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Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that targets the median nerve in the hands and wrists leading to neuropathy in hands. The progression of nerve pain is gradual and usually associated with tingling, burning sensations and numbness. The condition is the most common form of compression neuropathy, accounting for 90 percent of neuropathies.
If left untreated, the condition can cause irrevocable damage to the median nerve leading to severe loss of hand functionality. At Neuro Injury Specialists in the New York and New Jersey area, the best doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome near me provides exceptional treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin, your physical carpal tunnel syndrome specialist, uses advanced diagnostic testing to deduce the right condition and the appropriate treatment. As neuropathy manifests in several different types, the diagnosis stage is important as thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and ulnar neuropathy also affect the hands.
According to the American Medical Association, nearly 10 million Americans have carpal tunnel syndrome. Women are ten times more likely to suffer because anatomically the wrist is much smaller in size compared with men. Race also plays a role as Caucasians are two to three times more at risk than African Americans.
Additionally, since the condition develops slowly, typically people in the age range of 40 to 60 notice the symptoms. Typists, writers and computer technicians who work all day on a keyboard are the most common workers who eventually need a carpal tunnel syndrome doctor.
Other professions also put you at risk, such as:
Traumatic injuries could cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Whether it’s a work injury, sport injury or a simple slip and fall, you become vulnerable when you experience a fractured or dislocated wrist.
Getting your wrist checked by a carpal tunnel syndrome specialist is the best way to minimize the risk.
While anyone may be susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome, certain medical conditions may lead to this condition, such as:
In the beginning, you may feel mild burning and tingling with numbness in the wrist and hand at night and when you wake up. The symptoms usually affect the thumb, index and middle finger. As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, the numbness and tingling increases. Your fingers feel swollen and there’s pain that starts from the palm and moves towards the arm and fingers.
Common symptoms for carpal tunnel syndrome also include:
Untreated, the condition causes loss of feeling in the fingers and permanent weakness in the thumb. In time you lose all touch sensation to the extent that you’re unable to distinguish between hot and cold temperatures.
The presentation of symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendonitis, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy and even cervical radiculopathy display similar symptoms and conditions. Your neurological consultation starts with a medical history where you should reveal any past injuries and medications you’re taking as some medicine affects the diagnosis.
A Tinel’s sign lets your doctor know that your median nerve is compressed through taps that he makes on the painful nerve. A positive sign creates a tingling sensation in the fingers. The Phalen test results reveal how fast you feel numbness and tingling in your fingers. If the symptoms appear within 60 seconds or less, your carpal tunnel syndrome is severe.
Additional tests you may need include:
Actively look for the best doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome near me, as pharmacological intervention alone doesn’t help combat the symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome treatments depend on the severity of your condition.
For mild to moderate cases, a brace or splint with ibuprofen helps. Your carpal tunnel syndrome doctor may also suggest an injection with the medication to decrease inflammation around the median nerve in the carpal tunnel.
For severe cases, one of two surgeries may be needed:
Recovery depends on the severity of your problem. Most people see improvements within the first week, while gripping strength returns in two to three months. Normal sensation returns by six to 12 months for most people.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is unavoidable in some cases, but you can minimize your risk by not gripping things too tightly for long periods of time and taking breaks regularly when you work with your hands. Don’t let your hands become cold as it stiffens the hands and fingers causing pain.
Contact Neuro Injury Specialists at the first signs you may need treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. The sooner you see a carpal tunnel syndrome specialist, the better chance you have of avoiding long term consequences.