Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause debilitating numbness and tingling sensations in your fingers as well as burning sensations in your hands that radiates up your wrists and into your arms and elbow. Treatment for this condition, caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist, is available to residents of the greater Memphis, Tennessee, area at Tri-State Orthopaedics. Expert orthopedic surgeon Apurva Dalal, MD, can provide relief. Call his Memphis or Germantown, Tennessee, office or use the online booking agent to set up a consultation and achieve relief today.
Your median nerve and several tendons control movement and feeling in your thumb and the first three fingers. These structures run through a small space in your wrist known as the carpal tunnel.
Pressure on the median nerve causes the syndrome. You may experience pressure due to swelling, genetics, or other factors that make the carpal tunnel smaller.
The exact reason why you experience compression of the median nerve isn’t clearly understood, but certain factors put you at greater risk of developing carpal tunnel. These include:
Symptoms vary in intensity from patient to patient. They may involve the hand, wrist, thumb, forearm, elbow, and first four fingers — not your pinky. You may feel:
Symptoms may worsen at night.
Dr. Dalal treats carpal tunnel syndrome with conservative treatment, and sometimes surgery. Conservative treatment includes treating any underlying medical conditions that may be aggravating carpal tunnel syndrome as well as:
The sooner you address the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome with these noninvasive therapies, the more likely your condition resolves on its own. If these therapies are unsuccessful, Dr. Dalal may recommend surgery.
Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome involves Dr. Dalal making an incision up to 2 inches long in the palm and wrist area. He then dissects the carpal ligament to release pressure on the median nerve and enlarge the carpal tunnel.
Following surgery, Dr. Dalal may place your forearm and wrist in a splint as you heal. You may also ice the area to reduce swelling and undergo physical therapy to restore your wrist strength.
