Are you experiencing persistent numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand and arm? These could be signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition that can significantly impact your daily life. At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, our specialized hand surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re searching for a “Carpal Tunnel Doctor Near Me”, look no further than our renowned team, ready to provide you with exceptional care and effective solutions.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve compression, occurs when the median nerve, located in your wrist, becomes squeezed or compressed. This compression can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms and, if left untreated, may cause long-term nerve damage. Often linked to repetitive hand and wrist motions, such as typing or assembly line work, carpal tunnel syndrome disproportionately affects women, with a prevalence three times higher than in men. The condition arises from reduced space and blood flow to the median nerve area, resulting in the characteristic numbness and radiating pain that extends through the hand, wrist, and forearm. Over time, carpal tunnel syndrome can diminish hand strength and dexterity, making everyday tasks increasingly challenging.
The likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome increases with age, with peak incidence occurring between 50 and 60 years old. Furthermore, a higher body mass index (BMI) is strongly correlated with an increased risk. Additional risk factors include underlying health conditions such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy. Recognizing these factors can help you understand your potential susceptibility to carpal tunnel syndrome and prompt you to seek timely medical attention if symptoms arise.
Recognizing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms
Identifying the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome is the first step towards seeking appropriate treatment. If you experience any of the following, it’s advisable to consult with a hand surgeon at Hoag Orthopedic Institute for a comprehensive evaluation and personalized care plan:
- Numbness and Tingling: Specifically in the thumb, index, middle, and radial side of the ring finger – the distribution area of the median nerve.
- Radiating Pain: Discomfort extending from the hand and wrist up into the forearm and sometimes even the shoulder.
- Activity-Related Symptom Worsening: Symptoms intensify with activities that increase pressure on the median nerve, such as prolonged typing, gripping, or using vibrating tools.
- Decreased Fine Motor Skills: Difficulty with tasks requiring precise hand movements, like buttoning clothes, picking up small objects, or opening jars.
- Hand Weakness: Trouble holding objects, a tendency to drop things, and an overall feeling of weakness in the hands.
- Cold Intolerance and Sensory Changes: Unusual coldness, dryness, or altered textures in the fingers served by the median nerve, indicating potential disruption of sympathetic nerve fibers.
- Nighttime Pain: Carpal tunnel pain often intensifies at night, disrupting sleep.
Why is nighttime pain a hallmark of carpal tunnel syndrome? Several factors contribute to this phenomenon:
- Wrist Flexion During Sleep: We often unconsciously bend our wrists while sleeping, which further compresses the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
- Reduced Blood Pressure: Blood pressure naturally decreases during sleep, potentially leading to reduced blood flow and nerve perfusion in the affected area.
- Fluid Retention: Inactivity during sleep reduces the natural “pumping” action of wrist movements that helps to drain fluid from the wrist, possibly increasing pressure in the carpal tunnel.
Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What to Expect
When you visit Hoag Orthopedic Institute for a suspected carpal tunnel diagnosis, our experienced hand doctors will conduct a thorough physical examination, taking into account the nature and progression of your symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, and our orthopedic specialists utilize a range of diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact cause of your hand and arm pain:
- Observation for Thenar Atrophy: In later stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, there may be visible wasting (atrophy) of the thenar muscles at the base of the thumb.
- Sensory Testing: Assessing your ability to feel light touch, pinprick, and vibration in the median nerve distribution to identify sensory deficits.
- Motor Testing (APB Muscle): Evaluating the strength of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle, which is controlled by the median nerve and responsible for thumb abduction (moving the thumb away from the palm).
- Provocative Testing via Median Nerve Compression: Specific maneuvers designed to reproduce carpal tunnel symptoms.
- Phalen’s Test: Holding the wrists in a flexed position for a minute to see if it triggers numbness and tingling.
- Tinel’s Test: Tapping lightly over the median nerve at the wrist to check if it recreates the tingling sensation.
- Compression Test: Applying direct pressure over the median nerve in the carpal tunnel to see if it elicits symptoms within 30 seconds.
- Electrodiagnostic Studies: These tests objectively measure nerve function.
- Electromyography (EMG): Measures the electrical activity of muscles to assess for muscle weakness or nerve damage.
- Nerve Conduction Studies: Measure the speed at which electrical signals travel along the median nerve to determine if there is nerve compression and dysfunction.
Non-Surgical Carpal Tunnel Treatment Options
The primary goal of carpal tunnel treatment is to reduce pressure on the median nerve and improve blood flow to the area, alleviating pain and restoring function. In many cases, non-surgical approaches can effectively manage carpal tunnel syndrome, especially in the early stages. Hoag Orthopedic Institute offers the following non-surgical treatment options:
- Night-time Splinting: Wearing a wrist splint, particularly at night, keeps the wrist in a neutral position, minimizing wrist flexion during sleep and reducing pressure on the median nerve.
- Vitamin B6 Supplementation: Some studies suggest that Vitamin B6 (100mg – 200mg daily) may help reduce carpal tunnel symptoms in certain individuals.
- Steroid Injections: Corticosteroid injections into the carpal tunnel can effectively reduce inflammation and swelling, providing temporary relief by decreasing pressure and improving blood flow to the median nerve.
Surgical Carpal Tunnel Treatment: When is it Necessary?
If conservative treatments fail to provide adequate relief from hand and wrist pain, or if there is evidence of progressive nerve damage, your hand surgeon at Hoag Orthopedic Institute may recommend carpal tunnel surgery. Surgical intervention aims to create more space for the median nerve within the carpal tunnel by cutting the transverse carpal ligament, which forms the roof of the tunnel. This release of pressure allows for improved blood flow and nerve function. Surgical options include:
- Open Release Carpal Tunnel Surgery: A traditional technique involving a small incision in the palm to directly visualize and cut the carpal ligament.
- Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A minimally invasive approach using an endoscope (a small camera) inserted through a tiny incision to visualize and release the ligament.
- Minimal Incision Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A technique that aims to combine the benefits of open and endoscopic surgery, using a smaller incision than traditional open release but without endoscopic visualization in some variations.
What to Expect from Open Release Carpal Tunnel Surgery
Open release carpal tunnel surgery boasts a high success rate, with 95% or higher of patients experiencing significant symptom relief. Here’s what you can typically expect from this common and effective procedure:
- Outpatient Procedure: Usually completed within 30 minutes at an outpatient surgery center, allowing you to return home the same day.
- Small Incision: Involves a less than 1-inch incision in the palm of your hand.
- Relatively Short Recovery: Typical recovery period is around 2-3 weeks.
- Early Hand Use: You may be able to use your hand gently for light activities immediately following surgery, with gradual return to normal function during recovery.
Find a Carpal Tunnel Doctor Near Me at Hoag Orthopedic Institute
Don’t let carpal tunnel syndrome limit your life. Hoag Orthopedic Institute is recognized as a leader in orthopedic care, consistently ranked among the top orthopedic hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeons possess the expertise to accurately diagnose and effectively treat carpal tunnel syndrome, offering both non-surgical and surgical solutions tailored to your specific needs. If you’re searching for a “carpal tunnel doctor near me”, Hoag Orthopedic Institute provides convenient access to world-class hand care.
Contact Hoag Orthopedic Institute today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced hand doctors and take the first step towards lasting relief. You can also find a hand surgeon who specializes in carpal tunnel treatment through our online physician finder. For immediate assistance or to make an appointment, call us at (949) 705-6493. Expert help for carpal tunnel syndrome is closer than you think – find your “carpal tunnel doctor near me” at Hoag Orthopedic Institute.
Source: 1 NCBI – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
