Restore mobility to your fingers and prevent numbness in your hand that makes your everyday life difficult
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that can be recognized by a general weakness in the work of the wrists, palms and fingers of the hand. This phenomenon can manifest itself in the form of dullness, pain, a tingling sensation or impaired motor skills when moving the fingers.
Weakness in the function of the fingers and palms occurs due to a swollen median nerve, which passes through the connective canal in the wrist area (carpal bone).
Although it is most often overlooked in the early stages, with the later development of the disorder, there can be difficult wrist mobility and pain, and many clients complain of things falling out of their hands that they cannot control.
Carpal syndrome can make your everyday life difficult, but thanks to a number of adequate procedures, this disorder can also be successfully eliminated.
In the initial phase of development, rehabilitation procedures, such as physiotherapy, will be sufficient, and in the case of more serious difficulties, we can also choose carpal tunnel surgery as the best solution.
We also carry out treatments for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome at the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic. The treatment methods are safe and proven to be effective , allowing you to regain the motor skills of your hands at an optimal level.
Carpal tunnel, or carpal tunnel, is a term used for the area between the carpal bones and the connective lining.
Due to reasons such as frequent wear and tear or injuries, swelling of the nerve and sheath can occur, resulting in the development of the first symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
These symptoms initially appear only at night, and are recognized by the feeling of tingling, dullness and the inability to fully open and close the palms.
Carpal syndrome can also be caused by the anatomy of the wrist. Namely, if the carpal bones are narrower in nature, additional pressure can act on the median nerve and sheath, emphasizing the already mentioned symptoms.
When we take into account health conditions, there is a link between how certain diseases and circumstances can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems or tumors in the carpal tunnel area can trigger the appearance of symptoms.
In addition, carpal syndrome can also be caused by circumstances such as menopause and pregnancy, mostly due to the retention of large amounts of water in the body, which can be reflected in the swelling of the connective tissue and pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel.
The development of carpal tunnel syndrome can be recognized by the following symptoms:
Numbness of the hand most often occurs during the night. If you feel the need to shake your hand during sleep to restore the mobility of your hand, or if you have to repeat something like this several times throughout the night, there is a suspicion of developing carpal syndrome.
In the later stages of the syndrome’s development, numbness can also occur during the day, which can make routine activities, such as brushing your teeth, writing and typing, difficult.
During the development of the disorder, you will be able to notice limited mobility of the fingers, most often the thumb, index finger and middle finger. The inability to fully bend and extend the fingers into a straight position are typical symptoms of carpal syndrome.
The sensation of tingling, burning and cramping may be frequent due to reduced transmission of impulses through the median nerve, whose function is impaired due to the pressure of the sheath and carpal bones.
In the later stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle atrophy is also possible.
Loss of sensation, which includes the inability to recognize heat and cold, can occur as a result of a more serious development of carpal syndrome. This can put you in dangerous circumstances, such as getting burns or frostbite, without being able to recognize the sensations.
Although these phenomena are typical for the development of carpal tunnel syndrome, a complete diagnosis should be carried out for a safe assessment.
Doctors will try to find a reason for these circumstances, and it is not uncommon for nerve numbness in the carpal tunnel to be associated with problems in the cervical spine.
Muscle and nerve stiffness in the area can directly affect the mobility of the hands and wrists, so these symptoms may not always be attributed to carpal syndrome.
As for the diagnosis itself, it is necessary to take into account that the syndrome most often occurs in the dominant hand, and that it is more common in women, who have a much narrower carpal tunnel than men.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated non-invasively and invasively, depending on the degree of development and frequency of symptoms.
Some of the most common non-invasive carpal syndrome treatment practices include:
The use of the drugs voltaren, ibuprofen or aspirin can help relieve the initial discomfort, relaxing the surrounding connective tissue and reducing the pressure on the median nerve.
Physiotherapy is chosen when it comes to the initial stage of carpal syndrome development. Treatments include carpal tunnel exercises that focus most on static stretching of tendons and muscles to relax and promote arm flexibility.
Of the invasive methods, the following are most often carried out:
Injecting steroids promotes relaxation of the sheath and connective tissue, which puts pressure on the median nerve. Injection therapies are usually carried out 2-3 times, which ensures longer effectiveness and sagging of the tissue without subsequent procedures over the next few years.
Carpal tunnel surgery is the last resort used in cases of later stage of carpal syndrome development. The operation is routine and is based on making incisions in the area of the sheath to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
Carpal tunnel surgery seeks to eliminate pressure on the median nerve. By making an incision on the carpal ligament, the median nerve gets the necessary space for proper function, without numbing the arm or feeling pain.
Carpal tunnel surgery is performed under the action of local anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in the palm area and with the help of optical aids acts as precisely as possible on the loosening of the tissue.
After the incision releases the pressure, the wound is sutured, and the palm is wrapped with bandages.
The operation usually does not take more than 20 minutes, and you are allowed to go to home care immediately after the operation.
With the experience of the surgeon and the presence of high-quality equipment, the operation ensures lasting results and a speedy recovery.
After carpal tunnel surgery, it is necessary to limit the motor skills of the hand so that the sutures do not open and so that healing is as fast as possible.
In the next 10 days after the surgery, you will come for check-ups every 2-3 days, during which we will gradually remove the bandage layers and enable increasing hand mobility.
Removal of sutures occurs after 2 weeks and then it is necessary to go to rehabilitation. Carpal tunnel exercises restore grip strength and increase arm mobility.
Although the speed of recovery is individual and can vary, the length of complete recovery takes approximately 3 months. After this period, you will be able to squeeze and relax your hand with full strength and flexibility, using it for everyday activities.
When it comes to preventive measures, for the fastest possible recovery, it is necessary to keep your hand elevated, at least 2-3 days after the procedure.
In addition, to maintain sagging skin, the scar site needs to be lubricated with moisturizing creams. This will prevent the formation of scabs and make the area less prone to cracking and drying.
At the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic, functionality comes before aesthetics. We are aware that certain disorders can make your everyday life more difficult and that is why we are here to make it easier for you.
By performing carpal tunnel surgery, we successfully eliminate the problems of arm numbness, pain and limitations in wrist mobility. By relieving the pressure from the median nerve, we restore the functionality of your hand to an optimal level, without side effects and long recoveries.
Make an appointment for a check-up and take the first step towards emphasizing your curves. Fill out our online form, or call us at +385 1 2444 646.
The main goal of LF Polyclinic is to improve the quality of life and health of our clients by providing them with top-notch healthcare services.
