"I cant sleep at all at night. My hands are numb and hot. Its so uncomfortable!" Ms. Ke, when talking about her long-standing "old problem", was full of helplessness. What she has suffered from is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is commonly known as "mouse hand".
Recently, under the minimally invasive surgery treatment of Wang Kuaiseng, the chief of the orthopedics department at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, Ms. Ke was finally able to sleep soundly.
"Mouse hand" is not the "patent" of computer users.
Many people think that "mouse hand" is only a "patent" of those who frequently use computers.
In fact, this is not the case. Director Wang Kuaiseng introduced that "mouse hand" is caused by a narrow passage in the wrist, the carpal tunnel, which is composed of carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. The median nerve and nine tendons pass through it. When the pressure inside the carpal tunnel increases, it will compress the median nerve, thereby triggering a series of symptoms such as peripheral nerve compression, which is "mouse hand".
The causes of "mouse hand" are diverse. People who repeatedly use their wrists for long periods, such as programmers, chefs, and pianists, are also high-risk groups. Elderly people are prone to this condition due to joint degeneration and tissue hyperplasia. In addition, diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis may also increase the risk of developing it.
Common symptoms of "mouse hand" include numbness and tingling in the fingers, which are more pronounced at night or in the early morning. It is very common for symptoms to worsen at night and affect sleep, as in the case of Ms. Ke. In severe cases, symptoms such as finger weakness, inflexibility, and even muscle atrophy may occur.
How to treat "mouse hand"? Conservative treatment or minimally invasive surgery?
In terms of treatment, closed treatment is a commonly used method in clinical practice. It can quickly relieve pain, reduce inflammation and swelling, and relieve nerve compression. It is simple to operate and takes effect quickly. However, closed treatment should not be used frequently in the short term, as it is prone to recurrence and cannot cure the disease. If symptoms recur, medical attention should be sought promptly to adjust the treatment plan.
When conservative treatment proves ineffective and patients like Ms. Ke experience obvious nerve compression symptoms that affect their daily life, minimally invasive treatment becomes an effective option. Dr. Wang Kuaiseng performed a minimally invasive surgery on Ms. Ke, which involved cutting the transverse carpal ligament to relieve the compression on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel, thereby alleviating the condition at its root cause.
Dr. Wang Kuaiseng explains that compared to traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery offers advantages such as less trauma and faster recovery, allowing patients to be relieved of their pain in a shorter period of time.
Expert Reminder
Dr. Wang Kuaiseng particularly reminds that when fingers experience numbness, tingling, and other symptoms, especially when these symptoms significantly worsen at night, one should be highly alert to the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome and is advised to seek medical attention promptly. In daily life, it is also important to protect the wrists, avoid repetitive movements for long periods, and take appropriate breaks and wrist exercises to prevent the occurrence of "mouse hand."
Expert Introduction
Wang Kuai Sheng
Chief of Orthopedics
Chief Physician
High-level Talent of Hainan Province
Medical expertise
Proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic-related diseases such as hand injuries, congenital hand deformities, nerve injuries, vascular injuries, tendon injuries, wrist diseases, peripheral nerve diseases, osteoarthritis, lumbar diseases, etc. Rich in clinical diagnosis and treatment experience of trauma diseases such as limb trauma and limb fractures. Possessing microsurgical techniques, capable of proficiently conducting microsurgical repair operations related to orthopedics, including nerve, vascular and tendon injury repair, flap repair, scar plastic surgery, etc.
Clinic Time
Thursday morning
Friday all day
Article | Huang Fei