If you spend your days sitting at a desk typing nonstop, you might start to feel soreness and fatigue in your hands. Over time, this fatigue is going to progress into pain. This pain might even resemble electric shocks that travel down your forearm and into your hand.
This could be an indication that you might be developing carpal tunnel syndrome, a serious quality of life issue if not addressed appropriately. If you are looking for carpal tunnel treatment, there are a few points that you should keep in mind.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is described as pain that develops in the forearm, wrist, and hand following repetitive movements involving these muscles. As more of the world shifts from paper to the computer screen, carpal tunnel syndrome is becoming more common. This syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve. The median nerve leaves the shoulder and travels down the arm into the wrist. In the wrist, it passes through a small area called the carpal tunnel. Repetitive movements can cause the carpal tunnel to become inflamed. As a result, the carpal tunnel will compress the median nerve, leading to the marquee symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
What Are the Most Common Causes?
There are a few common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some of the key mechanisms include:
- Repetitive strain on the wrist from activities such as reading, driving, and typing
- Repeated flexion and extension of the wrist
- A wrist fracture that leads to swelling of the carpal tunnel
- Any condition that leads to swelling of the limbs including pregnancy, diabetes, and even arthritis
- Underlying chronic medical conditions that lead to damage of the median nerve
Anyone who develops carpal tunnel syndrome is going to notice a variety of symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome, there are a few notable symptoms that might arise. These include:
- Pain, numbness, and tingling that develop in the first three fingers on the same side of the hand as the palm
- Discomfort that gets worse at night
- Pain that radiates from the wrist into the shoulder
- Problems with making fine movements, such as those involved in using chopsticks or playing the piano
- A weak grip
- A feeling that the hand is swelling
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you might have developed carpal tunnel syndrome.
Treatment Options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The good news is that there are treatment options available for carpal tunnel syndrome. Like other medical conditions, the goal is to start with conservative treatment options and progress to more intense treatment plans if those do not work. At MidSouth Pain, we take a unique approach to comprehensively address wrist pain, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Our approach includes:
- Identify the Cause: First, we will take the time to identify why you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome. We have interventional pain management techniques that will help us address the source of your pain. We want to figure out why you have developed carpal tunnel so that we can make changes that will prevent this issue from returning.
- Provide Expert Healthcare Solutions: Then, we will work with you in a team-oriented approach to provide you with long-term success.
Some of the treatment options we may suggest include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling in the wrist, helping to alleviate numbness and tingling
- Wearing ergonomic devices to improve the position of the wrist, targeting the root cause of the symptoms
- Physical therapy to improve grip strength and support for the median nerve
- Carpal tunnel release surgery at one of our convenient surgery centers
Please know that we favor conservative treatment options. We will only suggest surgery if it is absolutely necessary.
We have found that this comprehensive approach is an effective treatment method for someone who is suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Our goal is to improve the quality of life of our patients; however, before any treatment decisions are made, it is important for you to talk about these treatment options with your doctor. This will help you make the best decision for your individual situation.
Contact Us Today!
These are several treatment options that we provide to patients who come to see us. At MidSouth Pain, we place the needs of our patients first. We know that your back pain is impacting your quality of life, which is why we will do everything we can to help you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!