Carpal tunnel syndrome - The usual effect of CTS claims the patients with wrist pain. Before we go to the syndrome we should know first what is carpal tunnel. Carpals are the bones that forms the wrist, and the tunnel or cannal is a concave shape when carpals articulates with each other located anteriorly of our wrist. In the tunnel it consist of several soft tissues like ligaments, median nerve, transverse tendons, and the retinaculum. Carpal tunnel syndrome begins when the median nerve is pressed or compressed for a long period and results to swelling of sorrounding tissues (synovium) to swell, the synovium occupies a large space on a small cannal space and cause a constriction to the nerves and blood flow will be difficult to pass which result to the possible CTS and the first sign that you will notice is pain on the wrist. Treatment can be temporary spints, and in severe cases surgery could be the done.
Usually the affected hand is very painful at night time.
During pregnancy wrist pain could be common try shaking your hand so that blood flow will normaly circulate again, that causes its numbness, or perform some hand exercises like bending your wrist upward (extending) slightly and flexing downward.
The MRI is the modality of choice to diagnose such syndrome, it can image the swelling median nerve, narrowing of tunnel and the circulation of blood from these region. Although it is expensive but accurate enough to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. Blood test may requested by physician to check blood sugar level, and hyperthyroidism can also be detected.
Symptoms of CTS
Common symptoms are hand pain, numbness, tingling and weakness.Usually the affected hand is very painful at night time.
During pregnancy wrist pain could be common try shaking your hand so that blood flow will normaly circulate again, that causes its numbness, or perform some hand exercises like bending your wrist upward (extending) slightly and flexing downward.
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| T2 TSE Transverse, with saturation of Fat |
Radiologic Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When patient is complaining of wrist pain the physician usually request for common wrist x-ray and ultrasound but these two modality can't detect CTS. It is still requested for possible detection of fractures, dislocations, arthritis and even neoplasm or tumors, because these may lead or an additional symptoms to carpal tunnel symptoms.The MRI is the modality of choice to diagnose such syndrome, it can image the swelling median nerve, narrowing of tunnel and the circulation of blood from these region. Although it is expensive but accurate enough to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. Blood test may requested by physician to check blood sugar level, and hyperthyroidism can also be detected.
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The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve. Irritation of the median nerve in this manner causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers
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