Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Specialist

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when you have a compressed median nerve. The median nerve runs down your arm and into your hand, where it provides feeling and controls muscle movement in your forearm, palm, thumb, pointer finger, middle finger, and part of your ring finger.

The nerve, along with numerous tendons, travels through a narrow area in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. If any of the nerves or tendons, or the ligament that forms part of the carpal tunnel become inflamed or enlarged, you end up with a pinched median nerve.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome most often develops due to:

Repetitive use

Repeating the same movements, such as typing, texting, or playing an instrument, causes irritation and inflammation in the nerve and tendons.

Wrist flexion and extension

Performing manual activities with your wrist bent up or down places more pressure on the nerve.

Wrist injuries

Any injury that affects the bones or soft tissues in your wrist can compress the median nerve.

Health conditions

You’re more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome if you have diabetes, an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis, or a thyroid condition.

What symptoms develop if I have carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome usually develops gradually, so you may not notice your symptoms at first. As they get progressively worse, you experience:

• Wrist and hand pain
• Hand, thumb, or finger weakness
• Electric-shock sensation in your wrist and hand
• Tingling or burning in your thumb or first three fingers
• Numbness in your hand or fingers
• Feeling like your fingers are swollen when they’re not

As weakness or numbness appears, you may also have a hard time holding items like a pen or silverware.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is treatable with conservative therapies, but only when caught at an early stage. If you postpone treatment, the nerve can suffer permanent damage.

Conservative treatment may include any of the following:

• Immobilizing your wrist (possibly just at night)
• Changing your activities to reduce stress on the tendons
• Improving ergonomics to avoid bending your wrists
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Practicing nerve gliding exercises
• Getting a steroid injection
• Getting a nerve block

When performing steroid injections, Complete Neurological Care adheres to the strictest United States guidelines. 

If your carpal tunnel syndrome is severe or your symptoms don’t improve with conservative treatments, your provider does simple outpatient surgery to release the tissues pressing on your nerves.

When you notice any symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, call Complete Neurological Care, or schedule an appointment online today.