Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects more people that you may think. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are many, but may include tingling or numbness in the digits and pain in the hand or wrist with activity; the symptoms may become so severe that they wake you from sleep at night. The result is a painful and tight sensation when performing certain tasks. Let OCO provide you with a complete evaluation and a customized treatment plan–giving you a hand up on the pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common hand disorder characterized as tingling and/or numbness to the fingers or pain in the wrist and fingers. It occurs as a result of pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand and fingers. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may even wake you up from sleep. In some cases, muscle damage can also occur.

Are You at Risk?

Everyday activities may increase your risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Sewing
• Driving
• Assembly line work
• Painting
• Writing
• Use of hand tools
• Golf, Tennis, Racquetball
• Playing certain musical instruments

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome ranges from activity modification, splinting, and injection for the less severe cases to surgery(carpal tunnel release) in the more severe cases. In some cases, a comprehensive hand therapy program can relive the painful symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Your physician or surgeon may request a special test called an EMG to evaluate the function and degree of damage to the median nerve prior to considering a surgical procedure.