Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the nerves that run through the narrow passageway (carpal tunnel) through your wrist. As these nerves become compressed — especially the median nerve — you start experiencing a wide variety of issues in your hands.

The exact causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are unknown, but there are certain risk factors that can increase your likelihood of developing the condition, such as:

• Abnormal fluid retention
• Congenital abnormalities
• Hormone imbalances
• Trauma, injury, or wrist dislocation
• Repetitive motions, like frequent typing
• Chronic conditions, including diabetes and thyroid dysfunction

While anyone can develop carpal tunnel syndrome, the condition most commonly affects women. This is likely because the carpal tunnel itself is much smaller in women.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Usually, carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms start gradually and may not even affect you on a daily basis. But, as nerve inflammation builds up, you’re likely going to experience:

• Hand weakness or clumsiness
• Wrist, hand, or palm pain
• Tingling or numbness throughout your hands and fingers

In most cases, carpal tunnel syndrome affects your thumb, index, and middle fingers, rather than your ring or pinky fingers.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

Treating carpal tunnel syndrome involves relieving any current pain and inflammation you’re experiencing while also helping your inflamed nerve heal. Your carpal tunnel syndrome treatment plan from Neuro Pain Consultants may include:

• Icing and resting
• Bracing or splinting
• Physical therapy
• Daily stretches
• Corticosteroid injections
• Diuretic medications
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

If conservative therapies at Neuro Pain Consultants haven’t helped you after several months of treatments, it might be time to consider surgery. Carpal tunnel release surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, involves carefully enlarging your carpal tunnel by cutting into your transverse carpal ligament. This safe and effective procedure takes pressure off your median nerve, which ultimately resolves most (if not all) of your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

Ignoring carpal tunnel symptoms can lead to permanent nerve damage. Start your treatment at Neuro Pain Consultants right away by booking a consultation today. Schedule online or over the phone.

Individual results may vary.