Characterisation of pain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome according to electromyographic severity criteria

Introduction. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) vary greatly and can depend on the severity of the clinical symptoms. Aims. To characterise the description and self-perception of pain in a sample of patients with CTS and to determine whether that perception of pain differs among the patients on the basis of electrodiagnostic severity criteria. Patients and methods. The sample consisted of 92 females with CTS, who were classified as having mild, moderate or severe CTS, bearing in mind electrodiagnostic criteria. Different instruments were used in the study: a numerical scale (0-10) to evaluate the intensity of the pain, the McGill questionnaire to classify the descriptors that represent the quality of the pain, and the Boston questionnaire for assessing symptom severity and disability. Results. The most representative descriptors were the presence of tingling (92%), heaviness (67%) and a feeling of swelling (64%). The women with mild CTS showed a longer history of pain than those with moderate and severe CTS (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the intensity of the pain, the disability questionnaire and most of the descriptors on the McGill questionnaire between the different groups of mild, moderate or severe CTS. The women with severe CTS described the pain as being periodic, repetitive and terribly unpleasant more often than those with mild or moderate CTS (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The presence of tingling and the feeling of heaviness are the most prevalent symptoms of CTS. There are no great differences in the quality of the pain among cases of mild, moderate or severe CTS.