Carpal tunnel syndrome is wrist pain caused by pressure on the median nerve. When the median nerve is compressed, it can cause symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm. Proper carpal tunnel syndrome treatment in our carpal tunnel syndrome clinic typically relieves the tingling and numbness and restores wrist and hand function.
Symptoms usually start gradually and include tingling or numbness in the fingers or hand. Usually the thumb and index, middle or ring fingers are affected, but not the little finger. You might feel a sensation like an electric shock in these fingers.
This sensation may travel from your wrist up your arm and often occurs while holding a steering wheel, a phone or book, or may even wake you from sleep. Many patients “shake out” their hands in an attempt to relieve symptoms. Numbness may become constant over time.
You may also experience weakness in the hand and frequently drop objects due to numbness or weakness in the thumb’s pinching muscles, which are controlled by the median nerve.
It is best to treat carpal tunnel syndrome as early as possible after your symptoms start. In the early stages, you can try some simple strategies to make the problem go away. For example:
Our carpal tunnel syndrome specialist may employ other treatment options such as wrist splinting, medications and surgery. Splinting and conservative treatments are more likely to help if you only have mild to moderate symptoms that last less than 10 months. If you feel numbness in your hands, you should see a carpal tunnel syndrome doctor.
If you are diagnosed early, these nonsurgical methods may help improve carpal tunnel syndrome:
Most common is the carpal tunnel release procedure. This surgery may be appropriate if your symptoms are severe or aren’t relieved by other treatments. Carpal tunnel surgery can relieve pressure by cutting the ligament pressing on the median nerve. This surgery may be performed endoscopically with some surgeons using ultrasound to guide the tool that cuts the ligament.
Endoscopic surgery may result in less pain during the first few days or weeks after surgery.
The other option is open surgery where the carpal tunnel syndrome specialist makes an incision in the palm of the hand, cuts through the ligament and frees the nerve. Discuss the risks and benefits of each technique with your surgeon before surgery. Soreness or weakness may take several weeks or a few months to resolve after surgery. Keep in mind that, If your symptoms were very severe, they may not go away completely after surgery.
When you obtain treatment here, you will receive a pain management program customized precisely to your unique circumstances.
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