A Simple Guide to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A Simple Guide to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
The carpal tunnel is a ligamentous sheath which provides protection for the median nerve as it travels across the carpal bones in the wrist.

What are the causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occur as a result of pressure on the median nerve between the tranverse carpal ligament and the flexor tendons with their inflammed and enlarged synovium.

Local causes:
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trauma including injury,fractures

tenosynovitis(inflammation of the tendon and their synovial sheath)

lipoma

ganglion

Systemic causes:
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polyarthritis

myxedema (hypothyroidism)

pregnancy( due to fluid retention)

Amyloid disease

What are the symptoms and signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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The onset is usually spontaneous with gradual increasing night pains which causes the patient to seek treatment:

1.Painful night tingling sensation of the fingers which can extend to the forearm-relieved by hanging the arm down or shaking

2.Parethesia and numbness of the index, middle and ring finger

3.Fingers feel clumsy

4.thenar muscle wasting and weakness may be present

5.impairment of light touch and pin prick sensation on the 3 middle fingers

6.women are more affected than men



What are the investigations required in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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1.Physical examination

Phalen's test-
flex wrists so that the dorsal surfaces of the hands are in full contact with each other, hold for 1 min: tingling and numbness in median nerve distribution

Reverse Phalen's test(prayer Sign)-
extend wrists so that the palms of hands are in full contact like in prayer, hold for 1 min: tingling and numbness in median nerve distribution

Tinel's test -
tap volar surface of the wrist:tingling means positive test

2.EMG - electromyography to test movement of the muscles

3.Nerve conduction tests on median nerve

What is the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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1.Treat underlying conditions such as myxedema, polyarthritis,amyloid

2.diuretic in mild cases and those present in pregnant women

3.NSAIDS may reduce inflammation.

4.wrist splintage in extension

5.injection of the carpal tunnel with corticosteroid (avoiding the carpal nerve)

6.Surgical decompression by division of the transverse carpal ligament.
Results are usually good.

A Simple Guide to Headache

A Simple Guide to Headache

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What is Headache?

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Headache is a very common complaint, not an illness.

It literally means pain in the head.

What are the Common Types of Headaches?

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Tension headache:

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as defined by the International Headache Society is characterised by:

1.bilateral location

2.pressing/tightening (non-pulsating) quality

3. mild to moderate in intensity

4. not aggravated by routine physical activity like walking or climbing stairs.

It is the most common headache and may be associated with contractions of head and neck muscles due to physical or mental stress. The headache is made worse by changes in the environment, drugs, or factors unique to the individual.

It can also be classified into 2 side types:

episodic (<>

chronic (> 14 days a month on average and <>

Treatment can be divided into:

pharmaceutical

non pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutial:

can be divided into acute and prophylactic.

In acute treament simple painkillers is usually effective.

In prophylactive treatment,antidepressants like amitriptyline usually help in the prevention of tension headache.

Medicines should always be given at low doses and titrated up to therapeutic doses to minimise side effects.

Non-pharmaceutical:
1. rest

2. removal of aggravating factors.

3. relaxation exercises

Migraine:

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is defined as a heavy throbbing pain usually over one side of the scalp, forehead and about the eye, caused by abnormally dilated blood vessels.

Migraine may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights.

It is also triggered by certain factors unique to the individual such as:

1.menstruation,

2.alcohol,

3.anxiety,

4.loud noises,

5.bright lights

A validated 3 items questionaire covering

1. disability

2. nausea

3. sensitivity to lights

should given to every patient to screen the severity of the migraine.

Treatment again is divided into:

phamaceutical

non-pharmaceutical.

Pharmacetical:

can be divided into acute and prophylactic.

In acute treament simple painkillers like paracetamol is usually effective in mild cases.

Non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs should be tried if paracetamol fails.

If NSAIDs are ineffective then migraine-specific drugs like triptans or ergotamine which act to constrict blood vessel should be tried.

In some cases anti-emetic drugs like stemetil to prevent vomiting is given together with the migraine medication.

