You rely on your wrists and hands for more daily tasks and motions than you can probably count. That makes it all the more important to understand the repetitive use conditions that can harm these areas of your body.
At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Tomball, Kingwood, and The Woodlands, Texas, Dr. Michael L. Blackwell treats many new and existing patients who are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome in one or both wrists.
Here’s what you need to know about this common condition that can cause pain and dysfunction in your wrists and hands.
Your wrists contain ligaments, bones, and nerves. The carpal tunnel of ligament and bone is located in each wrist and contains your median nerve. This median nerve runs all the way from your shoulder down toward your thumb.
You can develop carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of repetitive motions that stress the ligament of your carpal tunnel. When the ligament in your carpal tunnel is stressed, it can grow thicker. That puts pressure on your median nerve, resulting in symptoms like shooting pain and numbness.
Activities that increase your risk for carpal tunnel syndrome include working with vibrating handheld equipment and working at a computer, as well as sports like golf. Any activity that repetitively stresses your wrist can lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome eventually.
Without the right prevention and treatment strategies, carpal tunnel syndrome worsens over time. You might start to feel additional symptoms of pain in your shoulder, and experience loss of grip and weakness in your wrist.
You can do a lot to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from ever developing. Dr. Blackwell and the team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine can advise you on your risks and the best strategies to protect your hands, wrists, and shoulders.
You may need to:
In advanced cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, you may need to avoid repetitive stress motions for an extended amount of time to rest your wrists, potentially inconveniencing you at work or at play.
Dr. Blackwell can also provide surgical carpal tunnel release. To avoid lengthy recovery times, practice good prevention habits to protect your hands, wrists, and arms.
To learn more about your hand and wrist health, and what you can do to reduce your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, contact Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Schedule your consultation online, or call now to book.
