Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome arises when the median nerve, a major nerve that runs through the arm, wrist and hand, is under abnormal amounts of pressure. For this reason, this syndrome is also sometimes known as median nerve compression. The median nerve, along with several tendons, goes through a small space in your wrist, which is called the carpal tunnel. Since the median nerve controls movement and feeling in your hand, most notably the thumb and first three fingers, compression of this area can lead to symptoms such as:

Symptoms

• Numbness or pain in your forearm, wrist, or hand
• This pain may wake you up at night, may worsen when using your hands (such as typing on a keyboard), and/or may be temporarily alleviated by shaking out your hands
• Tingling sensations in your hand and fingers
• This “pins-and-needles” sensation may spread over your entire hand, or may be concentrated to just a few fingers
• Weakness in your grip or manual dexterity
• Over time, you may notice reduced strength and flexibility in the affected hand and wrist. You may wake up with stiffness and soreness as well.

Carpal Tunnel treatments and surgery from our experienced doctors in Ogden can help eliminate these symptoms.

Causes

There are many different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

• Repetitive motion injuries or overuse of hand/wrist movements
• Autoimmune issues such as rheumatoid arthritis or hypothyroidism
• Diabetes
• Fluid retention from pregnancy or menopause
• Fractures or other trauma to the wrist area

Depending on your unique case and its severity, several different surgery and treatment options may be available for your carpal tunnel syndrome in Ogden. Especially if at-home therapies like rest and ice do not help, it’s important to see a qualified Utah hand doctor right away. When you’re ready to get a professional opinion and treatment plan for your carpal tunnel syndrome, reach out to our office to schedule your appointment with skilled Ogden carpal tunnel syndrome surgery and treatment specialist Dr. Richards.