Carpal Tunnel

You use your wrist constantly, but sometimes overuse can lead to a painful condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. At Artemis Health in Santa Monica, California, their team treats a variety of orthopedic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome with a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms, such as medications, injections, or surgery. If you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome and have been struggling with discomfort, call the office or schedule a consultation online today.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when a nerve in your wrist gets pinched. The pinching can occur for many reasons, including:

• Swelling
• Fractures
• Arthritis
• Fluid buildup during pregnancy

Oftentimes, carpal tunnel syndrome happens for no apparent reason. But you may be at greater risk for carpal tunnel syndrome if you make repeated movements with your wrist held straight. Pregnant women, people with diabetes, and people with certain health conditions also have a higher likelihood of getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be painful and causes other symptoms, too, including:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• A weak grip
• Clumsy hands
• A tendency to drop things

With carpal tunnel syndrome, you generally feel tingling or numbness in your middle, ring, or index fingers, or your thumb. It’s most common to feel symptoms at night, but you might also notice symptoms during daily activities that involve using your hands, like driving or reading a book. When carpal tunnel syndrome is severe, you can lose strength and sensations permanently.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?

The team at Artemis Health begins by taking a complete medical history. You’ll be asked about any medical conditions, previous injuries, and how you’ve been using your hands. 

Your provider may order lab tests or an X-ray to check for signs of a fracture or arthritis to rule out those conditions. They might also recommend electrodiagnostic studies to test for potential nerve problems and confirm your diagnosis.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

At Artemis Health, the team creates a treatment plan that is specific to you in order to ease your symptoms. You might need to:

• Wear a wrist splint to keep your wrist in a straight position or help you sleep more comfortably at night
• Receive steroid injections to reduce swelling
• Undergo carpal tunnel surgery.

Carpal tunnel surgery generally involves cutting the ligament that forms the top of your carpal tunnel to relieve the pinching and give your nerve more room.

After surgery, you may have some soreness, but your numbness should resolve very quickly. The specialists at Artemis Health can perform endoscopic carpal tunnel release resulting in less pain and a faster recovery than other options. If your carpal tunnel syndrome pain is severe and treatment is delayed, surgery may alleviate your pain, but your numbness may take longer to go away.

If you’re ready for expert care from the experienced, dedicated professionals at Artemis Health, call the office or book a consultation online today.