Carpal Tunnel
Sports Medicine & Non-Surgical Orthopedic Physicians located in Boulder, CO
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common overuse injury, affecting 1%-5% of American adults. It’s commonly associated with manual jobs, like construction, but it also affects white-collar workers. At Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics in Boulder, Colorado, sports medicine specialists offer nonsurgical, minimally invasive care for carpal tunnel syndrome. Call Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics today to schedule a carpal tunnel consultation, or book your appointment online.
It’s likely. Carpal tunnel, or carpal tunnel syndrome, occurs when the median nerve –– a nerve that helps you move your wrist, forearm, and fingers –– is compressed or pinched by bones or surrounding ligaments.
Most carpal tunnel pain is mild and improves independently with rest and activity changes. But if your symptoms continue for days or weeks, seek a diagnosis right away.
Carpal tunnel symptoms include:
As carpal tunnel gets worse, routine tasks, like buttoning your shirt or brushing your teeth, become more and more difficult.
No. Carpal tunnel affects people from all backgrounds and occupations. It’s more common in people who use hand tools or perform repetitive motions at work. But it also affects athletes and those who use their hands or wrists for hobbies, like knitting.
Your Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and examines your hand and wrist, checking for redness, swelling, and bruising. Next, they complete several tests, including:
During this test, your provider lightly taps on your median nerve. If the tapping causes tingling or numbness in your fingers, you likely have carpal tunnel.
During this test, you place your elbows on a table and allow your wrists to fall forward freely. If you have carpal tunnel, this causes tingling and numbness in your fingers within about 60 seconds.
If your provider suspects another health problem, like arthritis, they order X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics uses minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatments to manage carpal tunnel. They can suggest:
After 4-6 weeks of conservative treatments, you can add hand-based activities, like throwing and rock climbing, to your schedule.
Call Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics today to schedule carpal tunnel treatment, or book your appointment online.