Carpal
Tunnel Treatment
Serving Albuquerque & Santa Fe, New Mexico
Carpal
tunnel syndrome is compression or pressure on the median nerve at
the wrist level. Alignment at the wrist creates a tunnel through
which the median nerve and nine tendons course. The median nerve
supplies sensation to the thumb, index, long finger and half of
the ring finger; thus patients' complaints are altered sensation
in these digits.
You can test yourself for carpal tunnel syndrome
by simply maximally bending the wrist down and waiting one minute.
If you have increased symptoms of abnormal feeling in these digits,
then you may well have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
can vary from just a small amount of pressure to extreme pressure,
and in the late stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery may be
necessary to release a short ligament at the wrist level.
Earlier
on, the best treatment will involve using a splint that keeps your
wrist completely flat and is worn at night. This will decrease the
excessive pressure that can develop at night when the wrist naturally
goes into a bent position. Make sure that the splint you wear at
night keeps your wrist completely flat. In the later stages of carpal
tunnel, surgery is an option.
If you think you may have carpal tunnel
syndrome, the sooner you talk to Dr. Hopkins, the better. |