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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition caused by pressure on the median nerve at the wrist. This nerve passes through a narrow tunnel in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. When it becomes compressed, it can lead to unpleasant symptoms in the hand and fingers.The most common symptoms are tingling, numbness, and pain in the hand, often affecting the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger. Symptoms are often worse at night and may disturb sleep. Some patients also notice weakness, loss of grip, or clumsiness of the hand. On examination, there may be signs of reduced strength and, in more advanced cases, wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is usually based on the history and clinical examination. A nerve conduction study is commonly arranged to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the severity of the nerve compression. This helps guide the most appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. In mild cases, a brief trial of conservative treatment may sometimes be appropriate. However, the most suitable and most common treatment option is often open carpal tunnel release.
This is a minor day-case operation performed under local anaesthesia while you are awake. The area is fully numbed, so the procedure itself should be painless. A small incision is made at the front of the wrist, and the tight ligament forming the roof of the carpal tunnel is released in order to take pressure off the nerve.
This operation has a very high success rate, with more than 90% of patients experiencing improvement in their symptoms after surgery. The main aim of the procedure is to relieve the symptoms and prevent further nerve damage in the future. However, as with any treatment, it is not possible to guarantee complete relief of every symptom in the long term.
The procedure is carried out as a day case, and recovery is usually straightforward. The downtime is commonly a few weeks, although this can vary from one patient to another.
Mr Ayoub will give you further details during your consultation and will advise you on the most appropriate treatment for your condition. Back…
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