Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve disorder, affecting up to 10 million adults. People of all ages can develop carpal tunnel syndrome, but it mostly affects middle-aged adults, with risk increasing as you age and with women developing it three times more often than men.
Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain, tingling, numbness, and decreased grip strength. Reduced grip strength can impact your athletic abilities and your ability to perform everyday activities such as brushing your teeth, opening a jar, and driving a car.
At Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Northport, Alabama, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Bryan King, MD, PhD, and his medical team can accurately diagnose and effectively treat carpal tunnel syndrome so you can strengthen your grip and resume a pain-free lifestyle.
The carpal tunnel is a passageway at the base of your hand. The median nerve, which extends from your forearm to your palm, runs through this passageway. The median nerve provides feeling to the palm side of the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, and part of the ring finger.
When the median nerve becomes pinched, pressed, or squeezed, it can impact your ability to use your wrist and hand, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers.
Causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include trauma to your hand or wrist and repetitive hand and wrist activities such as typing. Other causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Fortunately, you don't have to live with pain or a weakened grip. Many nonsurgical and surgical interventions can lessen the pressure on the median nerve. At Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute, Dr. King performs a thorough diagnostic evaluation in order to prescribe the best treatment plan.
The first line of treatment usually includes nonsurgical lifestyle modifications such as rest, changes to your activities, splinting, and physical therapy to increase your grip strength.
If noninvasive remedies don't improve your condition, a steroid injection to reduce inflammation followed by grip strengthening exercises can help.
The majority of carpal tunnel syndrome cases are resolved with noninvasive or minimally invasive therapies. For those who don't find relief, carpal tunnel release surgery can relieve pressure on your median nerve to reduce pain and weakness.
If you're experiencing wrist pain and weakness, contact Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute to make an appointment with Dr. Bryan King. Call the office in Northpoint, Alabama, at 205-391-4440, or send a message to Dr. King and the team here on the website.
