Carpal Tunnel Specialist
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Amish A Naik, MD, PhD
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Hand and Upper Extremity Orthopedic Surgeon located in Jersey City, NJ & Livingston, NJ
If your wrist feels weak, or your fingers are tingly or numb, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Amish Naik, MD, PhD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and offers both nonsurgical and surgical remedies for CTS, so you can get back to work and the activities you love. To find out if your wrist and hand pain is caused by CTS, contact the friendly Amish Naik MD PHD Orthopedic Surgery by phone or use the online form today.
Carpal Tunnel Q & A
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) refers to inflammation in your carpal tunnel that affects the way your wrist, hand, and fingers feel and move. The carpal tunnel is a passageway that runs through your wrist and carries important nerves, tendons, and ligaments that service your thumb and your first three fingers. The nerve that runs through your carpal tunnel that can become pinched or inflamed and cause CTS symptoms is called your median nerve.
What are the symptoms of CTS?
When your carpal tunnel is inflamed, the swollen tendons and ligaments press against your median nerve.
When your median nerve is pinched and irritated, you may develop symptoms such as:
- Numbness in your wrist and fingers
- Tingling sensations
- Wrist weakness
- Weakness in your thumb and fingers
You may feel the pain most intensely when you perform simple tasks, such as trying to open a door or grasping an object.
Why did I develop CTS?
When CTS first started attracting notice some decades ago, most of the people who suffered from it worked on computers or other devices where they had to type repetitively. However, typing is the least likely culprit for CTS. Repetitive movements of your wrist and hand, stress on your hand, and even underlying conditions such as arthritis can cause CTS.
During your consultation with Dr. Naik, he not only conducts a physical examination of your hand and orders imaging studies to diagnose the source of your problem, but he also asks you about your daily activities.
Some types of movements that can cause CTS include:
- Hammering
- Playing a musical instrument
- Painting
- Putting together small objects
- Assembly line work
- Using spray guns and power tools
Dr. Naik also conducts tests that identify any underlying medical conditions that could weaken or inflame the tendons and nerves that run through your carpal tunnel.
Medical conditions can be associated with CTS, too, and these include:
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Gout
Even shifts in your hormone levels, such as during pregnancy or menopause, can cause CTS.
How do orthopedists treat CTS?
If your symptoms are mild, Dr. Naik may recommend simple remedies, such as icing your wrist and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling. He may recommend using a splint to support your wrist and undergoing physical therapy to strengthen your muscles and tendons. In more severe cases, he may recommend corticosteroid injections or arthroscopic surgery to ease pressure on your median nerve.
Get relief from CTS so you can enjoy your daily activities again without pain or irritation. Call the helpful Amish Naik MD PHD Orthopedic Surgery or book an appointment online.
