Patients have come into our office complaining about feeling pain and numbness in their hand.  They may also mention that they have difficulty using their hand for normal life activities, to the point of feeling like they have no control of their fingers. They speak having the “dropsies” and of a gradual progression rather than waking up to pain one day.

Common signs of CTS affect the thumb, index finger, middle finger, palm, and wrists and include:

  • Numbness
  • Tightening
  • Weakness
  • Poor grip
  • Tendency to drop things
  • Pins and needles
  • Clumsiness
  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Night pain and tingling in the hand, wrist, and forearm

There are several other possible conditions that need to be ruled out which may have similar symptoms.

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis is easily mistaken with carpal tunnel syndrome in the early stages. This condition causes hand pain and numbness, but the pain is distributed within the larger knuckles and joints.
  • Cervical Radiculopathy is caused by an existing condition within the cervical spine. The symptoms begin when irritation happens to the vertebrae in the neck, compressing the nerves going to the arms, wrists, and hands. Patients will experience neurological symptoms that include pain, numbness, and tingling of the arms and hands.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, the sooner you see medical help the better. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for any medical condition. Any of these are conditions require specialized treatment. Without professional treatment, even minor wrist injuries can cause significant damage and pain. Seeking professional treatment at Apex Center for Regenerative Medicine is an effective method for long-lasting relief.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition that can result from a compressed nerve in the narrow passageway on the underside of the wrist. It is a progressive condition, so it will only get worse and not improve with time. If you seek treatment early on, then we can help to prevent a huge negative impact on your life and livelihood.

, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you experience this, immediately:

  • Avoid any activities that worsen symptoms.
  • Rest the hands and wrists with regular breaks.
  • Applying cold packs to reduce swelling.
  • Seek medical attention.

CAUSES OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Many people contract carpal tunnel from everyday tasks as well as athletic injuries. Diabetes, obesity, fluid retention, menopause, thyroid disorder, or kidney failure can cause Carpal Tunnel. Workplace environments can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome when the job requires flexing the wrist to operate machinery or simply type at a computer. We even have young mothers who are adjusting to carrying the weight of their child have these symptoms.

Treatment should begin with non-invasive options, like changing the way the hands are used, taking a break from activities that aggravate the condition, keeping the wrist in a splint for a period of time, performing therapeutic hand exercises and receiving steroid injections to reduce inflammation.

Taking certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or others will alleviate the pain and some inflamation. If more conservative treatment fails, we may recommend a cortisone injection into the carpal tunnel to help relieve pain and inflammation. At Apex Center for Regenerative Medicine, we perform this injection using ultrasound guidance to ensure precise placement of the medicine.  This also helps avoid placing the needle in the nerve, which can be extremely painful.

If these treatment options do not relieve the symptoms, the next best option is a Sonex Health SX-One MicroKnife for carpal tunnel release procedure. Micro-invasive Carpal Tunnel Release is a procedure that is less invasive than any of the other surgical options available. A single micro-incision of 4-5 mm (which is ten times smaller than the incision required by a traditional CTR surgery) is made. The tiny SX-One MicroKnife is then inserted. Using the guidance of an ultrasound, the physician performs the carpal tunnel release, during which the transverse carpal ligament is cut to relieve some of the pressure on the median nerve.

Following the procedure, the symptoms are relieved without any noticeable scarring. In addition, the procedure keeps the surrounding nerves, blood vessels and tendons safe from damage, resulting in a faster recovery. Patients can return to jobs, sports and daily activities almost immediately following the micro invasive surgery.

Come and speak with Dr. Savarino, a highly skilled physician with over 10 years of experience and expertise in pain management. He has brought cutting-edge technology and new trends in medicine to Central Monmouth County to benefit his patients.  He will be happy to discuss and address your medical questions and concerns with an individualized treatment plan.

While we work extensively with athletes and sports medicine, we do not believe you need to have pain to gain back your health and life.

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