Dr. Balsam Darwish

Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The median nerve runs with the tendons under the transverse carpal ligament. The condition is more common in women and in the majority of cases is idiopathic - "no identifiable cause". Rarely could be associated with pregnancy, Diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis and acromegaly.

Patients present with pain and numbness in the fingers worse at night and after excessive use of the hands. In advanced cases patients develop weakness in the affected hand and wasting of the part of the hand at the base of the thumb. The pain is often eased by shaking the hands or hanging the hands off the bed's edge.

The diagnosis is confirmed by nerve conduction studies. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Mild cases can be managed by analgesics. Carpal tunnel syndrome associated with pregnancy often resolves after delivery. Severe symptoms require surgical decompression of the median nerve via a small incision at the wrist which can be done under local or general anesthesia.

Surgical decompression of the median nerve has 90% chance of resolving the symptoms and carries a very small risk of complications. Your surgeon will explain to you the procedure and the potential risks.

You will be discharged home the same day of the surgery. You can remove the bandage the next day. You will need to visit your family doctor in 10 days time to remove the sutures. You should move your fingers immediately after surgery.

Ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy results from compression of the ulnar nerve most commonly at the elbow. You may feel pain, numbness or burning in the little and ring fingers and the ulnar part of the hand and in advanced cases you may develop weakness and wasting of the hand.

The diagnosis is confirmed by Nerve conduction studies. Mild cases are treated conservatively. Severe symptoms and the presence of weakness, necessitate surgical decompression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow which is usually done under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will explain to you the nature of the procedure and the potential risks.

You will be discharged home the same day of the surgery. You can remove the bandage the next day. You will need to visit your family doctor in 10 days time to remove the sutures.