered the key cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have certain working conditions that constantly irritate and squeeze the median nerve then also you can develop this disorder. Some of such working conditions include prolonged usage of vibrating tools such as drills and powered chainsaws.
You can contact the best neurologist in Siliguri if your work schedule involves excessive wrist motions and working in a cold environment. Additionally, underlying health conditions such as arthritis, wrist fracture, nerve-damaging disorders, and obesity can also increase the pressure on the nerve and cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diagnosis
Before recommending an effective treatment option, the doctor will first diagnose your condition through various tests. The doctor may also discuss about your medical history and symptoms to examine you effectively. The first diagnostic test that can be performed is Tinel’s sign, where the median nerve is tapped to notice any tingling sensation.
A wrist X-ray or Electromyography (EMG) can also be conducted to see the normal functioning of the median nerve and how effectively it is controlling the muscle movement. The X-ray result can also detect the presence of other underlying conditions such as trauma or arthritis.
The wrist flexion test is another effective diagnostic procedure where the patients are directed to rest their elbows on a table by allowing the wrists to fall freely. The patient is then observed for 60 seconds and in most cases, they develop tingling and numbness within this timeframe.
Treatment Options
There are a wide variety of surgical and non-surgical therapy options available to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. The main surgical therapies include open surgery and endoscopic surgery. In endoscopic surgery, an endoscope is used to cut the ligament by making small incisions in the wrist.
On the other hand, a big incision is made in the wrist to cut and release the pressure from the ligament during open surgery. You must also consider the fact that these surgical options are only recommended when you don’t respond to other non-surgical procedures.
Some of the common non-surgical methods for this disorder are Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. These medications help in controlling the distressing symptoms, swelling, and inflammation. Furthermore, to reduce the numbness and tingling sensation one can also use wrist splinting.
Visiting the most trusted hospital in Siliguri is extremely essential to attain speedy recovery from the disorder. Despite the treatment options, the doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle improvements to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome such as reducing weight, taking short breaks from repetitive work, and practicing stretching of the wrists.
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