Dr. Jonathan Oheb provides solutions for when the pain of pronator teres syndrome strikes.
Pronator teres syndrome is characterized by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the forearm, typically at the level of the pronator teres muscle.
Though this condition hardly gets any media attention when compared to carpal tunnel syndrome, it sure can hurt at times.
Patients often experience pain, numbness or tingling in the forearm and hand, particularly in the areas served by the median nerve: thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger.
There Are Several Options for Relief from Pronator Teres Pain
There are several options, according to Jonathan Oheb, MD, North Valley Orthopedic Institute, Chief of Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery.
“Resting the forearm muscles, splinting to prevent forearm prono-supination, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories are the mainstay of conservative treatment for pronator teres syndrome,” says Dr. Oheb.
“This is continued for a minimum of three to six months before any surgery is considered.”
Prono-supination refers to rotating the forearm from palm-down to palm-up.
As your treating physician about splinting. A splint should still allow elbow movement.
But pain will be mostly prevented if the movement that causes it is stopped — with a splint.
Otherwise, consciously trying to remember to avoid rotating the forearm will prove difficult in day to day life.
For fast pain relief, the NSAIDs may begin working within 45 minutes, but don’t let this give you a false sense of security that you can then rotate the arm as freely as the other one.
The structure still needs rest from its function, which is where the splinting comes in.
For immediate relief of the pain, apply ice.
Sometimes the pain is in the form of a very annoying ache.
There may also be tenderness when the area is pressed with fingertips.
So when the pain of pronator teres syndrome is really dampening your day, remember the following five approaches for fighting off the discomfort:
- Rest
- Splinting
- NSAIDS
- Ice
- Physical therapy. Stick to your physical therapy assignments.
How well do pain pills work for the discomfort of pronator teres syndrome?
“Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories help with pain as well as with decreasing inflammation and the secondary damage that inflammation causes to the nerve,” says Dr. Oheb.
NSAIDs include Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Meloxicam.
You need to be patient — yet dedicated with your conservative management of PTS.
Surgery for correcting the pain of pronator teres syndrome should be an option when all conservative approaches have failed.
The surgical procedure usually involves making an incision in the forearm to access and release the median nerve from the compressive structures.
In addition to hand, elbow and shoulder care, Dr. Oheb provides comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical treatment for all orthopedic conditions of the hip, knee and ankle, including broken bones and injuries. jonathanohebmd.com
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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