Carpal tunnel syndrome causes symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand due to compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. The median nerve runs through a tunnel in the wrist, and this nerve is what provides sensory and motor functions in the hand – including all fingers except the pinky.
Compression of the median nerve can affect the use of your hand, and it can develop into permanent disability if left untreated. Fortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common conditions orthopedic surgeons treat. Let’s talk about what your doctor can do for your carpal tunnel syndrome, and where you can go for a medical evaluation and treatment for your hand pain.
What a Doctor Can Do for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of your symptoms. Mild symptoms usually respond to conservative treatment, which involves resting the area, icing the area several times a day, taking anti-inflammatory medication, and wearing a wrist splint to ease compression of the nerve in the carpal tunnel.
Your doctor will ask you about what you do in your profession and your hobbies. Poor ergonomics at work is a big contributor to carpal tunnel syndrome, and your physician may recommend making changes to your chair, desk, keyboard, and mouse. The physician may also recommend that you see a specialized hand therapist to show you how to avoid putting compression on your wrist and to teach you exercises to give your hands a break and to facilitate proper blood flow in the area.
Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery
If your carpal tunnel syndrome is worsening to the point of requiring surgery to avoid long-term damage and disability, a doctor can perform outpatient surgery on your wrist to widen the tunnel and thereby release the compression on the median nerve.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is performed using an endoscope, which is a very thin tubular instrument with a fiber-optic camera function at the end. The camera allows the surgeon to view the issue and to make repairs in the wrist using small surgical tools. Because this minimally invasive surgery involves only tiny incisions, there is less blood loss, smaller scars, and faster recovery afterward.
Hand Doctors in Sarasota and Bradenton, FL
The sooner you see a doctor for your carpal tunnel symptoms in your hands, the better your outcome will be. Our orthopedic surgeons at Intercoastal Medical Group are experts at diagnosing and treating hand conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome.
We will evaluate your symptoms and discuss with you your various options for treatment. We also offer superior rehabilitation services to our patients to relieve pain, improve flexibility, and restore hand and wrist function.
If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with one of our outstanding orthopedists, contact us today by calling our Beneva Professional Center at (941) 955-6748 or our Lakewood Ranch I clinic at (941) 362-8662, or by filling out our easy-to-use online appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you enjoy a more pain-free lifestyle once again!
