Carpal Tunnel

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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Are you experiencing numbness or a tingling sensation in your hand or hands that gets worse with driving, typing, or performing repetitive tasks? Do you wake up at night with pain or numbness in your wrist and hands? These can be symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

This condition results from a compression of the median nerve at the wrist, and has become very common due to today’s abundance of repetitive motion activities. Repetitive work involving the wrist is a major risk factor, along with obesity, pregnancy, and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you think you are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, make an appointment to see Dr. Lies so he can perform a thorough clinical examination. He may request a special test called an EMG, or an electrodiagnostic study.

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Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Various options Dr. Lies will discuss with you regarding treatment for your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may include:

• Splinting: Used for new and mild cases

• Steroid injection: This is usually reserved for pregnant women and atypical presentations, to help confirm diagnosis. Injections have a 20-30% long-term success rate.

• Surgery:  For moderate to severe cases, especially those patients who experience extreme weakness, Dr. Lies may perform a procedure known as endoscopic carpal tunnel release. This is a short surgical procedure which can be performed at our outpatient surgery center. Dr. Lies performs the repair using a very small incision that can be hidden in the wrist crease. Most patients can return to their normal activities shortly after the procedure, usually within a day.