What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a compression of the median nerve. It can cause tingling, numbness, pain and weakness in the hands. The median nerve enters the hand through a tunnel. This is known as the carpal tunnel.
How do you get carpal tunnel syndrome?
Although the exact cause is unknown, there are many risk factors. This includes increasing age, injuries to the wrist or hand, pregnancy, diabetes and thyroid issues.
What are the symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?
The classical signs of carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness or tingling to the thumb and fingers. This may occur at night and cause you to wake up and shake your hand. Some patients may start dropping objects.
What is the treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome?
The first part of treatment is understanding the cause. We advise starting with wearing a wrist brace at night. Other alternatives are anti-inflammatory medications and a steroid injection. The surgery for this condition involves releasing the roof of the carpal tunnel.
What is the recovery time from surgery?
Most patients return to their daily activities including driving within a few days after surgery. We recommend patients to keep the hand clean and dry for 12 days and to avoid heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks.