Resolved question:
hi, my mother, 49 years chief complaint of numbness, heaviness, and pain on all 5 fingers on both hands. Right hand has the same complaint from the arm to the fingers; left hand has only the complaint of the fingers. Did a carpal tunnel syndrome operation on the left hand around 6 months ago. The fingers are hard to move, very numb, and has been for a few months, right hand is heavy to lift up. What could possibly happen? Why? Anything to treat? reversible? Consumed glucosamine in the past for joints problem. 160cm, 48kg.
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Hello, In this condition, your mother will be experiencing tingling sensation or numbness and even heaviness in her fingers and hand especially thumb, index, middle or ring finger but not little finger. As the disease progresses, the numbness remains constant. Pain will be radiating from the wrist to the arm or shoulder especially after forceful repetitive use. There may be a sense of weakness in the hands and tend to drop objects. These are all because of compression of the median nerve. Sometimes wrist fracture can narrow the C. tunnel and irritate the nerve. So anything that irritates, crowding or compression of the median nerve leads to this syndrome. Sometimes even the swelling and inflammation resulting from Rheumatoid arthritis can also produce Carpal Tunnel syndrome. There are a couple of risk factors that produces this condition like anatomic factors, nerve damaging conditions like chronic illness, diabetes, alcoholism, inflammatory conditions. Alterations in the balance of body fluids and work place can also be factors. When your mother has got these problems, you better show her to the GP who can collect the history of symptoms, do a physical examination, order for an X-ray, Electromyogram and nerve conduction study as well. Treatment depends on wrist splinting, medication, injection of corticosteroids and surgery, (either endoscopic surgery or open surgery). It is rather difficult to say what kind of surgery she had in the past and what medication the attending surgeon or physician advised. Hence it is better you consult your GP who has got all the details and he may advise regarding the next course of action. Thank you.