Tingling in Hand

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Usually, it follows a nerve getting pinched in the wrist or the inner side of the elbow or the neck. There are various causes.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Pronator syndrome

Cubical tunnel syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
(In Marathi - मुंगी / In Hindi - झुनझुनी)

It is a situation where the nerve is pinched at the level of the wrist. Often seen in females, one or both the hands get affected and it disturbs the sleep.

Tingling is in thumb, index and middle fingers or at times in all the fingers. If the symptoms have been present for several years, the patient may drop objects and find it difficult to hold simple light weight objects like a cell phone or a cup of tea in the hand.

After Surgery
Before Surgery

Investigations

The diagnosis is made by clinical examination and further substantiated by a few tests.humb, index and middle fingers or at times in all the fingers. If the symptoms have been present for several years, the patient may drop objects and find it difficult to hold simple light weight objects like a cell phone or a cup of tea in the hand.

ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is a noninvasive test where the nerve diameter is assessed. The nerve may be swollen and at times pinched. The test is done by radiologists who specialize in musculoskeletal sonography

sonography

Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are done to assess the quality of nerve function

mri

MRI may additionally be necessary, though rarely if there is any suspicion of a lump seated in the depth of the wrist which causes additional pressure on the nerve

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Treatment

If the disease has been existing for a very short period, the symptoms may be relieved with a wrist support called a cock-up splint. If this does not help, the next stage is a single injection of an anti-inflammatory medicine together with another medicine to numb the part, near the wrist which may relieve the symptoms.

The persistence of symptoms in spite of these measures requires a short surgery of the palm, where the causative structure (flexor retinaculum) is released. The surgery can be done with the help of an endoscope or open surgery. Open surgery is safe, effective, and is considered a gold standard.

The presence of Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, hypertension, vitamin B12 deficiency and intake of any medication causing tingling as a side effect should be appropriately treated..

Ulnar Nerve Compression

After carpal tunnel syndrome, this is is the second most common cause of tingling in the hand. The patient gets tingling in ring and small finger usually when doing activities with the elbow bent,like computer operation or driving a vehicle. Avoiding activities where the elbow is bent helps. If the symptoms are relentless , this may require surgery .While there are several options available. The common factor is to identify and release all the causative factors of nerve compression. Releasing the nerve from its location and anterior transposition over the length will eliminate the tension over the nerve. This helps alleviate the symptoms

Case Study

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