Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Brooklyn, NY
- Wrist vs Neck Evaluation
- Hand Numbness Relief
- Surgery-Free First Options
One of the most common concerns of patients when they come here at Nuro Chiropractic in Brooklyn is carpal tunnel. They tend to be sure of it because once they experience numbness, they conclude that it is already carpal tunnel syndrome. I am Dr. Brian Donovan, and I understand why many are thinking that way, but I tell you that numb hands do not automatically mean you have the same condition.
For example, a compressed median nerve at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, or neck can mimic the same symptoms. The main problem to solve is how we treat your condition and check if it is really the nerve being affected.
How Does it Feel to Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When carpal tunnel syndrome is present, the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. There are specific symptom patterns to observe, such as:
- Numbness or tingling in the thumb
- Symptoms in the index and middle fingers
- Part of the ring finger involved
- Burning or pins and needles sensation
- Worse at night, waking you up
- Shaking the hand to restore feeling
As symptoms become more prevalent, there is a feeling of weakness while gripping, having a hard time opening jars, fine motor tasks difficulties, or even accidentally dropping objects. The last group is the one that I usually put my focus on.
Looking For the Affected Nerve
I will take a look at the wrist and hand as well as the elbow, shoulder, and cervical spine, because nerve symptoms in the hand can begin in various areas too. I will check the sensation, strength, reflexes when appropriate, grip function, and range of motion. Orthopedic and neurological tests are also conducted to help determine if there is median nerve compression at the wrist, aside from the alternatives.
Other conditions that resemble carpal tunnel symptoms, such as cervical radiculopathy, other peripheral nerve entrapments, and certain forms of neuropathy, make it tricky to diagnose.
“When someone’s hand is going numb, treating the right nerve at the right location is much more important than simply treating where they feel the symptoms.”
Dr. Brian Donovan, D.C.If there is uncertainty with the diagnosis, electrodiagnostic testing such as a nerve conduction study and EMG is suggested. It will help us know whether the median nerve is truly compressed, its location, and its severity.
Conservative Treatment in Our Brooklyn Office
- Changing activities and ergonomics, since the wrist is one of the most used parts of the body.
- Putting a wrist splint on at night helps lessen the symptoms.
- Doing mobility and stretching, soft-tissue and manual techniques through the wrist and forearm, and nerve or tendon-gliding exercises when needed.
Mechanical issues must also be resolved even if they are located in the upper limb or cervical area, only if they are deemed to be related to the main problem. It is not reasonable to adjust someone’s neck just because there is numbness in their hands. Diagnosis must be the primary basis at all times.
When Do You Need a Specialist If You Have Carpal Tunnel
You might have prolonged nerve compression if you are experiencing worsening weakness, loss of sensation, or evident muscle wasting around the base of the thumb. Having said so, you’ll need a medical evaluation rather than conservative care.
It is the same if you have severe median nerve involvement confirmed by electrodiagnostic testing. When that happens, I may recommend a neurologist, hand specialist, or orthopedic surgeon, and treatments outside my office, such as an injection or a carpal tunnel release, may be the best options to go for.
It is not reasonable to make someone commit to conservative care just because I provide those services. If your case is just mild and the response to treatment is great, we’ll continue. If there are still no improvements, we give the diagnosis another look. If the continued compression could cause long-term dysfunction, I’ll decide and refer.
Carpal Tunnel FAQs
Is it normal for symptoms to be much worse at night?
The wrist position during sleep is mostly the main reason why night symptoms are usually more prevalent than the symptoms you experience in the day. While sleeping, we are not aware that the wrist is bent for hours; that’s why nighttime splinting helps a lot.
Can carpal tunnel go away on its own?
Conservative care is done for mild and moderate cases; they respond well to that. For serious cases with real nerve involvement is a different scenario. It all depends on your condition, result of the examination, and sometimes from nerve conduction testing.
Is a nerve conduction study required?
Not all the time. It is only recommended when the diagnosis states uncertainty after the examination, symptoms worsen, or if there is a need to know how severe the nerve involvement is. It is an important test if there are questions that need to be answered.
Are hand numbness related to my neck?
There is a possibility, which is why I examine the cervical spine even if the issue points out only in the hand. Sometimes, a nerve root irritated in the neck can signal numbness going to the fingers. Having a wrong diagnosis could lead to wrong treatment, thus wasting time and resources.
Will typing all day make it worse?
It depends on the setup and how long you are not changing your position while typing. Some are not allowed to stop working, but that is not a reason not to make small adjustments. These small adjustments could make a difference, such as wrist position, desk height, breaks, and grip demands.
Be Sure It Is Really Carpal Tunnel
Know where the particular affected nerve is located, know the severity, and select the treatment level that suits your issue. This will save tons of time and resources from treating something at the wrong location.
Nuro Chiropractic, 9408 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209. Serving Bay Ridge, Staten Island, Bensonhurst, Park Slope, Prospect Park, Borough Park, Manhattan, Dyker Heights, Williamsburg, and the greater Brooklyn area.