What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel

What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

What are the non-surgical treatment options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

What are the surgical treatment options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Recovery After Surgery

The symptoms actually vary widely dependent on how severe the problem is. Common signs are numbness and tingling. Burning sensations are more commonly felt in the index and middle fingers, but can also be felt in the thumb and other fingers. These can also get worse if left untreated for some time. Pain can be felt in the hands and wrist as well, some even experience loss of their ability to grip simple objects. Severe cases can lead to loss of movement or control of the affected hand. If the sensation is more pain than numbness, then the cause is probably not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

There are several ways to diagnose the condition. The current standard is electrophysiological testing. One basic test is the Phalen’s maneuver, in which the patient is asked to gently flex the wrist as far as possible and hold the position until the pain or numbness is felt. Another is Tinsel’s sign, wherein light taps are made on the skin over the flexor retinaculum to invoke a pins and needles sensation. The Durkan test can also be done, wherein firm pressure is applied to the palm over the nerve for up to 30 seconds until the symptoms are felt.

If these examinations and medical history point to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, nerve conduction studies and electromyography can be done to test the response speed in the median nerve compared to similar hand nerves to confirm the diagnosis.