What is the best treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is actually what we often call mouse hand. In life, with the rapid development of the Internet, more and more people are engaged in long-term computer work. Such people are very likely to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. Long-term contact with computers, the mouse is an indispensable part, and the repeated movement of the mouse every day causes a lot of activity in the wrist joint, which can easily lead to swelling and pain in the wrist joints. What is the best treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome?

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

1. Initial symptoms: In the early stage, it is often manifested as sensory dysfunction of the fingertips, often waking up due to numbness or burning pain a few hours after falling asleep, which is relieved after activity.

2. Late symptoms: Due to compressive ischemia, fibrosis occurs in the nerves, axons are compressed and myelin sheaths disappear. The nerve tissue then turns into fibrous tissue, and the inner nerve tube disappears and is replaced by collagen tissue, becoming an irreversible change. Muscle tissue can also atrophy locally when it loses or loses neurotrophy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common diseases in hand surgery, mainly manifested by numbness of fingers (most commonly 1-3 fingers, but also numbness of the whole hand), which worsens at night. With or without wrist pain. It greatly affects daily life and work. The most susceptible population is middle-aged and elderly women. Because the symptoms are similar to those of cervical spondylosis, misdiagnosis and delayed treatment are often caused.

In fact, the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is mainly related to frequent use in our life and work. Less common causes include trauma such as distal radius fracture, tumors in the carpal tunnel, or infection.

In advanced stages, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to muscle atrophy, loss of thumb opposition, and loss of sensation in the fingers. Treatment is relatively difficult. But in the early and middle stages, some active conservative treatments can be very helpful and can effectively delay the progression of the disease. The purpose of this article is to popularize some knowledge about conservative treatment.

First, you need to confirm that you have indications for conservative treatment: The severity of carpal tunnel syndrome is generally judged from three aspects: symptoms, electromyography, and muscle atrophy. Muscular atrophy often occurs in the middle or late stages and requires surgical treatment. Particularly severe numbness and pain symptoms require local blockade or surgical treatment. If you only suspect that you have carpal tunnel syndrome, but the symptoms are mild and there is no muscle atrophy, you can try conservative treatment. (Of course, it is best to be diagnosed by an expert)

ABCs of conservative treatment

A. Minimize wrist movement (when conditions permit).

B. Wear a "wrist brace" at night (keep the joint in a flat position) (enter keywords, Taobao sells it)

C. When symptoms are severe but surgery cannot be arranged temporarily, Diprosone can be used for local blockade.

Some doctors may also recommend oral neurotrophic therapy, but I put its importance last. Because neurotrophic therapy alone is basically ineffective.

In general, pay more attention to your daily care and carefully observe the changes in the thenar muscles. Once atrophy occurs or numbness symptoms continue to worsen, please choose surgical treatment in time.