Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition where the nerve supplying feeling to part of your hand and wrist becomes compressed, causing pain and numbness in the thumbs, fingers, hand, and wrist. In addition, carpal tunnel syndrome may cause weakness and difficulties with fine motor movements. In advanced cases, the muscle under the thumb wastes away.

Other common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Frequent burning, tingling or itching numbness in the palm and fingers
• A swollen feeling in the fingers (but they may not look swollen)
• Disrupted sleep because of pain or discomfort
• Cramping in the hand or wrist
• Difficulty making a fist or squeezing small objects
• Trouble telling the difference between hot and cold by touch

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often linked to repetitive motions such as typing, writing, using tools and assembly-line work. Any condition causing inflammation or fluid retention can put pressure on the median nerve, increasing the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Other medical conditions that are often associated with carpal tunnel include obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, and bone fractures.

Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to avoiding long-term nerve and muscle damage. Whether you are searching for a diagnosis for wrist pain or you have already been diagnosed with carpal tunnel but have yet to find a long-lasting treatment, The Kaplan Center is here to help.

How We Can Help

At The Kaplan Center, our physicians have years of experience treating patients with chronic pain conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and we completely reject the notion that “you just have to live with it.”

At your first visit, your Kaplan physician will take time exploring the onset of your condition, the specific nature of your symptoms and the overall status of your health. You’ll also be asked about the medications and therapies you’ve tried in the past, and what has and hasn’t worked for you. To gather additional information about your condition, specialized diagnostic laboratory testing may be necessary.

After reviewing all of the factors contributing to your condition, your physician will spend time talking with you about your diagnosis and working with you to create a customized and multi-dimensional treatment plan that addresses not only your immediate pain but also any possible underlying or co-existing conditions that may be causing or aggravating your symptoms.

We offer a multitude of effective treatment options, including:

• Acupuncture
• Cold Laser Therapy
• Frequency Specific Microcurrent
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Perineural Injection Therapy (PIT)
• Physical Therapy
• Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
• Prolotherapy
• Prescription Medications

Fact Sheet: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)