Guyon Tunnel Syndrome

What is Guyon Tunnel Syndrome

Guyon tunnel syndrome, also known as cyclist’s palsy, is a disorder that causes pain, weakness, and numbness in the wrist and the hand. Pain occurs in the outer (ulnar) part of the wrist and the palm of the hand, including the ring finger and pinkie.

This condition happens when a nerve in the arm and hand (ulnar nerve) is stretched or squeezed (compressed) at the base of the hand.

Over time, you may start to have symptoms with just a small amount of stress to your hand or wrist. When it takes less stress to cause symptoms than it used to, this is called sensitization.

Guyon tunnel syndrome is common among cyclists, because gripping and leaning on bicycle handlebars for long periods of time can cause this condition and make it worse over time.

What are the causes?

This condition may be caused by:

  • Repetitive pressure on the hands and wrists.
  • An injury to the base of the hand that causes swelling or a break (fracture) in a wrist bone (hamate bone).

What increases the risk?

The following factors may make you more likely to develop this condition:

  • Having diabetes.
  • Having hypothyroidism.
  • Participating in activities that involve repeated impact, pressure, or vibration of the hands or wrists. These include certain sports, such as cycling, tennis, and martial arts.
  • Repeatedly bearing weight in your hands, such as when you use crutches.
  • Having gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Having a ganglion cyst or lipoma near the base of the hand.
  • Having carpal tunnel syndrome.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition may include:

  • Tingling, numbness, or a burning feeling in the ulnar side of the palm and in the ring finger and pinkie.
  • Pain in the hand or wrist. Pain may feel sharp, or it may feel like an ache.
  • Weakness in the hand. You may have difficulty gripping objects.
  • Involuntary bending of the ring finger and pinkie toward the palm (claw hand).

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

  • A physical exam.
  • Your medical history.
  • Tests, such as:
    • Nerve conduction test. This test checks the quality of signals along your ulnar nerve.
    • X-rays.
    • CT scan.
    • Ultrasound. This uses sound waves to make an image of your affected area.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition may include:

  • Resting the injured area. This may include stopping or modifying any sports and physical activity for a period of time.
  • Icing the injured area.
  • Medicines that help to relieve pain and inflammation.
  • A splint to keep your wrist and hand in the proper position.
  • Physical therapy.
  • An injection of medicine (cortisone) that helps to reduce inflammation.
  • Surgery to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve. This is done only in very severe cases.

Follow these instructions at home:

If you have a splint:

  • Do notput pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
  • Wear it as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
  • Loosen the splint if your fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
  • Do notlet your splint get wet if it is not waterproof.
    • If your splint is not waterproof, cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or shower.
  • Keep the splint clean.
  • Ask your health care provider when it is safe for you to drive.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

  • If directed, apply ice to the injured area:
    • Put ice in a plastic bag.
    • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
    • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

Activity

  • Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
  • When you do activities that cause stress to your hands and wrists, try wearing padded gloves. Change your hand positions often, especially when you do these activities for a long time.
  • If physical therapy was prescribed, do exercises as told by your health care provider.

General instructions

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • You have pain, tingling, or weakness that gets worse.
  • Your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment.
15585

Sign up to receive the trending updates and tons of Health Tips

Join SeekhealthZ and never miss the latest health information

15856