Whether you’re typing your resume or tossing a baseball, carpal tunnel syndrome can impede your ability to perform. Dr. Maury Harwood of Harwood Orthopedics, located in Morgan Hill, California has extensive experience in diagnosing and remedying carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re suffering from numbness, weakness, or tingling in your hand, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Call or book an appointment online with Dr. Harwood. He serves patients throughout Morgan Hill and South San Jose.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects 3 million Americans each year, is a painful condition that affects your carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in your wrist. It occurs when tendons in your hand become inflamed and swollen, which places pressure on the median nerve in your hand.
In most cases, carpal tunnel syndrome progresses and gets worse over time as the swelling continues to irritate the nerve in your hand.
Common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is normally caused by a combination of factors. Women and older adults are at a higher risk of developing the condition.
Some other risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Dr. Harwood performs a thorough evaluation to determine the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome, then works with you to develop nonsurgical treatment options to stop the progression of the condition. He may prescribe a brace that you wear on your wrist at night or during the day to keep your wrist, which relieves pressure on the median nerve. You might take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications and work with him to make changes in how you use your hands at work or in everyday activities.
If these more conservative treatments don’t provide sufficient relief, Dr. Harwood may administer steroid injections or discuss surgical treatment options with you.