Carpal tunnel refers to a small opening in your wrist bones that allows nerves, tendons and ligaments to reach your hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when one of those nerves (the median nerve) becomes irritated due to pressure or strain. This causes pain, numbness and tingling throughout your hand and wrist. Speak with an expert about carpal tunnel syndrome.
Signs and Symptoms
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops slowly over time. As the condition worsens, you may feel numbness, tingling or sharp pain in your hand or wrist. Physical weakness may also occur, making it harder to complete daily tasks such as typing or using a pen.
Severe cases of carpal tunnel may also affect your forearm.
Risk Factors and Prevention
An extremely common orthopedic condition, carpal tunnel syndrome affects roughly three out of every 1,000 people in the U.S. each year. Although it can happen to anyone, the following factors may increase your risk of developing the condition at some point.
- Age: Adults over the age of 40 have a greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Gender: Women are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome compared to men.
- Movement: Individuals who do repetitive motions with their hands for extended periods of time each day—such as typing or using tools—have a heightened risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Other Conditions: Among the conditions that can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome are gout, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism and diabetes.
How We Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Our orthopedic experts use the following procedures to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Electromyography (EMG): Electrode patches attached to your skin are used to evaluate the function of your muscles and nerves.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body.
- Physical Exam: In most cases, our experts can accurately diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome by examining the physical symptoms of the condition.
- X-ray: A common medical imaging procedure, X-rays use radiation to capture colorless images of your bones, joints and soft tissue.
Treatment Options
While most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome go away on their own, our experts may provide treatment if the condition causes discomfort or limits your movement. Treatment approaches include wearing a wrist splint to keep the joint from moving. Corticosteroid injections may also help to relieve pain or inflammation. Severe cases may require minimally invasive surgery.
- Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release: Bayhealth was the first health system in Delaware to offer this innovative treatment approach for carpal tunnel syndrome. A minimally invasive procedure that does not require an incision, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release uses a thread to dissect the ligament associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Performed under local anesthesia, the procedure takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Patients typically return to daily activities within a couple of days.
Speak with an orthopedic expert about carpal tunnel syndrome.