best Carpal Tunnel Doctors in Tennesse
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Doctors in Knoxville, Tennessee
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery
When carpal tunnel syndrome keeps you from writing, typing, or playing your favorite sport without pain, there’s a lot that the orthopedic specialists at Tennessee Orthopaedic Specialists can do to cool the inflammation that’s causing your pain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome FAQ
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the wrist. This is often due to repetitive hand or wrist motions, inflammation, or arthritis.
How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed?
Our orthopedic hand specialists will evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and may use nerve studies or imaging to confirm the diagnosis.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms?
Patients often experience numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the hand, wrist, or fingers. Many notice trouble gripping objects, writing, or typing comfortably.
What Treatments are Available?
Treatment may include activity modification, wrist bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, or steroid injections. If symptoms persist, minimally invasive carpal tunnel surgery can provide lasting relief.
When is Surgery Recommended?
Surgery is typically recommended if non-surgical treatment does not improve symptoms or if you are experiencing persistent numbness or weakness that affects daily activities.
WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve that runs down your arm, through your wrist, and into your hand. When the median nerve passes through your wrist, it goes through what is called the carpal tunnel. When the carpal tunnel is inflamed and swollen, typically from overuse, it pinches the nerve, which results in pain, tingling, and numbness.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include the following, which you will notice in your hand, wrist, and fingers:
- Weakness
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Pain
- Trouble holding a pen or writing
- Difficulty typing
- Poor grip strength
TREATMENTS FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Carpal tunnel syndrome is highly treatable. Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome that we recommend in our offices in East Tennessee include:
- Lifestyle changes – A great deal of the time, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by overuse of the hand and wrist. It is particularly common among writers, painters, mechanics, and people who do repetitive motions with their hands. Avoiding the movements that aggravate your condition may be all you need to feel better.
- Bracing – Wearing a brace can stabilize your wrist while the swelling in your carpal tunnel heals.
- Medication – Anti-inflammatory medication can reduce the inflammation in your carpal tunnel so the median nerve is no longer compressed.
- Carpal tunnel surgery – In some cases, surgery is necessary to provide complete relief from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel surgery increases the size of the carpal tunnel so that the median nerve can slide through without becoming compressed.
Our Hand & Wrist Surgeons
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