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
Comparing the Rates of Recovery Among Four Common Shoulder Surgeries
Rapid Review By: Case Peters Comparing the Rates of Recovery Among Four Common Shoulder Surgeries Grubhofer, F., Martinez, A.R.M., Ernstbrunner, L., Haberli, J., Selig, M.E., & Warner, J.J. (2021) Speed of recovery of the most common performed shoulder surgeries. JSES International.5(4); 776-781. doi: 10.1016/j.jseint.2021.03.007 The Skinny: Setting realistic expectations for the trajectory of recovery is…
Dorsal Scapular Nerve Entrapment and Thoracic Pain
Don’t Forget to Evaluate for Dorsal Scapular Nerve Entrapment By Delaney Wright If your patient presents with any upper thoracic pain, it is critical to take measures to evaluate for dorsal scapular nerve entrapment. In a study completed by Sultan et al. (2013), 55 patients with interscapular pain were evaluated clinically and via nerve conduction…
Trigger Finger… Quick and Dirty!
This is for you… Hand Therapists! Stenosing tenosynovitis, otherwise known as trigger finger, is a common condition affecting children and adults of all ages. Fast Facts Trigger finger usually occurs at the A1 pulley It occurs with inflammation of the tendons and sheaths of fds and fdp The digit can lock in both flexion and…
Pros and Cons of Cortisone Injections
By: Shruti Jani Patients will often times ask the therapist their opinion on cortisone injections. Cortisone injections can be very helpful and significantly reduce inflammation, however, some therapists feel this can mask the pain not treating the true root cause of the problem. This is often debated among therapists. A short synopsis of the pros…
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.