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Carpal tunnel syndrome - Management
What treatment should I advise?
- Treat any underlying cause.
- Treat symptoms if they are interfering with quality of life. If the symptoms are mild or moderate and are not progressing:
- Explain that the symptoms may resolve within 6 months. This is most likely to occur in young people (less than 30 years of age), if the symptoms are unilateral and of short duration, and in women in whom fluid retention due to pregnancy is the precipitating factor.
- Advise wearing a wrist splint at night that maintains the wrist at a neutral angle without applying direct compression. Any improvement should be apparent within 8 weeks of use.
- Advise minimization of activities that exacerbate symptoms. Explain to people who work with computer keyboards that there is little evidence to suggest that modifications at their work place are likely to be of any help in relieving symptoms.
- Do not recommend the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or diuretic medication.
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