Question: I have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome with pain and numbness in both my hands from my office work where I type a lot. I was told to have surgery for carpal tunnel release but I don’t want surgery. I haven’t tried any other treatments yet. What are some non-surgical options for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Dr. Lee's response: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a progressively painful hand and arm condition caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist. There are a number of contributing factors to carpal tunnel syndrome, including the anatomy of your wrist, certain underlying health problems and possibly patterns of hand use.
It is the most common entrapment neuropathy in America with an incidence rate of over 6 million Americans each yearnce rate of over 6 million Americans each year.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway bound by bones and a ligament called the transverse carpal ligament. It is about as large as your thumb located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve, known as median nerve, in your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is cause by the pinching of this median nerve in this tunnel. This produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.
Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment by a physician specialist can usually relieve the pain and numbness and restore normal use of their wrists and hands.
There are a few nonsurgical options for carpal tunnel syndrome. This may include using wrist splints, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, therapeutic exercises, activity modification (ergonomic modification of your work space), vitamin B-6, or dynamic stretching of the transverse carpal ligament by manipulation or specialized splinting.
A promising new treatment consists of using a dynamic splint prescribed by a physician specialist. This dynamic splint provides a stretch of the transverse carpal ligament and thereby opens the carpel tunnel and releases pressure on the median nerve. This comfortable dynamic splint can be worn 15 to 30 minutes twice a day at home. Research has shown significant relief of pain and numbness after two months of treatment with this prescription dynamic splint.
It is important to have your carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed by a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physician specialist that can perform the appropriate testing to determine the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome and develop the appropriate treatment plan for you.
Wei-Ching Lee, M.D. is a UCLA-trained board certified physician specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Arc Motion Rehab Medical Clinic at 55 E. Huntington Dr, Suite 219, Arcadia, CA 91006, where she provides non-surgical care for muscle, bone, and nerve injuries. If you have any pain, injury, or exercise questions for future articles, please email Dr. Lee at info@PainRehabMD.com. Phone (626) 817-3422. www.ArcMotionRehab.com
It is the most common entrapment neuropathy in America with an incidence rate of over 6 million Americans each yearnce rate of over 6 million Americans each year.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway bound by bones and a ligament called the transverse carpal ligament. It is about as large as your thumb located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve, known as median nerve, in your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is cause by the pinching of this median nerve in this tunnel. This produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.
Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment by a physician specialist can usually relieve the pain and numbness and restore normal use of their wrists and hands.
There are a few nonsurgical options for carpal tunnel syndrome. This may include using wrist splints, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, therapeutic exercises, activity modification (ergonomic modification of your work space), vitamin B-6, or dynamic stretching of the transverse carpal ligament by manipulation or specialized splinting.
A promising new treatment consists of using a dynamic splint prescribed by a physician specialist. This dynamic splint provides a stretch of the transverse carpal ligament and thereby opens the carpel tunnel and releases pressure on the median nerve. This comfortable dynamic splint can be worn 15 to 30 minutes twice a day at home. Research has shown significant relief of pain and numbness after two months of treatment with this prescription dynamic splint.
It is important to have your carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed by a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physician specialist that can perform the appropriate testing to determine the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome and develop the appropriate treatment plan for you.
Wei-Ching Lee, M.D. is a UCLA-trained board certified physician specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Arc Motion Rehab Medical Clinic at 55 E. Huntington Dr, Suite 219, Arcadia, CA 91006, where she provides non-surgical care for muscle, bone, and nerve injuries. If you have any pain, injury, or exercise questions for future articles, please email Dr. Lee at info@PainRehabMD.com. Phone (626) 817-3422. www.ArcMotionRehab.com
W.C. Lee, M.D., is a UCLA-trained board certified specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She is an expert in platelet rich plasma non-surgical treatments. She specializes in the non-surgical treatment of muscle, bone, and nerve injuries and conditions. She received her M.D. from University of Wisconsin Medical School.
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