If you are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, you are most likely looking forward to getting treatment and being normal again. The tingling, numbness and pain associated with this problem can range from mildly annoying to extremely painful.
Carpal tunnel syndrome often occurs in conjunction with other underlying conditions, so your doctor will check for problems like arthritis, low thyroid function, and other ailments. If it turns out that you have one of these conditions, treating them will be the first step.
If you are suffering from inflammation of the tissues surrounding the affected area of your wrist, your doctor is likely to prescribe NSAIDS or other drugs to reduce the swelling. Sometimes this is sufficient to relieve your symptoms, since the nerve compression will not be as severe as the swelling goes down.
The most critical thing is to avoid permanent nerve damage to the area. If you suffer from muscle weakness in your hand, you may be assigned certain exercises that are specifically designed to strengthen the area once your symptoms are under control.
It's important to treat the condition to avoid permanent nerve damage. If you have experienced a loss of muscle strength in your hand, you will be given an exercise regimen to help rebuild strength after you have gotten relief from your symptoms.
Another common treatment for the condition involves injections of corticosteroids to reduce the pain and inflammation. This treatment can be very effective in relieving pain, but if you are diabetic you should exercise caution, since corticosteroids may have an effect on insulin levels.
In most cases, you will be advised to adjust your activities and avoid tasks that may exacerbate your symptoms. If you cannot avoid these activities entirely, you'll need to take breaks often so that your wrists get rest from the continual strain.
After you've been on your treatment routine for several weeks, your doctor may want to follow up with you to check on the progress of your symptoms. If you notice that your painful symptoms are diminishing, chances are you'll continue with the same treatment regimen. If you are getting worse, you may be referred for further testing; your doctor may want to discuss the possibility of surgery to correct the problem.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is performed by cutting the ligament that comprises the top of the tunnel that the median nerve runs though. This alleviates the pressure on the nerve to end your painful symptoms. While the surgery is usually a success, you may experience residual numbness and pain if you have already suffered irreversible nerve damage. After the surgery, it's important to rest your wrist for several weeks to let it heal.
If you'd rather not have surgery, you may want to try exercises and stretches to gain a measure of relief. A physical therapist may also be able to help you design a plan to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome often occurs in conjunction with other underlying conditions, so your doctor will check for problems like arthritis, low thyroid function, and other ailments. If it turns out that you have one of these conditions, treating them will be the first step.
If you are suffering from inflammation of the tissues surrounding the affected area of your wrist, your doctor is likely to prescribe NSAIDS or other drugs to reduce the swelling. Sometimes this is sufficient to relieve your symptoms, since the nerve compression will not be as severe as the swelling goes down.
The most critical thing is to avoid permanent nerve damage to the area. If you suffer from muscle weakness in your hand, you may be assigned certain exercises that are specifically designed to strengthen the area once your symptoms are under control.
It's important to treat the condition to avoid permanent nerve damage. If you have experienced a loss of muscle strength in your hand, you will be given an exercise regimen to help rebuild strength after you have gotten relief from your symptoms.
Another common treatment for the condition involves injections of corticosteroids to reduce the pain and inflammation. This treatment can be very effective in relieving pain, but if you are diabetic you should exercise caution, since corticosteroids may have an effect on insulin levels.
In most cases, you will be advised to adjust your activities and avoid tasks that may exacerbate your symptoms. If you cannot avoid these activities entirely, you'll need to take breaks often so that your wrists get rest from the continual strain.
After you've been on your treatment routine for several weeks, your doctor may want to follow up with you to check on the progress of your symptoms. If you notice that your painful symptoms are diminishing, chances are you'll continue with the same treatment regimen. If you are getting worse, you may be referred for further testing; your doctor may want to discuss the possibility of surgery to correct the problem.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is performed by cutting the ligament that comprises the top of the tunnel that the median nerve runs though. This alleviates the pressure on the nerve to end your painful symptoms. While the surgery is usually a success, you may experience residual numbness and pain if you have already suffered irreversible nerve damage. After the surgery, it's important to rest your wrist for several weeks to let it heal.
If you'd rather not have surgery, you may want to try exercises and stretches to gain a measure of relief. A physical therapist may also be able to help you design a plan to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
About the Author:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is often the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself. If you think you might be suffering from CTS, follow this link to learn some simple carpal tunnel exercises that can help stop the progression of CTS and ease existing symptoms.
No comments:
Post a Comment