Learning More About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When it comes to wrist pain las vegas residents should learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome. This is one of the most common causes for pain in the wrist and the pain can become quite severe for some people. This condition occurs when a nerve in the wrist is pinched. Having a better understanding of this condition will help you to cope and get a prompt and accurate diagnosis.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms This condition tends to come on gradually and affects the areas around your index finger, middle finger and thumb. The pain also goes into your wrist and may affect other areas of your hand. At first, the pain may come and go, but over time, it can become constant. Tingling and numbness in these areas are also very common. As the condition progresses, you might find it hard to hold things, such as cups or a phone.
 

Causes and Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

With this condition, the median nerve is compressed. This nerve runs through the wrist through a passageway called the carpal tunnel and then up your forearm. This nerve supplies sensation to all fingers, but your pinkie finger, on the palm side. Several factors increase your risk of carpal tunnel, including a wrist injury that affects the carpal tunnel space, being a female, medical conditions that affect the nerve, repetitively using your wrist in the flex position, inflammatory health conditions, body fluid balance changes and conditions like obesity.

Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Y

our doctor will begin by asking about your symptoms, lifestyle and medical history. He or she will physically examine the wrist and likely send you for X-rays to rule out other causes of wrist pain. To confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel, you will have electromyography and nerve conduction studies to look at electrical discharges in your muscles and in your carpal tunnel, respectively.

Lifestyle Adjustments to Reduce Discomfort

There are many things you can start doing right now to alleviate your discomfort. Make sure to take breaks when you are using your wrist repetitively to give it a break and do frequent stretches throughout the day for your wrists and fingers. At night, you can wear a special splint to keep your wrist in a position that does not further compress the nerve. When you are sleeping, make sure to not rest your head or body on your hands. If you think that carpal tunnel syndrome may be the cause of your discomfort, talk to a wrist pain doctor in Las Vegas. There are a number of treatment options that you can use to alleviate your discomfort so that you do not have to continue to deal with problems like reduced work productivity.