Our hand surgeon can help alleviate your painful carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

If you are dealing with persistent tingling, numbness or pain in your hand then you could be dealing with a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpel tunnel syndrome is a result of median nerve compression and occurs most often in women and older adults. Luckily, Dr. Pedro Loredo is a board-certified hand surgeon providing both surgical and nonsurgical treatments to patients in Grapevine and Dallas, TX, who are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

There are usually several factors at play when it comes to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome; however, there are certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of this condition. These factors include,

• Genetics (this often runs in families)
• Repetitive movements of the hand and wrist
• Pregnancy (hormones can lead to swelling)
• Certain health problems (e.g. diabetes; rheumatoid arthritis)

What are the warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?

You may be dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome if you experience any tingling, numbness or pain in the thumb, index, ring and middle fingers. You may experience a shocking pain that flows through the fingers, as well as tingling that may spread all the way up to the forearm to the shoulder. You may experience limited dexterity in your fingers or be prone to dropping things.

Symptoms usually appear gradually rather than as a result of an injury. Symptoms may come and go but worsen with time. It’s normal to experience symptoms at night, particularly while sleeping.

What are my treatment options?

If you notice any symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome it’s important to schedule an appointment with our hand surgeon, who can diagnose the problem and determine the best course of action. It’s important to start treating carpal tunnel syndrome as soon as possible.

Lifestyle modifications for carpal tunnel syndrome may include avoiding activities that may exacerbate symptoms (this may include any sports you may play). Ice the wrist and hand for 15 minutes at a time to reduce swelling. It’s also important to rest the affected hand as much as possible throughout the day. Over-the-counter medications may also provide some temporary relief.

Our hand surgeon can talk to you about whether you could also benefit from corticosteroid injections, to reduce severe pain and swelling, as well as wearing a wrist splint at night. Dr. Loredo specializes in minimally invasive hand surgery; therefore, if symptoms are severe or unresponsive to nonsurgical treatments then surgery may be the best option. He offers a minimally invasive Endoscopic Release System, which uses cutting-edge technology to treat carpal tunnel syndrome by making a small incision within the wrist to release the compressed nerve.

This endoscopic procedure is safe, precise and offers an up to 98 percent success rate. Some patients experience immediate relief from their symptoms, with the vast majority of patients gaining full range of motion within a week.

With an office in Grapevine, TX, Loredo Hand Care Institute is proud to provide comprehensive hand care to those living in and around Dallas. If you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome and want to find out if you could benefit from Dr. Loredo’s Endoscopic Release System then call us today at (972) 939-4974.