Carpal Tunnel Specialist

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common wrist and hand condition that causes chronic pain. 

The carpal tunnel is a bony passage in your wrist that also contains nerves and ligaments. One of these is the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel and relays sensations from your wrist, hand, and fingers to your brain.

If something presses on your median nerve over a long period, it can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. 

One of the primary reasons for carpal tunnel is repetitive movements such as those you make when typing, gaming, or painting. The ligament in your wrist thickens and starts to compress the median nerve, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Your chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome increase if you're obese, you're going through menopause, or you have a thyroid disorder or inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Some medications can also worsen the problem.

What symptoms does carpal tunnel syndrome cause?

In the early stages, carpal tunnel syndrome tends to cause symptoms like tingling or numbness in your wrist. These sensations radiate into the thumb side of your hand and, as the condition worsens, may involve your entire arm.

Over time, carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms tend to worsen. They're often especially bad in the morning when you wake up, and you might find your hand and arm go completely numb overnight. This is due to the tendency for your wrists to fold over when you sleep, increasing the pressure on your median nerve.

Carpal tunnel syndrome also weakens your wrist and makes it difficult to grip, so you frequently drop things. Certain movements, such as throwing and catching or using a pen, can make the pain worse.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

Splinting is often the key to effective relief of carpal tunnel symptoms.

The Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy team can fit you with a splint to keep your wrist straight while you sleep. This helps to reduce the nerve compression caused by your wrist bending over. You might benefit from wearing the splint during the day as well.

Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy also provides expert physical therapies to relieve pressure and reduce pain in your wrist. In addition, their occupational therapists help you find ways to complete tasks that are proving challenging.

Severe symptoms that don’t respond to other treatments might require carpal tunnel release surgery. If so, your therapists can help you regain strength and flexibility in your wrist after the procedure and optimize your recovery.

If you have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, get expert treatment by calling Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy or booking an appointment online today.