What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

For most people, it is important to use and rely on your hands and fingers throughout your day. Everything from gripping a pen to turning a doorknob to holding a book requires the use of your hands and fingers. Many people have no issues completing such activities and take for granted how often they use their hands and fingers every day. Others, though, are extremely aware of their hands and fingers because of the pain, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms associated with a condition called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - also known as median nerve compression - occurs when the median nerve that runs to the hand is compressed. It lies in a "tunnel" bound by unforgiving and very hard ligaments between the carpal bones. If the median nerve then swells and gets inflamed, it becomes enlarged. It has no space for that enlargement and becomes compressed.

The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occur most commonly in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Typical distribution of pain in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Common Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

If you have been dealing with strange or painful feelings in your hands or fingers, you may be suffering from this condition. You must have your potential Carpal Tunnel Syndrome diagnosed by a medical professional to ensure that you can begin your treatment right away.
When you make an appointment with our premier orthopedic surgeons at Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists, we will begin to diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by checking for the following symptoms in the carpal tunnel area:

• Weakness when gripping things with your hand
• Pain and numbness in the hand
• A sensation of pins and needles
• A feeling of swelling in the fingers
• Burning or tingling
• Pain and numbness that is worse at night and when waking up

For those who have been feeling these symptoms or may have experienced worsening in these symptoms, the first step in the healing process is a professional diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and recommending the right way to get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treated for your situation.

Typical symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Diagnosis of Median Nerve Compression

When a patient comes to Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists complaining of mild to severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, our rheumatoid arthritis experts will perform certain tests and examinations to determine if the patient is suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The most common methods of diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include:

• Listen to patient-specific complaints of pain in the normal distribution
• Obtain medical history to assess risk factors
• Do a physical examination
• Perform Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG)
• Discuss symptoms that correlate to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Depending on the pain level and other symptoms, our physicians will determine the amount of potential nerve damage, discuss how symptoms may change in severe cases, and develop a treatment plan.

Image showing an inflamed median nerve underneath the rigid carpal tunnel

Causes

Unfortunately, many things can affect the carpal area and even the smaller carpal tunnels, so the potential for developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome extends to many people. Early diagnosis and detection are key to relieving symptoms and eliminating the possibility for limited wrist motion or severe pain in the fingers, especially the thumb muscles.
There are some common causes of the condition that our joint experts will look for, including:

• Frequent repetitive movements with the hands like typing
• Use of vibrating heavy duty equipment
• Frequent repetitive grasping activities with the hand
• Performing assembly line work
• Consistently odd wrist position in certain activities
• Diabetes (High Blood Sugar)
• Thyroid Disease
• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Family History

Our bone and joint experts at Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists will consider your lifestyle, age, family history, and other factors to determine if Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is likely and the best way to treat the condition.

Repetitive actions like typing increase the likelihood of getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Conservative Treatment

After completing diagnostic tests such as a physical exam, nerve conduction study, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), your bone and a joint specialist will develop a clear course of treatment customized for your situation.
As with most chronic conditions, our physicians at Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists will begin with non-surgical treatments before jumping to a more extreme option such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery. Our doctors recommend a variety of conservative management options:

• Wearing a nighttime wrist splint
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medication
• Steroid injections (cortisone injection) into the carpal tunnel space
• Using hand therapy and stretching exercises
• Performing nerve gliding exercises
• Making workplace modifications

If all of these non-surgical treatments are unsuccessful in relieving the pain and other symptoms you may be feeling caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, your health care provider may need to move on to less conservative treatments.

A wrist brace is typically used at night to prevent the night time symptoms and is extremely effective.

Surgical Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Our physicians at Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists will try as many conservative treatment options as possible before moving on to surgery. If it is determined that endoscopic surgery is necessary, our experts will relieve pressure and pain with minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery for carpal tunnel release is quite easy. It involves a small incision in the middle of the palm side of the hand. Once arriving at the roof of the tunnel, the surgeon then releases the upper boundary of the carpal tunnel- the transverse carpal ligament. The nerve is no longer compressed by the rigid boundary and immediately gets its blood flow restored by removing this ligament.
Following the surgical procedure, you should be able to get back to your normal, pain-free life quickly.

Typical incision length of a carpal tunnel release

Rehabilitation following Surgery

Post-operative care after carpal tunnel surgery is relatively easy. Symptoms experienced before surgery tend to go away within the first day after the procedure. Stitches routinely stay in for 2 weeks to let the incision heal. You cannot get the incision wet in the first two weeks after surgery. Once stitches are removed at the 2-week mark, you can return to activity as normal! We have no early restrictions because we want you to get back to a pain-free life as fast as possible!

Do You Think You May Be Developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Contact Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists today!
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If you believe that the pain and numbness you are experiencing in your hands and fingers may be due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, contact Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists to schedule an appointment for a consultation. Our experts understand the challenge of medical conditions and will work diligently to relieve the pain and pressure you are feeling in your hands. Contact us today to find out more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and how our physicians can get you back on your way to a pain-free life.