Taking Alpha-Lipoic Acid for 40 days after Carpal Tunnel Surgery can decrease the likelihood of developing Pillar Pain.
Filed under Reviews, Treatments
Filippo, B., Granchi, D., Roatti, G., Merlini, L., Sabattini, T., & Baldini, N. (2017). Alpha-lipoic acid after median nerve decompression at the carpal tunnel: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 4, 236–42.
The Skinny – A double-blind, randomized controlled study was performed. Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned into two groups after median nerve decompression. Thirty-two patients took the alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), while the other 32 received the placebo pill.
In The Weeds – The outcome measures utilized were Boston Carpal Tunnel score, 2-point discrimination, presence or absence of pillar pain, use of analgesics beyond post-op day 2, and sensory and motor conduction velocities. These measures were assessed at three months post-op.
Bringing it Home – ALA did not significantly improve nerve conduction velocity or Boston Carpal Tunnel score. Taking ALA did reduce pillar pain, and static 2-point discrimination improved in both groups.
Taking ALA for 40 days after carpal tunnel surgery can lower the incidence of Pillar Pain. The study size was relatively small, and the outcome measures of pain and two-point discrimination test are somewhat subjective measures. The ALA treatment (pillar pain treatment) was well tolerated by the study participants. A larger study is needed to confirm these findings.
More To Read
Comparison of Erb’s Palsy and Klumpke’s Palsy: Symptoms, Presentation, and Treatment Options
What is the brachial plexus? The brachial plexus is a group of nerves originating from the cervical and thoracic nerve roots (from C5 to T1). The brachial plexus forms 5 peripheral nerves of the upper extremity, consisting of the musculocutaneous, median, radial, ulnar, and axillary nerves. This group of nerves supplies motor and sensory innervation…
Use of Proprioception in Rotator Cuff Repair
Article Review By Brittany Day Upper Limb Active Joint Repositioning During a Multijoint Task in Participants with and without Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy and Effect of a Rehabilitation Program Pairot de Fontenay, Benoit, Mercier, Catherine, Bouyer, Laurent, Savoie, Alexandre, & Roy, Jean-Sébastien. (2019). Upper limb active joint repositioning during a multijoint task in participants with and…
Carpal Tunnel Release: Outcomes of Pediatric and Adolescent
Rapid Review. Outcomes of pediatric and adolescent carpal tunnel release based on etiology. Velicki, K., Goldfarb, C. A., Roberts, S., & Wall, L. B. (2021). Outcomes of pediatric and adolescent carpal tunnel release. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 46(3), 178-186. The Skinny: Less than 1% of pediatric carpal tunnel is idiopathic in nature, compared to…
Hand Therapy as a New Grad or Student
Tips for Getting Prepared for hand therapy as a new grad or a Level II Fieldwork Everything you need to know in hand therapy starts with the upper extremity anatomy. Here is a quick checklist to review and hopefully help get you started in your new hand therapy setting. By: Tristany Hightower I suggest, as…
Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!
Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.