Do you experience tingling in your fingers, chronic wrist pain, or weakness in your hand and forearm? If these signs and symptoms sound familiar, you could be dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome. You need the expertise of a hand expert. Dr. Pedro Loredo at Loredo Hand Care Institute in Grapevine and Dallas, TX, is a hand specialist who offers a wide range of orthopedic services, including diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

What You Need To Know About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve, which is the main nerve in your hand. The median nerve travels through a narrow opening, known as the carpal tunnel. When the median nerve becomes inflamed, it is compressed within the carpal tunnel. Nerve compression causes a variety of signs and symptoms, including:

• Numbness and tingling in your hand and fingers
• Loss of strength in your hand and fingers
• Difficulty grasping or holding objects

Your risk of developing carpal tunnel increases if you have an occupation that requires repetitive motion and overuse of your hands and wrists. Examples of professions at high risk of carpal tunnel include:

• Cashiers
• Computer users
• Dental providers

Some hobbies can also put you at high risk of developing carpal tunnel. These are:

• Knitting
• Crocheting
• Sewing
• Painting
• Drawing

If you have occasional, minor carpal tunnel symptoms that aren’t yet interfering with your lifestyle, your hand specialist may recommend:

• Custom-fit wrist splints to wear while you sleep
• Prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medications
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce pressure on the median nerve

If you are experiencing moderate to severe carpal tunnel symptoms that are affecting your lifestyle, it’s time to seek out the services of a hand specialist.

Your hand specialist will perform nerve testing to detect the level of impairment or damage to the median nerve. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is typically surgical. The surgery involves cutting the ligament to reduce pressure on the median nerve.

Want To Know More About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

To find out more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, call Dr. Pedro Loredo at Loredo Hand Care Institute in Grapevine and Dallas, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (972) 939-4974, so call today.