Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Özgür Çetik made a statement about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Do you suffer from weakness and fatigue in your hand? Do you have a tingling sensation, especially in all of the first three fingers and half of the fourth finger? Are these complaints so severe that they usually wake you up at night? If your answer is 'yes', be careful, because the cause may be 'Carpal tunnel syndrome', which threatens people who use keyboard and mouse frequently and can significantly reduce their quality of life if left untreated!
carpal tunnel syndrome; It is called the picture that occurs when the structure called 'median nerve', which plays an important role in providing sensation with the movement of the fingers, is compressed at the wrist level. It especially threatens those who have to keep the wrist in a bent position while using the keyboard and mouse or in jobs that create a frequent load on the hand and wrist. Although carpal tunnel syndrome causes minor complaints at the beginning, it can cause numbness and pain in the fingers that will wake you up at night. When the treatment is delayed, it causes permanent nerve and muscle loss in the hands, seriously reducing the quality of life. So much so that patients have great difficulty in doing activities such as writing and holding objects; they may become unable to carry even a light bag. Therefore, early intervention in carpal tunnel syndrome is extremely important. Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Özgür Çetik pointed out that carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated without the need for surgery if it is not too late, and said, “Therefore, when tingling is felt in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic specialist without delay. In the early period, the progression of the disease can be prevented with medication and physical therapy, and even full recovery can be achieved.” said.
When exposed to prolonged pressure…
The task of the median nerve; to feel the entire thumb, index and middle finger and ½ outer half of the ring finger. It also plays a role in the work of muscles by making some fine movements of the fingers. The median nerve, along with the tendons that move the fingers, runs through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel on the inside of the wrist. Exposure of this nerve to long-term pressure in the carpal tunnel causes carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you have tingling in the first three fingers, watch out!
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually develop slowly. In the initial period, the first symptoms are mostly weakness in the hand, fatigue, and a tingling sensation especially in all of the first three fingers and half of the fourth finger. prof. Dr. Özgür Çetik stated that in addition to the exacerbation of the pain, numbness in the fingers started in the following periods, and said, "The feeling of pain and numbness can often be so severe that it wakes the patient up at night, and the symptoms decrease when the patient shakes his hand or moves his wrist."
Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Özgür Çetik stated that the solution for carpal tunnel syndromes that persist for a few months and persist despite conservative measures such as wristbands is surgery, and continued as follows:
“Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women and between the ages of 40-60. However, no obvious cause is often found. Almost any factor that compresses or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel cavity can cause this syndrome. Frequent use of the wrist is the most common cause. The syndrome can also be caused by various diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, obesity and gout that can damage or press the median nerve. The increase in edema in the body during pregnancy can lead to an increase in pressure in the carpal tunnel, which can cause temporary symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Surgery is the last resort!
In the initial period of carpal tunnel syndrome, physical therapy methods such as restriction of wrist movements with splints and anti-inflammatory drugs as well as ultrasound and electrical nerve stimulation can alleviate symptoms. Steroid injections can also help relieve symptoms by reducing swelling around the nerve. The carpal tunnel is reached with a 3 cm incision made between the palm and the wrist. Then, the transverse carpal ligament, which forms the roof of the tunnel, is completely cut and the tunnel is opened. Thus, the pressure on the nerve is removed. In advanced cases, it is necessary to release the nerve under the microscope into the thickened nerve sheath of the median nerve.”
Recovery time takes 3-6 months
After the first month after the operation, a significant decrease in complaints is felt. The recovery period varies between 3-6 months, depending on the nerve damage. Stating that complete recovery is usually possible with surgery in carpal tunnel syndrome, Prof. Dr. Özgür Çetik said, “However, in some very severe and overdue pictures, although the complaints decrease after the operation, they may not completely go away. In addition, factors such as the patient's smoking, insufficient nutrition, and advanced age may adversely affect the outcome of surgical treatment. warned.
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