Carpal tunnel syndrome affects up to 6% of all adults. Omar D. Hussamy, MD, understands how quickly carpal tunnel syndrome can affect your ability to write, type, and pick up everyday objects. At his office in Vero Beach, Florida, Dr. Hussamy has in-house X-rays and MRI machines to identify the cause of your pain and determine the right treatment for you. Call or book an appointment online today to learn more.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

The carpal tunnel is a thin, narrow passageway that runs through the palm of your hand. Many small tendons and ligaments surround the carpal tunnel.

A long nerve, called the median nerve, extends from the palm of your hand, through the carpal tunnel, and up your arm. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve becomes squeezed or pinched due to inflammation and swelling inside the carpal tunnel.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel?

The most common signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

Pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome typically causes pain, numbness, tingling, and even burning in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. It can also lead to soreness in the palm and wrist. In more severe cases, your pain can extend through your arm and shoulder.

Weakness
Chronic pain and inflammation in your carpal tunnel can increase weakness and clumsiness in your wrist. If you’ve noticed that you’re dropping objects more often, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Sudden shocks
Shock-like sensations are common in those with carpal tunnel syndrome. It happens most often in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

More often than not, a combination of factors increases your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. While a wrist fracture can narrow your carpal tunnel and compress the median nerve, arthritis may increase swelling and inflammation.

Additional risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • Being a woman
  • Diabetes
  • Nerve damage
  • Certain medications
  • Obesity
  • Fluid retention‘

Working with your hands or typing on a keyboard frequently also raises your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

How do doctors treat carpal tunnel syndrome?

Ice therapy, rest, and taking frequent breaks from activities that increase your pain can help relieve discomfort from carpal tunnel syndrome. With early intervention, your symptoms can go away altogether.

Dr. Hussamy and the team may also recommend wrist splinting, corticosteroid injections, and anti-inflammatory medications to prevent further damage and reduce inflammation in your wrist and hand.

If your symptoms don’t respond to nonsurgical therapies, Dr. Hussamy performs carpal tunnel surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

Untreated carpal tunnel syndrome can impact your quality of life. To schedule an appointment with Omar D. Hussamy, MD, call or book online today.