Dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

You may not be sure about seeing an orthopedic doctor and where to find them; as an athlete, you should find a personal orthopedic doctor. Being an athlete could expose you to bone and muscle injuries that can be fixed by an orthopedic expert. Do not let a sport-related pain cripple your life as you could find help with issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome in Houston. Although the syndrome is associated with bone problems and pain, you could learn about the basics of managing the condition and getting back on track. Your doctor will inform you of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, its risks, and when to see an expert.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve on the palm, and it is caused by pressure on the bones and ligaments on the palm. The repetitive motion on the palm and the wrist could cause the disorder to feel numb, tingling, and weak.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Numbness and tingling

You could have tingling and numbness on the hand, especially when the hand’s median nerve is compressed. The middle, thumb, ring fingers, and the index could be the most affected, but the little finger might not numb. Sometimes, the tingling could feel like an electric shock that could travel way up to the arm on the fingers. If you shake off the hand, you could get a little relief, but the numbness could become constant over time. You might realize that the tingling occurs mostly when holding something like a steering wheel, newspaper, and other times it could be random even in your sleep.

  • Weakness

The arm could be weak, and you could find yourself dropping things; the weakness could be associated with the numbness and compressing of the nerves on the wrist.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Anything like broken wrists, muscle tension, and fractures could compress the nerve. Athletes are at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome since they are prone to injuries on the wrist, and it could help if they had orthopedic care.

When to See an Orthopedic Doctor

Even when you feel like the tingling is only minor, it could escalate into a severe health problem that causes nerve damage when untreated. It could help if you saw an orthopedic doctor as soon as you feel numbness and tingling. You should seek immediate medical attention if carpal tunnel syndrome interferes with your normal activities.

Risk Factors

  • Anatomic issues

If you have a dislocated wrist, deformities, and infections such as arthritis, they could predispose you to carpal tunnel syndrome. The anatomic issues could alter the space between the carpal tunnel and the median nerve, resulting in the nerve’s compression.

  • Nerve damaging conditions

Nerve damage could lead to issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Some conditions such as diabetes and other chronic illnesses could significantly contribute to nerve damage.

The Bottom Line

Carpal tunnel syndrome could result in permanent nerve damage, and it could help if you saw an orthopedic doctor for immediate treatment. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes tingling and numbness on the hand due to compression of the median nerve. You could be at risk of the syndrome if you are prone to injuries in the field or have chronic nerve-damaging conditions.

Author: Robin Gupta