What is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a sensation of numbness or irritation around the wrist. More specifically, the numbness is caused when a specific set of nerves that lead via the bones known as the carpel tunnel to the upper palm area becomes compressed. Professional medical doctors have come up with different ways to alleviate this sensation with a variety of treatment methods. Singapore Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment and Surgery also consists of more information for CTS.
Symptoms of CTS:
Some of the major symptoms of CTS are losing muscle power in the wrist and a feeling of numbness in the hand, fingers or both. Symptoms tend to occur at a higher rate during the night when the nerves in the fingers tend to become constricted hence allowing the sensation of numbness.
5 Effective Prevention Techniques:
Treating CTS largely depends upon the condition of the nerves. Treatment methods of CTS includes surgery for extreme cases, splints for mild cases, steroids and NSAIDS. The recommended procedure is to use the least invasive technique and then gradually opt for surgery if all else fails.
1. Steroids
Injecting steroids more specifically the steroid call corticosteroids in the wrist. This treatment is only for patients who are suffering an immense amount of pain. Injecting steroids is not a long term treatment it only works for mitigating the pain and for cases when the patient has not yet decided upon a long term treatment. Oral corticosteroids is also another available option but injection is a better one.
2. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)
NSAIDs are also a way to relieve the pain in the wrist or hands. It is not a long term treatment. Patients looking for temporary relief of pain can use this method.
3. Splints
Splint is another option to treat CTS. Splints are especially designed to be tender as well as supportive due to its padded coverings. The splint is basically made with soft padded coverings that is tender yet strong due to a long piece of metal that is fixed inside the soft coverings. The patient is normally advised to wear it for two to seven weeks or as advised by the physician.
4. Open Surgery
Surgery is usually for extreme cases when patients suffer from a constant pain in the wrist and hand. The surgery is basically done by cutting the transverse carpal ligament. However, after surgery the results might differ from person to person due to a number of factors such as the bodies healing power, practice of proper physical hand movements and internal tissue damage. Doctors usually advise practicing slow hand movements after the surgery. The body naturally grows back the tissue around the surgical area.
5. Endoscopic Surgery
Endoscopic surgery is a surgery performed with advanced tools. The technology used is in fact a telescope like device with a small camera attached to it for the physician to see through the carpel tunnel and make a thin incision of the carpal ligament. Endoscopic surgery usually results in less pain than open surgery for the patients.