Does Taking an Alpha-lipoic for 40 days after Carpal Tunnel Release decrease the likelihood of developing Pillar Pain?
Filed under Uncategorized
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
Covid-19: What is your clinic doing?
It’s what every patient is talking about when they come in? With the suspension of every major sport, international travel banned, and hospital quarantines, everyone wants to know what their own therapists are doing to address the problem. I’m a small business owner and therapist. That means I really have 3 priorities. 1: Protect my…
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for Various Etiologies
What is it: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a medical treatment that uses a device to deliver electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, which runs on both sides of the body from the lower brain through the neck to the chest and stomach. The left vagus nerve is typically used for this procedure, as simulating…
Creating an Action Plan for Addressing Mental Health in the Clinic
Blog By: Rachel Reed As hand therapists, our care for our patients must be driven by the goal of treating the whole person, not just their hand or injury (Hannah, 2011). Occupational therapy is a unique profession in which we are equipped to view our patients through a holistic lens. With this lens, we are…
Test for Distal Radial Ulnar Joint of the Wrist
Ballottment Test for Wrist DRUJ Reliability and Validity Analysis of the Distal Radioulnar Joint Ballottement Test Nagashima, M., Omokawa, S., Hasegawa, H., Nakanishi, Y., Kawamura, K., & Tanaka, Y. (2024). Reliability and validity analysis of the distal radioulnar joint ballottement test. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 49(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.10.006 The Skinny: Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ)…
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.