THE CARPAL TUNNEL

Dr. Rossano Zangerolami, Osteopath

Do you often feel tingling or numbness in the first three fingers of your hand, especially at night? These could be the first symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which is often also associated with reduced sensitivity and weaker grip.

What is meant by carpal tunnel?

The carpus is that part of the skeleton that connects the bones of the forearm with the bones of the hand and is located in the region that we commonly call the wrist.

The carpal bones form, with the transverse carpal ligament, a "passage" which is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve and flexor tendons that allow our fingers and hand to move pass through this tunnel.

Causes of carpal tunnel

The cause is to be found in the increase in pressure on the median nerve or its crushing inside the wrist canal in which both the nerve and the nine flexor tendons of the fingers pass, due to inflammation of the sheath that covers the flexor tendons.

Some traumas, such as a wrist fracture or some pathological conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, obesity, water retention during pregnancy or menopause, renal failure and hypothyroidism and even some repetitive manual work activities could favor the appearance of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Women are more at risk than men of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This is thought to be due to hormonal factors and the fact that their tunnel may be smaller than that of men.

Diagnosis

To formulate a correct diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, the doctor must first perform a thorough physical examination, carry out tests and possibly prescribe an x-ray of the hand to exclude the possible presence of osteoarthritis and an ENG/EMG electromyography.

This last test is essential to verify the speed of transmission of nerve signals (electroneurography) and exclude any muscle damage (electromyography).

Once the diagnosis has been obtained, conventional therapy usually proceeds with the use of a brace and rest and, only in the most serious cases, involves the use of surgery.

If the disorders are bearable and above all not disabling, and therefore do not require urgent surgical intervention, osteopathy can be of great help in finding the primary cause of this pain and restoring the correct biomechanics of the wrist, forearm and neck area. dorsal.

Osteopathic treatment can also be accompanied by treatments with instrumentation Q-Physio by Telea Medical (with QMR technology) and local cryotherapy, both useful tools to combat muscle inflammation and reduce pressure on the wrist canal. Applying kinesio tape can also help relieve tension.

Exercises for pain reduction

Below are 4 useful exercises to perform every day for both prevention and post-surgery.

1. Standing, extend your arm and forearm then raise your palm as if to tell someone to stop. With your other hand, grab your fingers and gradually pull them towards you.

 

2. Still standing, and remaining with your arm and forearm extended, perform the reverse movement. With your other hand now push your fingers down gently.

3. Standing, join your hands in prayer, keeping your elbows raised and parallel to the ground. Press the palms of your hands firmly together evenly.

4. With your torso erect, standing or sitting, raise your elbows and bring the backs of your hands together. Press the backs to make them adhere evenly.

Some BeC products can help you relieve discomfort such as Pasta Idrogel  which thanks to the action of camphor and fenugreek extract and lime extract have an anti-inflammatory action. You can make a decongestant compress to leave on for 15 to 60 minutes and then apply Balsamo BeC which, thanks to the synergistic effect of over 20 essential oils including Wintergreen oil and Savory oil, relieve localized painful states, even of a traumatic nature. For complete action, you can combine the food supplement Leni Mal which maintains the correct functionality of the joints thanks to Juniper, Tansy and Boswellia.