Carpal Tunnel Specialist in East Brunswick, NJ

Carpal tunnel syndrome causes a variety of issues, but they usually start slowly and increase over time. Some symptoms to watch for include:

• Pain
• Tingling (pins-and-needles) sensations
• Shock-like sensations
• Numbness
• Weak grip

These symptoms can occur in your wrist, palm, or in any fingers except your pinky. Because the median nerve doesn’t send sensations to your smallest finger, you typically won’t have any issues with that finger if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

There are usually several contributing causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, as a number of factors can result in median nerve compression.

Medical conditions

Fractures, inflammatory conditions like arthritis, and nerve-damaging conditions like diabetes can all cause or contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Obesity may also contribute.

Wrist size

The anatomical structure of your wrist can also put you at higher risk. Naturally small wrists are more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome, and women (who generally have smaller wrists than men) are three times as likely to develop this condition.

Wrist and hand movement

Working with your hands regularly, particularly with vibrating tools, can significantly increase your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. People who flex their hands a lot, like those working on an assembly line, often develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other things can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, too. Your Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLC, the provider will review your medical background and lifestyle carefully to find contributing factors.

If you see an orthopedic specialist when symptoms first start, you can often get an early-stage diagnosis. At that point, carpal tunnel syndrome may respond well to conservative care, such as wrist bracing, activity changes, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, and physical therapy.

For late-stage carpal tunnel syndrome, or for symptoms that don’t ease after conservative care, your specialist may recommend carpal tunnel release. In this surgery, your doctor can widen your carpal tunnel to relieve pressure and end your carpal tunnel symptoms. In many cases, your surgeon can use arthroscopic surgery for this procedure.