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Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand or wrist from the pinching of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. John East, DO, and the team at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine in Addison, Texas, provide customized pain management plans for carpal tunnel syndrome, relieving symptoms and restoring your quality of life. Don’t ignore your hand pain; call Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine today or use the online booking button to schedule a consultation.
What is the carpal tunnel?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow and rigid space in the wrist made up of bones and ligaments. Nine tendons and the median nerve pass through the carpal tunnel into the hand.
The tendons help you bend your fingers and thumb, while the median nerve provides feeling in the palm-side of the thumb, index, middle, and ring finger and supports muscle movement at the base of your thumb.
The rigid structure of the carpal tunnel leaves very little room for the tendons and median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to the symptoms that occur when there’s pressure on this nerve as it passes through the narrow space.
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually develops from a combination of causes, such as an injury to the wrist or a medical condition that affects the nerves (diabetes) or joints (arthritis). Some people have a more narrow carpal tunnel, making them more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Engaging in the same wrist and hand movements over and over again or working with vibrating tools like a jackhammer are also risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Do carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms come and go?
It’s not uncommon to only have carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms when you first wake up in the morning that go away with a few shakes of the wrist.
Over time, your symptoms may not improve as quickly or appear during other activities, like when you’re gripping the steering wheel in your car. You may also experience weakness in your grip, making it harder for you to turn the handle on the door or firmly grip a cup.
Getting an evaluation for carpal tunnel syndrome during the early stages may prevent your symptoms from getting worse.
What are some pain management treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome?
The team at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine customizes a pain management plan for carpal tunnel syndrome based on symptoms. Your plan may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and a wrist splint to limit bending when you sleep
Carpal tunnel injections are also an early pain management treatment. For this procedure, your specialist inserts a thin needle into the base of your palm and injects an anesthetic and steroid, reducing pain and inflammation.
The local injection may provide pain relief for several months, and periodic injections can keep you pain-free.
Call Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine today or book an appointment online to get a carpal tunnel plan in place now.