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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CTS is the result of compression of the wrist's median nerve which in turn causes pain and numbness in the hand

502 Questions

Where are the carpals?

There are 8 carpal bones on each hand/wrist. These comprise of the scaphoid, hamate, lunate, capitate, triquetrum, trapezoid, trapezium and pisiform. See below for illustration.

Is there such thing as carpal tunnel syndrome in your elbow?

No. the carpal tunnel is an area that runs in the hand just under where it joins the wrist. Nerves run through this area that control the fingers, the thumb and the 2 and a half fingers next to it. A ligament in this area runs across this nerve and can for various reasons put pressure on the carpal nerve, leading to the following symptoms.

  • Numbness or tingling in the thumb and next two or three fingers of one or both hands
  • Numbness or tingling of the palm of the hand
  • Pain extending to the elbow
  • Pain in wrist or hand in one or both hands
  • Problems with fine finger movements (coordination) in one or both hands
  • Wasting away of the muscle under the thumb (in advanced or long term cases)
  • Weak grip or difficulty carrying bags (a common complaint)
  • Weakness in one or both hands
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should seek medical advice in order to stop any further damage from taking place.

When can you drive after carpal tunnel surgery?

The next day but you have to take care not to put too much pressure on the hand for a while. You must keep in mind also that in case of accident you may end up having trouble with your insurance . So you had better consult them as well.

What is Carpal Tunnel syndrome (CTS)?

Muscles and bones in the extremities are enclosed within a fascia. When some injury occurs let us say a crush injury in the forearm this leads to Edema/swellings. Further leading in an increase in pressure in the injured forearm. This alters the blood supply distally to the part of injury. In other words compression occurs and as in this case the median nerve will most likely be compressed too.

So when the pressure increases above than 40 mm hg then carpel tunnel syndrome is said to occur.

Impending signs of CTS are,

High risk injuries.

Pain which is not relieved by the usuall doses of analgesics.

Numbers and parathesia when a nerve is compressed.

Some clinical tests we do to detect CST are;

Phalen's maneuver is performed by flexing the wrist gently as far as possible, then holding this position and awaiting symptoms.[34] A positive test is one that results in numbness in the median nerve distribution when holding the wrist in acute flexion position within 60 seconds.

Tinel's sign, a classic, though less sensitive test, is a way to detect irritated nerves. Tinel's is performed by lightly tapping the skin over the flexor retinaculum to elicit a sensation of tingling or "pins and needles" in the nerve distribution.

Durkan test, carpal compression test, or applying firm pressure to the palm over the nerve for up to 30 seconds to elicit symptoms has also been proposed.

Treatment - Early reduction of the pressure that is being built inside.

If the patient is not that symptomatic then we can administer local corticosteroid injections. Or in case of an emergency we do a faciotomty. i.e. we make linear incisions on the lateral aspects of the forearm.

What is cardiomegaly?

It is the medical term for enlarged heart. (Cardio = Heart, megaly = enlarged)

Can carpal tunnel come back after surgery?

Yes there will be some pain, discomfort etc..because you had surgery..your skin and tissue beneath the skin were cut. Your numbness and tingling in the fingers should subside from that day to several weeks just depending on how much swelling you are having. There are also many other factors that can delay your CTS surgery healing from smoking to lawyers! Check link for complete details.

What causes a constant 'pins and needles' sensation down left arm?

You should always see your doctor with these symptoms. Most of the time it's stress through the neck and shoulder area and when under stress the muscles freeze up (like a knot.) A good soak in the tub with Epsom Salts will certainly help, and rub your neck and shoulders well with A535. If you are still having this problem then please see your doctor immediately.

If the pins and needles go along with a heavy chest or jaw pain call 911! It may be due to anxiety due to stress (many patients think they are having a heart attack and it turns out to be anxiety.) It's better to be safe than sorry.

NumbnessNumbness and tingling and parasthesia on the left side of the body means that there may be an abnormality in the right side of the brain.It can be a neurological pathology like motor neuron disease,TIA or stroke or autoimmune condition like multiple sclerosis in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS), leading to demyelination.It can be diagnosed by MRI brain and MRS of the brain.

Other possibilities are vit B12 deficiency,diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism or peripheral nerve trauma or compression.

If tingling is there only on the left half of the body,it means a right side pathology of the brain.So I feel that clinical evaluation from a neurologist is necessary to rule it out.

Does hairspray cause cancer?

no; i do believe that most dyes are safe, however, i read that kool aid (sometimes used for colouring hair) has an ingredient, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, and it is considered carcinogenic (cancer causing) i dont know if this is true, but checking more sites about the chemical might help.

What does compression of the median nerve cause?

Compression of the median nerve causes tingling and numbness in the thumb, forefinger, middle finger and on the thumb-side of the fourth finger. It may also cause pain in the forearm and occasionally into the shoulder.

How to relieve pain due to severe carpal tunnel syndrome?

