Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Our Hand Surgeon’s Insights for Relief
20 June 2025
Do you often feel pain, numbness, or tingling in your hands, especially after waking up or spending hours typing?
Don’t ignore these signs. They could be symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition that can get worse over time if not treated early.
Dr Teh Kok Kheng, our Consultant Hand and Microsurgeon shares what this hand condition is and how the right treatment can help you find lasting relief.
(1).jpg)
Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
In our hands, there are three main nerves that give our hand and wrist sensation. One of these nerves is the median nerve, which passes through a tunnel in our wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tunnel in the wrist becomes swollen and tight, which causes the nerve to be pinched. This leads to symptoms like numbness, pain and tingling in the thumb, middle, index and half of the ring finger.
These symptoms often feel worse when you first wake up in the mornings, as the flexed position of your hands during sleep can further aggravate the condition.
If left untreated, it can permanently affect the function of the hand, causing weakness and loss of sensation.
What Puts You at Risk of Developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect anyone. However, Dr Teh explains that women who have gone through menopause are especially at risk.
This is due to lower estrogen levels causing fluid buildup in the wrist. As we all age, the ligaments within the carpal tunnel also become stiffer, making it harder to expand and accommodate the swelling. This increases pressure within the tunnel, compressing the nerve and causing pain and numbness.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women may also experience carpal tunnel syndrome. Hormonal changes during this stage can lead to fluid retention in the tissues of the wrist.
Others at risk include people who repeat the same hand and wrist movements, such as long hours of driving, factory work, or construction tasks.
Treatment Options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
You can find relief from carpal tunnel syndrome with the right treatment. For mild cases, non-surgical options are often enough:
- Splinting: A wrist brace helps keep the wrist straight and reduces pressure on the nerve.
- Injections: Corticosteroids are injected into the wrist to lower swelling and ease pressure.
For more serious symptoms, surgery is usually the best choice. It involves cutting a ligament in the wrist to reduce pressure on the nerve.
There are a few types of surgery. Open surgery leaves a bigger scar and takes longer to heal. Endoscopic surgery allows faster recovery but puts tools inside the tunnel, which can raise the risk of nerve or tendon damage.
To solve these issues, Dr Teh created a new method called supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release (SRECTR). It is the first of its kind in the world and offers a safer, gentler approach.
How Is Supraretinacular Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release (SRECTR) Different?
Dr Teh’s technique offers a new and safer way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Instead of inserting the endoscope into the carpal tunnel, it is placed just above it. This small change makes a big difference:
- Lower risk of damage to nerves and other tissues
- Smaller scar after surgery
- Faster recovery of hand function
“As early as day three during the patient’s follow-up, symptoms like pain and numbness and discomfort will have improved,” shares Dr Teh.
He adds most patients notice improvement in hand function as early as one week, and improvement in hand strength as early as three months.
This technique is patented in both the United States as well as in Malaysia.Since its introduction in 2016, it has helped many patients.
Do you or someone you care about have signs of carpal tunnel syndrome? Don’t wait until it gets worse. Book a consultation with our Consultant Hand and Microsurgeon today for expert advice and a personalised treatment plan here.
Back
