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Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic

Carpal tunnel patient finally getting good night's sleep

Roger Lindl puts in some very long days. The 49-year-old beef farmer from Jefferson works from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day on his farm, then goes to his “day job” on a production line in a local can factory.

“I work hard and long, and by the end of the day, I really have to get some sleep,” says Roger. “Your body needs at least six or seven hours to regenerate.”

For the last several years, however, getting a good night's sleep was a rare occurrence for Roger.

“I'd wake up every hour with tingling in my hands,” he explains. “Some nights it was just numbness, and other nights, there was outright pain right down to my fingertips. I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept steadily without waking up to shake my hands.”

Roger was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition that occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation after being aggravated. The narrowed “tunnel” of bones and ligaments in the wrist pinches the nerves that reach the fingers and the muscles at the base of the thumb. A similar nerve compression condition, cubital tunnel syndrome, starts in the elbow and affects the little and ring finger.

According to James Bruno, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic who treats both conditions, symptoms are often a result of repetitive work-related activities such as typing on a computer keyboard or working on an assembly line. In Roger's case, bailing hay, driving a tractor and other routine farming chores didn't help.

“Symptoms vary by patient but typically include burning, tingling numbness, pain in the fingers, and sometimes, difficulty gripping and making a fist,” says Dr. Bruno. “The first sign of a problem usually appears at night. A lot of patients with nerve compression syndromes come into my office looking very fatigued. Their symptoms haven't allowed them to sleep well in a long time. The patients may notice their hands tingle when talking on the phone or driving. In moderate to severe cases, carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome can significantly impact a person's lifestyle,” he continues.

“The good news is that we have effective treatment,” he says.

In most cases, Dr. Bruno feels people can completely recover from either carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome. The first step is to confirm the diagnosis. This includes a history and physical with a specialist like Dr. Bruno, and possibly a nerve conduction study. Once there is a definitive diagnosis, Dr. Bruno typically recommends conservative treatment for patients with milder symptoms. This may include anti-inflammatory medication, rest and splinting to immobilize the arm and ease pressure on the nerve.

In moderate to severe cases, “nerve release” surgery to decompress and take pressure off the affected nerve may be needed. Dr. Bruno says the results from this operation have been excellent for most people.

“Patients do very well with both carpal tunnel and cubital nerve release surgery,” he says. “It's an outpatient surgery, the incision is small, and people typically return to light work within two weeks, and heavier duty in six weeks.”

After trying conservative treatment without experiencing much relief, Roger opted to go ahead with Dr. Bruno's recommendation of carpal tunnel release surgery. Following operations on both wrists, Roger says he knew it was the right decision the minute he “came to” in the recovery room.

“The difference in my hands was immediate,” he recalls. “I could tell right away that surgery worked.”

The real test, however, has come every night since those operations.

“I sleep so soundly now,” says Roger, two months post surgery. “The symptoms have completely disappeared and I'm finally getting a good night's rest… every night. It's just unbelievable.”

If you have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome, talk to your doctor. It's important to get relief and stop the progression of the condition. For an appointment with Dr. Bruno at Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic in Oconomowoc, call 262-569-2300.