Hands have a very important function in activities, both for writing, holding, typing, cooking, and others. Wrist pain is often one of the most common complaints in society, with an incidence ranging from 1-5% of the entire population and occurs mostly in women, with an age range of 30-60 years. This incident will increase with the use of the hand that requires repetitive movements of the wrist, which are very familiar with daily activities, such as using a computer or other household activities.
Get to know Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) or carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of wrist pain, and is caused by pressure on the median nerve which is in the wrist. There are various causes of pressure on this nerve, it can be due to anatomic abnormalities, infections, inflammation, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, or an increase in volume due to obesity or pregnancy.
Most complaints from patients with carpal tunnel syndrome mainly begin with pain around the wrist, which is followed by a feeling of tingling and numbness that gets worse at night. Tingling can be felt especially in the thumb to half of the ring finger on the inside of the hand. If left too long, the ability and grip strength will decrease, and the muscles in the hands will shrink.
Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
In handling, not all CTS requires surgery. It takes patient discipline to recover without surgery. If the patient comes at an early stage, where there are still no symptoms such as numbness and muscle wasting, then it is still possible to do non-operative therapy such as using a splint for 3 months and reducing activity. The use of this splint is recommended especially during activities, for example in patients who work closely with a computer mouse . Medications such as pain medications and anti-inflammatories can help reduce symptoms, although they are not recommended for long-term use. An injection directly into the wrist area can also be done by an experienced doctor, but it must be remembered that this injection cannot be repeated every time symptoms arise.
Surgical options are the last resort in patients who do not respond to conservative therapy and in patients who are clearly found to have severe median nerve entrapment. The operation is performed by making an incision in the wrist and then releasing the pinched nerve. It should be noted that in long and severe cases, sometimes complaints do not decrease immediately, but it takes time to restore nerve function and muscle strength to return to normal.
There are several exercises that can be done regularly to help reduce pain in CTS, including bending the wrist up and down, clenching your fingers, holding a rubber ball, or some exercises using weights. Before exercise, you can do warm compresses for 15 minutes and cold compresses for 15 minutes after finishing exercise. This exercise can be done 4 times a day for 10-15 minutes. The use of wrist splints at night is also highly recommended. If this wrist exercise and rest is carried out for 4 weeks, it is hoped that the CTS symptoms will decrease and the patient can resume activities.
How to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Several things can be done to prevent the occurrence of CTS in everyday life, such as preventing wrist movements that allow repeated pinching of the nerve. If there is pain in the wrist due to an activity, it should be stopped immediately. Pay attention to the position of the wrist when sleeping or relaxing, preferably in a straight position, avoid lifting heavy weights using force from the wrist, activities such as using a computer mouse or writing must pay attention to position and time, you should not stay in the same position for too long, and avoid using a carpentry tool that vibrates like a hammer.
If you have complaints that are similar to the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, immediately consult with an orthopedic specialist to get the right treatment.
Article written by dr. Steesy Benedicta, M. Ked. Klin, Sp.OT (Orthopedic & Traumatology Specialist Doctor at EMC Pulomas Hospital).