Hand & Wrist Specialty
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment in Columbia, SC
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disease that makes the hand and forearm feel numb, tingly, and painful. The disease happens when the median nerve, which goes to the hand, is pinched or squeezed as it goes through the wrist.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms
Some of the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
- Pain, numbness, tingling, and burning, mostly in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. People often wake up at night because of this
- Occasionally, the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers feel like they are being shocked
- Pain or tingling, which may move up the arm toward the shoulder
- Weakness and clumsiness in the hands can make it hard to do small things like buttoning your clothes
- Dropping things because your hands are weak, numb, or you can’t feel where they are in space
If you have been experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms and you would like one of our hand and wrist physicians to help you, connect with us today!
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are caused by a combination of factors, which include:
- Heredity
- Repeated use of the hands
- Position of the hand and wrist
- Pregnancy
- Other health issues
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
It’s important to see your doctor early on to get checked out and get a diagnosis. In the early stages of the disease, it may be possible to stop or slow its progression.
Nonsurgical treatments include but are not limited to:
- Bracing or splinting – If you wear a brace or splint at night, your wrist won’t move while you sleep. The pressure on the nerve in the carpal tunnel is lessened when your hand is straight or in a neutral position
- Medications – Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs can help ease pain and swelling
- Changes in activity – If your job or hobbies make your symptoms worse, changing or modifying these things can help slow or stop the disease from getting worse. In some cases, this may mean making changes to your work site or desk
- Physical therapy – Some people may feel better after doing exercises that make it easier for the median nerve to move around in the carpal tunnel. Your therapist will give you certain exercises for this
- Steroid injections – Corticosteroid, also called cortisone, is a strong anti-inflammatory drug that can be put into the carpal tunnel. Most of the time, these shots ease painful symptoms or stop a flare-up of symptoms temporarily
If non-surgical treatments don’t help or only help for a short time, your doctor may suggest surgery.
Whether or not surgery is recommended is based on:
- How bad your symptoms are
- Results of a physical exam
- Response to treatment without surgery
- Outcomes of tests
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Care in South Carolina
At Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery we are ready to help you. If you have been experiencing the above symptoms, come see one of our expert physicians to help you. Call us at (803)256-4107 to set up an appointment or click below and schedule your appointment online.
