Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital Brain and Nerve Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Emre Ünal made statements about carpal tunnel syndrome and its treatment, which is usually seen in those who use their hands excessively.
The carpal tunnel may thicken over time
Brain and Nerve Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Emre Ünal said, “This band forms the ceiling of the tunnel we call the carpal tunnel. It thickens over time due to various reasons. Crushing the tissues passing under it is called carpal tunnel syndrome. When it crushes the nerve passing under it, symptoms such as numbness, tingling, loss of strength and pain occur in the fingers. said.
The most important symptom is waking up from sleep at night.
Noting that diseases such as diabetes and thyroid can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome, Ünal warned that these diseases should be kept under control.
Unal, who adds that the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start gradually and develop, said, “The most important symptom of this syndrome is that the person wakes up at night without pain and numbness and feels the need to shake his hand. In such cases, one should consult a specialist. Other symptoms of this syndrome include hand numbness, tingling, aches and pains in the palms and towards the fingers. Symptoms are usually seen when holding objects such as a newspaper, book, phone or steering wheel. If these symptoms are at a level that interferes with normal daily life or sleep patterns, it is necessary to consult a specialist. he said.
Crafts should be done with rest
Stating that the way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome is to do the work that is done by hand for a long time, Ünal said, “Doing the same movement for hours, such as knitting, doing small handicrafts, painting or working with construction machines that break asphalt, does not overload the wrist. puts on. The reason for this is to do the work that works the wrist for a long time without a break. For this reason, it is necessary to stay away from doing that job for a long time without rest.” he said.
More common in women
Mentioning that carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in people who already have diabetes, have low thyroid and do housework, Op. Dr. Emre Ünal said, “It is slightly more common in women than men. It is usually bilateral. If you know what the nerve does, you can understand the symptoms. The function of the nerve is to hold an object by moving our finger and to provide its sensation. When the nerve is compressed, numbness, tingling, pain and weakness occur towards the palm. If it progresses without understanding, it means that the disease has progressed too much at the point of weakness.” used his statements.
It is more important for the diagnosis than the examinations told by the patient.
Noting that the most important point in the diagnosis of this disease is the patient's complaints and examination findings, Ünal said, “Especially in this disease, no examination can replace what the patient tells and the doctor's examination. After the necessary examination and what the patient tells, a nerve conduction test called EMG can be performed. It can be checked to see if there is a neck hernia, because the same complaints can be seen in neck hernia. It is absolutely necessary to take a neck EMR. However, it should not be forgotten that the test called EMG has a 30 percent chance of showing wrong. For this reason, it is more important than the patient's examination and the tests they tell. said.
First of all, medication and physical therapy are preferred.
Noting that if there is no loss of strength and thinning in the muscle area of the hand, drug therapy and wrist splint are preferred first, Ünal said, “We use a wrist splint with an iron in the middle and prevents the hand from moving up and down. It is necessary to use the splint day and night for at least two weeks and check the results as a result of drug treatment. If this does not help, physical therapy can be used.” explained as.
Resting for at least two weeks after surgery increases the success rate.
Stating that cortisone treatment can also be done with injections, Ünal said, “If the disease has come to a situation that requires surgical intervention, it should be operated. The surgery is performed with local anesthesia. It takes about 15-20 minutes and does not have much risk. If the surgery is not performed on time, irreversible consequences may occur.” he warned.
Noting that carpal tunnel syndrome surgeries are usually performed with local anesthesia, Op. Dr. Emre Ünal concluded his words as follows:
“This procedure is performed with a very small incision on the wrist. Patients are discharged on the same day. The person should rest for at least two weeks after the surgery. The patient should protect himself well after the operation. Postoperative protection is one of the most important factors that increase the success rate of the surgery. Therefore, the person should not routinely use his operated hand for at least two weeks. After about a month, patients can start using their hands normally, almost as if they had not had surgery.”