If you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other medical conditions, plus certain workplace risk factors, it is possible you could be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. When is it time to see a specialist for carpal tunnel syndrome? The short answer is you will know by the increasing symptoms.
What Causes Carpal Syndrome?
The median nerve is one of the main nerves in our hand, but it starts as a group of nerves located in our neck. They come together to form a single nerve in the arm which moves down the arm and forearm and passes through the carpal tunnel located in the wrist, then into the hand.
This nerve gives us feelings in our thumb, index, and ring finger. If the median nerve becomes compressed, the symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness in both your hand and arm. Anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve can lead to carpal tunnel.
Some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be reduced by resting your arm and hand and/or wearing a splint at night for several weeks.
When Is It Time To See A Specialist?
Once the symptoms become severe enough to interfere with your job or daily activities, it is probably time to see a specialist. They can start gradually but will continue to get worse over time if you don’t seek treatment.
Some of the symptoms to prompt a visit with OrthoNY include the following:
- Weakness in your thumb, fingers and hand.
- Numbness, tingling or pain in your hand and fingers for more than two weeks.
- Symptoms that affect your ability to do your job
- If you are unable to bring your thumb and index finger together
- Difficulty holding objects in your hand
Should you abruptly lose feeling in your hand, fingers, or arm, seek immediate medical attention by visiting an emergency room.
Without proper treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome you can have permanent complications and nerve damage.
Don’t wait to contact OrthoNY if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
For further information, please call (518) 489-2663. or request an appointment online to schedule an appointment with one of our locations across the Capital Region.