Carpal tunnel syndrome has become more prevalent as more and more people communicate via devices that require keyboarding skills. Constant use of your hands and fingers on these devices and other tasks you do with your hands can lead to pain and a need for the best doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome near me in New York City. Call the expert carpal tunnel syndrome specialist at Pain Management NYC for a consultation.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when you put abnormal pressure on the median nerve. This nerve detects sensations and controls movements of the thumb and the first three fingers. When the median nerve is pinched, it causes pain, loss of sensation and weakness in that hand and fingers.
This syndrome can cause permanent limb damage, loss of hand function and disability if you don’t get effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Find the best doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome near me in New York City as soon as possible to ensure you maintain full use of your hands.
At Pain Management NYC, team of carpal tunnel syndrome specialists with extensive experience delivers carpal tunnel syndrome treatment. These doctors also offer a variety of treatment options for other nerve pain disorders. Visit specialists who provide personalized care and follow-up services to ensure your optimal recovery and rehabilitation.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Sometimes, the median nerve gets squeezed or pressed by the surrounding tissues. This nerve is responsible for the feeling and movement of the thumb and the index, middle and ring fingers on each hand. It’s contained in a narrow passageway of bones and ligaments called the carpal tunnel located in the wrist. Through this tunnel, the median nerve travels from the arm to the hand.
When squeezed, it results in pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and fingers, and eventually carpal tunnel syndrome. Some people are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome than others, more so people who do tasks that involve heavy use of the wrists.
Various factors can cause or contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, such as:
- Repetitive hand motions, such as typing, sewing, knitting, painting or using tools
- Wrist injuries, such as sprains, fractures or dislocations
- Diseases like arthritis, diabetes, pregnancy, menopause or other health conditions that affect the nerves or cause swelling
- Anatomic factors, such as having a smaller carpal tunnel or a wrist deformity
Do I Need Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The symptoms of this disorder take different forms and they usually start gradually and worsen over time. These symptoms are aggravated when the wrist is bent or flexed, such as when driving, reading or using a computer. They may also be triggered by cold temperatures, vibration or stress. The symptoms may affect one or both hands, but they’re usually more severe in your dominant hand.
Signs of the condition include:
- Burning, tingling or numbness in your thumb, index, middle and ring fingers, especially at night or in the morning
- Pain or discomfort in your hand, wrist or forearm that radiates up your arm or down to your fingers
- Difficulty gripping or holding objects, even your phone, a pen or the steering wheel
- Unusual weakness or clumsiness in your hand, causing you to drop things or make mistakes
- Reduced sensation or coordination in your fingers, affecting your ability to perform fine tasks, such as typing, sewing or playing an instrument
What Are the Complications of Untreated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
While carpal tunnel syndrome is not a life-threatening condition, it affects your quality of life and ability to perform daily activities if you don’t get the proper carpal tunnel syndrome treatments. Therefore, it’s important to find a carpal tunnel specialist as soon as you notice any signs of pain on the back of your hand. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further damage and improve your outcome. If you ignore the symptoms and don’t seek out a carpal tunnel syndrome doctor, you may face some serious consequences including severe neuropathy in your hands.
This damage may be permanent and irreversible and cause:
- Permanent nerve damage. The prolonged pressure on the median nerve can cause irreversible damage to the nerve fibers, resulting in loss of sensation, muscle atrophy and impaired hand function.
- Disability. The chronic pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in your hand and fingers make it difficult or impossible to do your work, hobbies or household chores. You may also have trouble sleeping, driving or using your phone.
- Need for extensive surgery. If conservative carpal tunnel syndrome treatments fail to relieve your symptoms or your condition worsens, you may need surgery to release the pressure on the median nerve.
How Do You Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
You need a diagnosis to make sure you have carpal tunnel syndrome before you seek treatment. Your doctor therefore starts by asking about your medical history and tests to determine your definitive diagnosis.
A Tinel’s test tells your doctor if you have compressed a median nerve. A positive sign creates a tingling sensation in the fingers. Another test, the Phelan test, targets carpal tunnel syndrome for your doctor’s diagnosis.
Additional tests you may need include:
- X-rays
- An ultrasound and MRI
- Electromyography (EMG) test to narrow the diagnosis
- Nerve conduction (NCV) test to determine how much nerve damage you’ve suffered and rule out other conditions, such as polyneuropathy
What Treatments Are Available from he Best Doctor for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome treatments depend on the severity and duration of your symptoms, as well as your overall health. The main goals of treatment are to relieve the pressure on the median nerve, reduce the pain and numbness and restore the function of your hand and wrist.
Pain Management NYC has different effective treatment options for various nerve and pain disorders such as compression neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy.
The options your carpal tunnel syndrome doctor may recommend include:
- Medications. Your doctor may prescribe or inject medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids, to reduce the inflammation and swelling in the carpal tunnel.
- Physical therapy. A physical therapist teaches you exercises and stretches to improve the strength and flexibility of your hand and wrist, as well as provide other therapies, such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation.
- Surgery. If your symptoms are severe or don’t improve with conservative carpal tunnel syndrome treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery to cut the ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel and release the pressure on the median nerve.
- Occupational behavior change. The carpal tunnel syndrome specialist may recommend some changes in your habits at work. These include taking frequent breaks, applying ice or heat, wearing a wrist splint and doing daily hand and wrist exercises.
At Pain Management NYC, nerve and pain disorder specialists help you find the best solution for your condition. They offer a comprehensive and individualized approach to diagnosis and treatment, using the latest technology and techniques. Don’t let carpal tunnel syndrome disrupt your productivity. Contact Pain Management NYC today to schedule an appointment with one of the carpal tunnel syndrome specialists and get the relief you seek.
Boleslav Kosharskyy, MD, is a top-rated, best-in-class interventional pain management doctor. He is board-certified in Anesthesiology, Interventional Pain Medicine, and Palliative Care.
Dr. Kosharskyy is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical College. He’s also the Associate Medical Director of Pain Medicine and Director of Anesthesia for the Joint Replacement Center at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein Medical College.
He is an active member of the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA), the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA)