Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Pinched Nerve in the Wrist)
The median nerve is a nerve that is responsible for the movement of certain masses in the arm and palm. At the same time, he is also responsible for getting a sense of the outer side of the palm.
As the median nerve travels into the palm of the hand, it passes through a tunnel formed by bones and ligaments called the carpal tunnel in the wrist. A compression that occurs in this area leads to a problem called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a narrowing of the tunnel through which the nerve passes. Sometimes this tunnel from birth is narrow. October time, additional factors that will narrow the tunnel a little will cause complaints to arise. Trauma, injuries, fractures that occur in the wrist, constant handwork, working with a computer for too long are among the factors that cause the development of narrowing in this area. Sometimes acromegaly, rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, menopause, the development of cysts and tumors in the tunnel can also lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
In Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the symptoms begin slowly and progress slowly. There is burning, numbness, tingling in the palms. It occurs mainly on the thumb, index finger, middle finger and partly on the ring finger. Sometimes patients may feel their hands swollen and numb. In most patients, these symptoms first appear when they are asleep at night. It wakes the patient up from sleep. Shaking his hands, the complaints are reduced and he falls asleep again. As the compression increases, the same complaints begin to appear during the day. He feels that he is beginning to have difficulty holding an object with his hands and fingers.
Early diagnosis is important
As with many diseases, early diagnosis is important in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In this way, permanent damage to the median nerve can be prevented. The most important factor in the diagnosis is a good study of the characteristics of the patient's complaints. At this point, it is possible to make a diagnosis with the patient's history. However, if there is a loss of function in the median nerve during the examination, tests are performed.
In a test called the Tinel test, sudden pressure and strokes at full wrist level on the nerve create an electrification. This test is also helpful in diagnosis. In the Phalen test, on the other hand, bending the wrists back well while the arms are extended forward increases the complaints. In order to support the examination findings, an examination called EMG (Electromyography) is sometimes also performed to show the functions of the nerves. It is seen how much the median nerve is affected by EMG. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can also be diagnosed if the EMG is normal. Ultrasound and MRI are rarely used for diagnosis.