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Carpal tunnel syndrome is thought to affect 3-6% of working U.S. adults at any given point in time. Carpal tunnel can cause pain in the wrist and hand, cramping, numbness, and other issues that make it hard to function.
At the South Bay, Torrance, California offices of Dr. David Wu, an interventional pain management specialist, you can receive treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and learn how to prevent the damage to your wrist from becoming worse.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an injury caused by repetitive use. The median nerve runs from the forearm down the inside of your arm and through your wrist to the palm of your hand. As it passes through the wrist, the nerve travels through an extremely narrow passage called the carpal tunnel, made up of ligaments, tendons, and small bones.
If there is any inflammation in the tunnel, the nerve can become compressed, leading to eventual permanent nerve damage. Having small bone structure can increase your chances of CTS, as can working a job that requires repetitive hand and wrist motions, like typing or data entry. This makes women up to four times more likely to develop carpal tunnel than men. Men with carpal tunnel typically work manual labor jobs, like construction.
The very first symptoms likely to show up if you are developing CTS are numbness or tingling of your first two fingers and your thumb, or cramping in the wrist or palm. Over time, symptoms of CTS can become more severe, and include:
If you work at an office job, using ergonomic body positions and tools can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and mitigate the effects of CTS if you have developed any symptoms. Use these tips to create an entire ergonomic workspace:
If you have already developed severe CTS, Dr. Wu can help. He can recommend a custom orthotic to help position your wrists and hands more precisely to avoid compression or give you steroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain. Alternately, you may be a candidate for wrist surgery to correct the damage.
Ready to say goodbye to wrist and hand pain? Contact our office at 424-232-8930 or make an appointment online today.
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