Carpal Tunnel Treatment

Carpal Tunnel Treatment involves measures taken after preliminary tests, via physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs or surgery to reduce the pressure, pain and swelling in and around the carpal tunnel.

CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is now addressed by the medical fraternity in a number of ways. The Carpal Tunnel Treatment options include special carpal tunnel exercises, carpal tunnel surgery and the use of splints, recommended by specialists with extensive experience in the caring of patients diagnosed with the condition. The CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be well addressed by teams of clinical specialists like orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Once the condition is carefully diagnosed, the practitioner determines and defines the proper treatment. The Carpal Tunnel Treatment is according to the stage of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is usually after a physical examination by the doctor to identify the condition.

There are a number of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome nerve tests that are designed around the confirmation of the diagnosis and to rule out other causes. The course of action adopted by most practitioners begins with the physical examination and the location of the source of the symptoms. One indication is the numbness in the fingers, usually excluding the little finger. This is due to the fact that the median nerve that is affected in the condition not providing sensation to this finger. The initial Carpal Tunnel Treatment involves the physician test to check the feeling in the fingers and the strength of the hand muscles.

The physician applies pressure on the median nerve, at the wrist by bending, tapping or simply pressing on the nerve. The reaction is what determines and confirms the condition. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, the physician would also recommend a nerve test to study nerve conduction. This is done to find out whether the electrical impulses traveling along the median nerve are in any way slowed down within the carpal tunnel. An electromyogram is also recommended to check for loss of ‘nerve supply’. The Carpal Tunnel Treatment begins as soon as the condition is defined and the condition of ‘mimic carpal tunnel syndrome’ is eradicated.

These carpal tunnel exercises and carpal tunnel surgery options are given by the doctor after all the tests are conducted and a comprehensive report of the same is available for scrutiny. There are rheumatologists and hand surgeons also involved in the treatment of CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The treatment options are recommended primarily to reduce the resultant swelling and pressure on the median nerve. In most cases, carpal tunnel syndrome physiotherapy treatment immediately relieves the pain and numbness. The carpal tunnel treatment exercises include wrist and hand movements that are designed to restore the normal function of the wrist and hand, without pain or swelling.

The carpal tunnel treatment could include the use of splints or braces and anti-inflammatory drugs. In extreme cases of CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, cortisone injections or carpal tunnel surgery is advised. In the beginning, the pain or numbness is effectively treated with simple exercises like shaking the hand. This reduces the pressure on the median nerve. However, if the symptoms get any worse, then the use of drugs and surgery is advised according to the stage diagnosed. It is important to first define the symptoms of CTS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and not mix them up with that of the numbness or tingling that is common to sleep positions that often hyperextend or hyper flex the wrist. This also results in the pinching of the median nerve.

Special carpal tunnel exercises include therapy heat treatments and massages to alleviate the discomfort and effectively avoid the strain on the wrist. The use of a splint in carpal tunnel treatment keeps the wrist in a neutral position. The drugs used in the treatment include non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain caused by swelling of the carpal tendons. Injecting cortisone also provides relief. Carpal Tunnel Surgery involves cutting the roof ligament of the carpal tunnel, either by endoscopic or open procedure. Endoscopic surgery implies the use of a tiny television camera to observe the carpal tunnel and perform the surgery through small incisions.

By Gaynor Borade Published: 1/21/2008