Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common type of nerve impingement in the wrist. CTS occurs when any of the structures surrounding the carpal tunnel gets inflamed. The carpal tunnel is the narrow passageway on the anterior part of the wrist through which the median nerve passes. The inflammation consequently compresses the median nerve, which is responsible for providing sensation and motor function to the hand.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes burning pain, tingling sensation, and weakness in the hand, any of which may radiate up the arm. When left untreated, CTS can cause damage to the median nerve and chronic weakness in the muscles innervated by it.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of CTS, you need to see a hand doctor to avoid any of the complications. Your hand doctor will run specific tests to confirm a diagnosis and recommend the appropriate course of treatment, which typically starts with conservative interventions. Surgery stands as the last resort, which means your hand doctor will only recommend it when all the other treatment methods fail to provide satisfactory relief.
Let’s learn about the various nonsurgical treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome and where to get them in Lutherville and Baltimore, Maryland.
Oral Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are typically the first-line treatment for inflammation and pain associated with CTS.
If your symptoms don’t respond to NSAIDs, your hand doctor may give you a more potent alternative—oral corticosteroids.
Steroid Injections
For cases of CTS whose symptoms are not alleviated by NSAIDs, steroid injections provide significant relief for up to several months, although they have risks, which you might have to consider discussing with your hand doctor.
Wrist Splinting or Bracing
If you have mild to moderate CTS, your hand doctor will likely recommend either splinting or bracing your wrist for three weeks or so to neutralize its position. This can help prevent your wrist from bending, thereby taking pressure off the median nerve.
Both methods are especially helpful for people whose symptoms tend to worsen for a few weeks before subsiding.
Your hand doctor may advise that you take off your wrist splint or wrist brace or wiggle your hand every now and then to prevent your joints from stiffening.
Physical Therapy
Your hand doctor will likely recommend physical therapy in conjunction with the options mentioned above to enhance the treatment outcome.
Your physical therapist will teach you therapeutic exercises to help ease the pressure on your median nerve. Your physical therapist may also employ ultrasound therapy, which involves the use of continuous, low-frequency sound waves to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissues. A study indicates that ultrasound therapy provides excellent short- to medium-term pain relief to patients with mild to moderate CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment in Lutherville and Baltimore, MD
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our board-certified hand doctors offer the latest, highly effective nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for the full range of injuries and conditions that affect the upper extremity. Whether it’s carpal tunnel syndrome, hand or arm fracture, hand deformity, or arthritis, we have successfully handled even the worst cases and have helped scores of patients in our community live pain-free lives. We can help you, too!
To schedule a consultation with one of our hand surgeons, call us today at (410) 296-6236. You may also use our convenient request-an-appointment form online.