In prophylactic treatment, the goals are to:

1. reduce frequency,severity and duration

2.improve function and reduce disability

3.improve responsiveness to treatment of acute attacks

Medicines used include:

betablockers

Calcium channel blockers

Serotonin receptor antagonists

Antidressants

Anticonvulsants

Angiotensin blockers

NSAIDs

Non-pharmaceuticals:

1.resting in a cool, dark and quiet room.

2.relaxation exercises

3.Solving the triggering factors also help.

4.Oestogen containing oral cotraceptives should avoided in menstrual migraine.

During pregnancy or lactation treatment should be non-pharmaceutical when possible. If necessary paracetamol is the safest drug for women during pregnancy or lactation.

Cluster headaches

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is defined as pain which occurs in runs with tearing pain over the forehead or behind the eye(s) with flushing of the face.

There are aura of stars,flashing lights etc associated with this headache.

The cause is beleived to be due to histamine release from ingestion of certain foods like cheese, seafood,alcohol etc.

It is more common in males.

Treatment is by

1.strong painkillers

2.avoidance of food triggers

3.rest.

What are Secondary headaches?

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Secondary headaches refer to headaches associated with a known medical illness.

It is diagnosed by its close relation to a disorder that is known to cause headache.

The headache improves or disappear after successful treatment or spontaneous resolution of the causative illness.
1.Sinus headaches:

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are due to acute sinus inflammation attacks.

Pain is over the frontal forehead and the upper cheeks.

It may be associated with fever and heavy mucus production.

Treatment is by

1.antibiotics for the sinus infection,

2.antihistamines to reduce mucus production

3.painkillers

4.rest.

2.Referred headaches:

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these are caused by by referred pain from disorders of structures around the head. Common ones are

1. earaches,

2. toothache causing pain over an entire part of the face and

3. temporomandibular joint dysfunction from mechanical pain from the jaw joint.

4. temporal arteritis, a rare inflammatory blood vessel condition causing persistent headache at the temporal artery. There is possible complication of blindness secondary to anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The headache usually resolves or improves with 3 days of high dose steroid treatment.

3.Meningitis / Encephalitis headaches:

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caused by infection of the brain tissue (encephalitis) or the membranes surrounding the brain (meningitis).

Headache is the most common symptom. The pain is diffuse and progressive with fever, a painful stiff neck and other symptoms such as drowsiness, seizures and neurological problems including weakness and numbness.

This type of headache needs immediate hospital treatment.

4.Cerebrovascular Accidents (haemorrhagic stroke):

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a stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts.

Bleeding in the brain causes a sudden severe headache.

There is also associated loss of consciousness and other neurological signs such as weakness, numbness and seizures.

This type of headache needs immediate hospital treatment.

5.Brain Tumour:

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is rare and causes a gradual headache lasting for weeks.

It is localised and associated with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and loss of weight.

It is worse in the morning and aggravated by coughing or leaning forward.

By the time neurological symptoms appear such as seizures, numbness, weakness or blindness, the brain tumour has already grown to an advanced stage.

Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

6. Other causes of secondary headaches are:

a.post traumatic headache following a head injury

b.whiplash injury

c.cerebral venous thrombosis

d. idiopathic intracranial hypertension

e. hydrocephalus

f. sleep apnea

g.cardiac cephalgia

h.acute glaucoma

Simple Treatment of Headache

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Consume a painkiller.

Lie down in a dark, quiet room.

Use muscle relaxation techniques or a gentle massage.

For tension headaches, try a warm bath.

For migraines, put an ice bag or cold towel on your temple.

If the headache do not improve, go for a complete investigation of the headache.

What are the investigations done in Headache?

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You should be investigated for your headache if the headache has:

1. associated fever and and change in mental state.

2. numbness of part of the body or with paralysis.

3. associated fits.

4. sudden onset of severe headache

5. lasted for more than a day even after taking painkillers.

6. increased headache frequency.

7. appeared different from your usual type

8. been precipitated by coughing,sneezing,bending

9. associated with stiff neck and vomiting

10.appeared for the first time in middle age

Common tests:

Blood tests - for infections,raised ESR, bleeding disease

MRI of brain- to exclude brain tumours, bleeding in the brain

Lumbar puncture - used only if there is suspected infection of brain or meninges

A Simple Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Simple Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis
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What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.

