Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Who Is Affected by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

A few different factors can affect your risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, but for most patients, this is a degenerative condition. In other words, it’s caused over time by repeated movements and continued exposure to posture and positioning that compresses your nerves.

Carpal tunnel can affect anyone, including people who engage in regular activities like working or playing games. Some activities that could result in carpal tunnel include: 

• Working at a computer all day (especially with an improper work setup)
• Gaming and using a controller for long periods of time
• Playing a sport that requires repetitive, small movements of the hand or wrist
• Performing a manual labor job that requires repetitive, small movements of the hand or wrist

Your orthopedic provider will likely consider family history or related health conditions before diagnosing your symptoms as carpal tunnel. This could include: 

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Arthritis
• Thyroid issues

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are: 

• Pain or numbness in the wrist, hand, and fingers
• Weakness in the hand and limited ability to grip objects tightly
• Tingling sensation in the fingers, also called “pins and needles”
• Feeling of swollenness in your fingers
• Burning or tingling, especially in your thumb, index, and middle fingers
• Worsening symptoms at night 

It’s important to note that many of the symptoms of carpal tunnel apply to other conditions, so before diagnosing yourself at home and trying drugstore treatments, we recommend visiting an orthopedic provider. A qualified specialist can properly diagnose you and create a plan for prevention of worsening symptoms, provide treatment, or discuss surgery or other next steps if your symptoms are limiting your activity. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management and Prevention

There are several treatment options available for carpal tunnel syndrome, depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases can often be treated with rest and the use of wrist splints. In more severe cases, corticosteroid injections may be necessary to reduce inflammation and pain. If non-surgical treatments are not effective, surgery may be recommended.

At OrthoCarolina, we have a strong focus on finding the right treatment solution for our patients' active lifestyles - so they can keep doing what they love most. If you start to feel any of the symptoms that align with carpal tunnel syndrome, a visit with our orthopedic specialists is the first step. Management and prevention are key to our treatment plans, regardless of your lifestyle or activities.

Carpal Tunnel Management for Gamers

As gaming continues to grow as a hobby and professional sport, carpal tunnel is a major concern for our gamer patients. 

As with any progressive orthopedic concern, there are always preventive measures to take, so you can comfortably maintain your chosen activities for the long haul. Common preventative measures include: 

• Wrist splinting
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Rest
• Proper equipment setup–ergonomic modifications can put you in a better position or posture to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome 

With the help of an orthopedic specialist, you can develop a preventative care routine that’s managed and monitored by a highly trained, medically certified specialist.

Carpal Tunnel Management for Employees

Carpal tunnel can appear in individuals across a multitude of industries, including a traditional 9 to 5 job with lots of computer time or in a field that requires more manual labor, especially of the hands and wrists. 

Preventive measures for computer employees or manual laborers will generally include assessment of your work setup, management of rest, and education about better posturing and techniques to use during your work hours. Additionally, splinting with a wrist wrap or taking an anti-inflammatory medication can be used to prevent symptoms from worsening.

Carpal Tunnel Management for Athletes

Sports medicine is a major branch of orthopedic care, and OrthoCarolina knows that management of joints, bones, and ligaments is key for our athletic patients. 

Whether you’re training as a tennis pro, or the star player of your weekend pickleball team, our orthopedic specialists are here for prevention, management, and treatment of your wrist and hand health. 

Similar to any patient who’s concerned about carpal tunnel, our team at OrthoCarolina will properly assess your symptoms and suggest a regimen that’s appropriate to your lifestyle. You can make an appointment with our treatment team, and ensure that your athletic abilities will be nurtured with care and specialized treatment.