Hand Numbness or Tingling? It Could Be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Category: In The News
- Posted On:
- Written By: Nader Shourbaji, MD, Orthopaedic Hand Specialist
You use your hands every day without any thought -- to write, drive, work and care for your family. Your hands can, however, become a source of discomfort when tingling, numbness, or even pain, make these simple tasks difficult. These can be signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, one of the most common hand conditions.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway at the base of your hand that contains nerves and tendons. The nerves run from your forearm into the palm of your hand and control feeling to your palm side of the thumb and fingers. When pressure increases on the nerve, carpal tunnel syndrome develops.
Common symptoms of carpal tunnel:
- Numbness, tingling or pain in the hand
- An electric shock-like feeling in the thumb, index and long fingers
- Weakness in the hand.
Your orthopedist will perform an exam and may order tests or X-rays to determine the best way to treat your symptoms.
Non-surgical treatments may include:
- Wearing a wrist brace or splint
- Using anti-inflammatory medications
- Changing activities that aggravate symptoms.
In severe cases or if non-surgical treatments are not successful in relieving pain, surgery to increase the size of the tunnel and relieve pressure on the nerve may be recommended. Surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis, and most patients see improvement in their symptoms immediately.
Hand therapy is often recommended to help patients completely recover. North Oaks Rehabilitation Services Certified Hand Therapist Mandy Hill uses splinting, manual therapy and range of motion exercises to help patients after surgery.
The hands are some of the most intricate and complex parts of the body, so you need a highly-skilled expert to care for them. If numbness or tingling in your hands is holding you back, schedule an appointment with Dr. Nader Shourbaji, fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeon.