Answer

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an inflamed tendon that is caused by overuse of the hand/thumb/wrist in a repetitive motion. So, periodically ice the sore wrist (15 minutes on and off), take ibuprofen or aleve, and rest the wrist. Using a splint if you must continue to do the motion is helpful. If this is a repeat issue, try alternative medicine, like acupuncture or low laser therapy. Magnets are not usually effective, so you will spend money without lasting effect. At last resort is surgery, but often the outcome is less than desirable.

Answer

Actually, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by pressure on the median nerve as it passes through a canal in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. Inflamed tendons etc...that also pass through this area too can put pressure on the median nerve and eventually cause CTS.

There are a lot of things that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome....

obesity, diabetes, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis....and of course over useage, although this is debated by many experts. Therefore you really have to try and find out what the cause is to offer the best treatment. (ex. Ice can make things worse if your CTS is from arthritis. Follow label directions on Motrin and the like especially if you have ulcers or heart disease. Night splints can help relieve symptoms by 75% if used regularly.

I don't agree withe the comment at he top of this page regarding the outcome of carpel tunnel surgery I have had it done in both hands and it turned out to be the bet move I have ever made. My mother who suffers from Rheumatoid arthritis as I do had the same thing done and was satisfied with the results, I also have a brother that does not Have RA who also had to have it done and he also would recomend it to any one.

What would cause your right hand fingers to tingle?

Among many other reasons, a hearniated disk will cause this. It will be a disk at the higher level of your spine. Please go to the doctor and have this taken care of, later it may become more painful

What benefits come from using a carpal tunnel brace for the wrist?

I had carpel tun syndrome and found that a brace that stopped my hands from turning ito a fist during sleep was helpful, however the only thing that worked in the end was surgery.

Why does your hands get numb?

Not being a doctor, this answer will be from a layman's viewpoint, based on online reading of health articles. First, numbness in any extremity could be the symptoms of a very serious condition, so I strongly suggest that if you have numbness in your fingers, that you have it checked out by a doctor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Some of the possible causes I've read about are: 1. A blood clot blocking an artery, or 2. A mini-stroke in the brain which, I think, is technically refered to as an Intermittant Ischemic Event. Again, IF you actually have this symptom, see a doctor ASAP!!!!!j3h.

How much is Carpal tunnel surgery price?

I would say on average about 3-4k..this is just his fee...not including hospital charges, assistant fees, surgery/equipment/sterilizing charges, medicine, office visits, bandages etc... I think the total average CTS surgery is about 8k.

Can you get arthritis from typing too much?

Typing can cause repetitive stress syndrome leading to carpal tunnel problems or tennis elbow. Usually this happens if you sit at the wrong height, or type with fingers in isolation. That is the reason people should learn touch typing if they use the computer for any great length of time. Basically if you are feeling pain after typing, you should examine what you are doing wrong. If you ignore the pain for too long, you may end up needing carpal tunnel surgery.

Is carpal tunnel a result from agent orange?

Not likely as carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by highly repetitive motion.

What is average work comp settlement for discectomy?

I'm not sure about the average price, but I can tell you that I've been offered $45,000 as an initial offer. I say initial since I don't plan to ever settle, and judging by their eagerness the insurance company will certainly make another offer. I'm young to have sustained such a serious injury, and I'm not about to trade in a lifetime of medical expenses for such a small amount. My current prescriptions alone over the next 35 years will cost $210,000 if the price never goes up (and it most certainly will!)
If you are reading this to see how much you can get for your disc injury, my advice is not to settle!
- From Georgia

You were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by a previous employer can you file a claim?

You were diagnosed by your EMPLOYER? (???) If you mean you were diagnosed by doctors employed by, or under contract to, your employer, you would have to produce a written, signed diagnosis to the Workmans Compensation Board examiners. After considering your case, they could award you a percentage amount commensurate with your disability.

How to get rid of Wrist pain due to repetitive motions?

First, stop the motion. The pain is possibly an inflammed tendon. Some suggestions: Purchase a splint that limits motion and wear it, even at night. Periodically ice the area for 10-15 minutes. Take a NSAID (ibuprofen, tylenol). If possible, stop doing the task for a few days. If that's not possible, take breaks and change the way you do the task. Long term, it is best to take care of the wrist in order to prevent permanent damage. If these things don't help, visit an orthopedic doctor.

What symptom is a tingle face?

A "tingle face" typically refers to the sensation of tingling or numbness in the facial area, which can be caused by various conditions, including anxiety, nerve compression, or neurological disorders. This symptom may also occur during migraines or as a result of an allergic reaction. If the tingling is persistent or accompanied by other symptoms like weakness, it’s important to seek medical advice to determine the underlying cause.

Is the Carpal tunnel nerve conduction velocity test painful?

It can be, about 10-20% of patients will describe it as a discomfort, or electrical stinging sensation. There are two types of test you should be getting; one is a nerve conduction study and the second is an EMG. An EMG is where the provider uses very small needles that are inserted into the muscles of the arms and sends small electrical impulses to test certain nerves in the upper extremities.

No there is just about nothing too it. Had the test done on both hands and hardly remember having it done other then paying the doctor.