Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that involves the entrapment of your median nerve, which extends from your upper arm through your wrist. When your median nerve becomes squeezed or compressed, you typically experience pain, tingling, and numbness in your hand and arm. The carpal tunnel is the passageway through which the median nerve runs. Sometimes, irritated tendons or swelling can cause the nerve to become compressed through the tunnel.
Physicians once thought that overusing your hand and wrist in repetitive motions, like typing or playing the piano, led to carpal tunnel syndrome, but today orthopaedic surgeons understand that while repetitive motion or injury may aggravate the symptoms, carpal tunnel syndrome is most likely the result of genetics and a narrow carpal tunnel.
The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome doesn’t usually go away on its own and typically gets worse without proper treatment.
At Utah Orthopaedics, Dr. Illing and the team creates a treatment plan that is specific to you in order to ease your symptoms. You might need to:
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. Surgery can be done through a small incision or using an endoscope and camera.
After surgery, you may have some soreness, but your numbness should resolve very quickly. 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.
To learn more about your options for treating carpal tunnel syndrome, call Utah Orthopaedics or request an appointment online.