Who gets Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the most common form of inflammatory arthritis.
It most commonly occurs between the 25 and 50 years.
However it can occur at any age.
Females are 3 times more likely to get Rheumatoid Arthritis than males.

What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease..
Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system which consists of cells and antibodies designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, particularly infections.
Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues .

What are the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Most common symptoms are pain, swelling, stiffness, warmth and sometimes redness of the joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is suspected when there are:
1. Swelling in the joints especially those of the hands,elbows,knees,ankles and feet.

2. Stiffness in the joints in the mornings which can last more than an hour or after prolonged rest

3.redness and warmth in one's joints

4.Persistent pain or tenderness in a joint for more than a month

5.Inability to move or use a joint normally

6. Unexplained weight loss and appetite, fatigue, or weakness together with joint pains

What tests are done to confirm Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Abnormal blood antibodies can be found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

1.A blood antibody called "rheumatoid factor" can be found in 80% of patients.

2.Another antibody called "the antinuclear antibody" (ANA) is also frequently found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

3.Another blood test that is used to measure the degree of inflammation present in the body is the C-reactive protein.

4.A blood test called the sedimentation rate (ESR) is a measure of how fast red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube. The sed rate is used as a crude measure of the inflammation of the joints.

The rheumatoid factor, ANA, sed rate, and C-reactive protein tests can also be abnormal in other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Therefore, abnormalities in these blood tests alone are not sufficient for a firm diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

How does the Rheumatoid Arthritis starts?
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Rheumatoid Arthritis may start gradually or with a sudden and severe attack.
It usually attacks many joints at one time.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions.

Where does Rheumatoid Arthritis occur?
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In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually affected in a symmetrical pattern.
It most commonly affects the hands and feet,often in a systemic pattern(both right and left joints are affected).
Other joints affected are the elbow,knees,and ankles.
Less common are shoulder,hip and spine.

What are the Complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Rheumatoid Arthritis can result in joint deformities and disability especially in untreated severe cases.
Daily activities such as bathing,dressing, walking and even writing may be difficult.
Besides the joints, Rheumatoid Arthritis may sometimes affect other organs such as the eyes,lungs,skin,intestines,nerves and bone marrow.
Mild fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and loss of weight may be present.
Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis is associated with an incresed risk of mortality.

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis treated?
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There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
Therefore the purpose of treatment is to:
1. improve functions and
2. reduce pain and discomfort.

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis can be broadly classified into:
1. Non-drug therapy:
Weight loss is an effective way to reduce the stress on the joints and minimise the pain Walking sticks are useful ways to offload the stress on the affected weight bearing joints such as hips or knee.
Hot packs are useful aids in the morning to soften a stiff arthritic joint whereas braces and knee guards are useful supports to give some comfort to the knee.
Exercises that improve strength, agility and flexibilty are useful to minimise the disability of Rheumatoid Arthritis. A range of motion exercises is useful to keep the joints supple and mobile.
Water based exercises are a good alternative form of aerobic workout by patients afflicted by Rheumatoid Arthritis. The warm water especially is a good medium for joint mobility and together with the buoyancy of water it helps to minimse the body weight impact on the joints.
2. Drug therapy

There are 2 main types of drugs:
1. symptom modifying helps to alleviate the symptoms but do not change the natural history of the conditions. Examples are Non-steroidal Anti-inflamatory Drugs(NSAIDS) like diclofenac.

2. disease modifying drugs such as steroids, methothrexate, sulphasalazine, redaura, hydroxychloroquine have been shown to slow down the damage caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. However they cause a lot of side effects such as anemia, abnormal white cells, kidney damage,liver damage, vision loss so the medications must be monitored all the time.
It is important that the disease should be controlled before irreversible joint damage occurs.

Newer "second-line" drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis include leflunomide (Arava), and the "biologic" medications etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), anakinra (Kineret), and adalimumab (Humira).

3. Surgery

Surgery is used as a last result to correct deformities and reduce disability.

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis optimally involves a combination of patient education, rest and exercise, joint protection, medications, and occasionally surgery.

Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis results in better outcomes.