Self Diagnosis and It Turned Out Right

September 16, 2016

Self-diagnose can be an illness and it can lead to hypochondria (worry about having a serious illness). 

Actually, if you asked any medical students including me, we tend to be like this every single time we learn something new. Every common symptoms might be a clue to cancer. Every heart palpitation (due to exam stress etc) might be heart problems. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Hmmm.

And I just self-diagnosed myself 2 days ago. Unfortunately, it turned out to be real. Ouch.


Entahlah nak rasa gembira sebab berjaya diagnose based on symptoms...
... ataupun rasa nervous sebab diagnosis tu betul. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

This is not a life-threatening condition, alhamdulillah. But, it affects my daily life since the symptoms appear. T_T 


My symptoms?

I felt that my left hand to be a bit numb (kebas) on Wednesday afternoon. Oh, I just thought I slept in a wrong position. But, the tingling sensation does not go away since then. Dalam Melayu, orang panggil kesemutan / semut-semut haha how to describe this lah?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
GP room.

I don't want to wait any longer, I decided to meet the general practitioner (GP). GP is like a first-line doctor if you want to get treatment. In Czech, everybody is assigned to their own GP and it will be for life-time unless you want to change it due to many factors (if you move to another city, if you are not satisfied with the GP etc). So, basically international students have our own GP, provided by the hospital university.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Neurology Clinic.

After explaining my condition and few physical examinations, the GP wrote a reference letter. I was referred to Neurology Department for further check-up. The doctor in charged for Neurology Out-patient was my Anatomy teacher, so alhamdulillah I can expect English conversations. The GP speaks English as well, no worries :)

A thing that was similar when I did the physical examination was, both doctors asked me 'So, what do you think it is?', 'Do you know what is the diagnosis?'

Hoho.

Of course I have a diagnosis in my mind. 

And from the physical examinations, the diagnosis turned out to be real. 

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?

Basically, there are at least two physical exams that can show positive signs. 

Image result for carpal tunnel syndrome test
Credit - Google
Tinel's sign - the doctor will tap on the wrist and it can cause tingling and numbness on the hand spreading to the fingers (except the 5th finger).

Image result for carpal tunnel syndrome test
Credit - Google
Phalen's sign - just do the position of hand like in the picture above for 60 seconds. You will feel tingling and numbness as well. 


In my case, I have constant tingling and numbness. But, the numbness and tingling sensation worsened with these tests. T_T

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Flector (NSAID), triamcinolon (CS), Milgamma (Vit. B), Aescin (anti-inflammatory as well)

Medications bought. Now, waiting for next check-up - electromyogram (EMG), to see if the muscles are affected or not. Pray hard it will not be that serious :)

Pray for my exam in 10 days as well :) heee. 


Hradec Kralove, Czech
160916

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