Carpal tunnel syndrome develops because the median nerve comes under pressure from the ligaments in your wrist. If you’re experiencing the pain and reduced function in your hand that are typical of carpal tunnel syndrome, Dilhan Abeyewardene, MD, can help. Dr. Dilhan is an orthopedic hand surgeon at Orthopaedic Care Specialists who specializes in endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery. Find out about the full range of treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome by calling his office today, or book an appointment using the online tool.
Request an AppointmentWhat is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful, disabling hand and wrist condition caused by compression of the median nerve.
It results in numbness, tingling, and pain that radiates from your wrist into your hand. Along with the pain, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause weakness and loss of grip.
The median nerve is one of the three major nerves in our arm and runs from your shoulder down through your wrist into the thumb side of your hand. It passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist, which is a ring of bones and ligaments. When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, the ligament in your carpal tunnel thickens and pressure builds up on the median nerve, causing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Numbness and tingling feelings in your hand are common with carpal tunnel syndrome. This usually affects your thumb, index and middle fingers. Often times this can be exacerbated by repetitive motions with your wrists or you may experience nighttime pain that wakes you from sleep.
You may begin to find it hard to carry out simple tasks like holding a pen, fastening buttons, or carrying a cup of coffee. You may even notice you are dropping things frequently.
Without treatment, these symptoms worsen to the point where you can’t use your hand properly, and you have constant discomfort or pain.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?
During your exam with Dr. Dilhan, the sensation and motor function of different nerves in your hand can be clinically checked, confirming that your symptoms are carpal tunnel syndrome related. It’s important to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as:
- Trigger finger
- Thumb or hand arthritis
- Wrist tendonitis
- Broken wrist
X-rays and other diagnostic imaging technologies like CT and MRI scans can show causes such as fractures and arthritis. Dr. Dilhan can also carry out nerve conduction studies and electromyography to confirm carpal tunnel syndrome.
What treatments are there for carpal tunnel syndrome?
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are due to pressure on the median nerve, so the goal of your treatment is to remove that pressure. Dr. Dilhan can give you a wrist splint to wear that takes the pressure off your carpal tunnel and keeps your wrist straight at night.
With physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication, this often relieves the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re still in pain, Dr. Dilhan can administer steroid injections into your wrist that act as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
If these treatments aren’t relieving symptoms, Dr. Dilhan can carry out a carpal tunnel release procedure. This involves cutting the ligament that’s causing the problem, which gives the median nerve enough room but won’t affect your ability to use your hand.
Dr. Dilhan has specialist expertise in carrying out minimally invasive endoscopic carpal tunnel release procedures.
For relief from the pain and disability caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, call Dr. Dilhan’s office today, or book an appointment online