For many people, the pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is felt most in the index and thumb area. The disease, however, often causes pain in the middle and first half of the ring finger, as well as in the palm.
Along with pain, other symptoms may appear in the same areas. These symptoms include numbness, tingling, weakness, and a burning sensation.
The pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome can extend over the entire hand and up to the wrist. Sometimes, when you grab an object, pain can appear in the arm, even in the elbow.
In the following lines we will talk about what the pain caused by CTS is, when it appears and how it can be removed.
What is the pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome?
Pain in your hand or fingers is just a sign that you have it carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a progressive neurological disorder that begins inside the wrist joint when the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is compressed.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common types of compression neuropathies and one of the most common hand diseases, affecting approximately 5% of the adult population. But what does the pain it causes mean?
The pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of a damaged nerve within the wrist joint. That nerve, the median nerve, is one of the most important nerves in the hand. Damage occurs when the surrounding flexor tendons (responsible for flexing the fingers) become inflamed. Ultimately, the inflammation puts too much pressure on the median nerve, causing all the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Inflammation of the tendons around the median nerve can be caused by several factors. The main factor is the excessive use of the hand and wrist.
Therefore, the pain you feel is your body’s way of telling you that you have started suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
How to relieve pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome?
Fortunately, there are methods by which it is possible to temporarily or permanently remove the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, including pain and numbness. Conservative treatments help address only the symptoms, while surgery attacks the source of the problem (i.e. permanently removes compression of the median nerve).
- Administration of anti-inflammatory drugs
The main non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs you can take to reduce the pain caused by CTS are ibuprofen and aspirin. These drugs reduce inflammation, but only for a few hours.
- Injection of substances with an anti-inflammatory role (corticosteroids)
Steroids such as cortisone are generally effective in relieving pain. However, according to statistics, only 45% of patients respond to this treatment. Also, when corticosteroid injections are effective, their effect lasts only a few weeks or months.
- Wear a brace at night
When we sleep, we all unconsciously bend our wrists. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, this movement causes additional pressure in the wrist. And it is very harmful to the tissues within the carpal tunnel. A wrist brace to wear while you sleep will help keep your hand in a neutral position. This position avoids compression damage to the tissues of the wrist.
Finally, it should be known that surgery is the only treatment method that removes the cause of the problem in carpal tunnel syndrome. This permanently eliminates the compression, thus removing all suffering.
According to those of On the other hand, the operation consists in dissecting the fibrous structure of the transverse carpal ligament thus increasing the caliber of the canal. It is a short and painless procedure that, when done on time, offers excellent results and a good prognosis.
