STEM HEALTH SYSTEMS
Carpal Tunnel Release
What Is Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common problems affecting the hand. It afflicts 13 million Americans 4 with numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers. Left untreated, it can cause long-term debilitation.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. The condition occurs when one of the major nerves in the hand- the median nerve-is compressed as it travels through the wrist.
Get Out Of Pain, Back To Work, And Back To Life!
Carpal Tunnel Release using ultrasound guidance relieves the symptoms of carpal tunnel while minimizing recovey time. Most patients can return to work and the activities they love in 3-6 days!!
Dr. Jondy is now performing SONEX carpal tunnel releases. If you are experiencing these symptoms or have been dealing with carpal tunnel for some time, please make an appointment to discuss your available options or treatments.
Surgical
SONEX Surgery:
The Sonex MicroKnife is inserted through a small incision (~5mm) over the proximal carpal tunnel region. Once in position and the Stealth MicroGuards deployed, the TCL Blade is advanced from the tip of the device to transect, or divide, the transverse carpal ligament. The SX-One MicroKnife is removed and the small incision can be closed with an adhesive strip, bandage or sutures as needed.
Recovery: Most patients can return to work and the activities they love within 3-6 days.
- Most patients only require acetaminophen or NSAIDs for pain management
- Postoperative therapy typically not required
- Immediate motion of the hand for rapid recovery
Dr. Jondy is now performing SONEX carpal tunnel releases. If you are experiencing these symptoms or have been dealing with carpal tunnel for some time, please make an appointment to discuss your available options or treatments.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms:
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually start gradually and include:
Tingling or numbness: You may notice tingling and numbness in your fingers or hand. Usually the thumb and index, middle or ring fingers are affected, but not your little finger. You might feel a sensation like an electric shock in these fingers.
The sensation may travel from your wrist up your arm. These symptoms often occur while holding a steering wheel, phone or newspaper, or may wake you from sleep.
Many people “shake out” their hands to try to relieve their symptoms. The numb feeling may become constant over time.
Weakness: You may experience weakness in your hand and drop objects. This may be due to the numbness in your hand or weakness of the thumb’s pinching muscles, which are also controlled by the median nerve.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve.
Diagnosis:
- Physical examination: Your doctor will conduct a physical examination. He or she will test the feeling in your fingers and the strength of the muscles in your hand.
- X-ray: Some doctors recommend an X-ray of the affected wrist to exclude other causes of wrist pain, such as arthritis or a fracture. However, X-rays are not helpful in making a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Nerve conduction study: In a variation of electromyography, two electrodes are taped to your skin. A small shock is passed through the median nerve to see if electrical impulses are slowed in the carpal tunnel. This test may be used to diagnose your condition and rule out other conditions.
Non-Surgical Treatments:
Wrist splinting: A splint that holds your wrist still while you sleep can help relieve nighttime symptoms of tingling and numbness.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), may help relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome in the short term.
Corticosteroids: Your doctor may inject your carpal tunnel with a corticosteroid such as cortisone to relieve pain and decrease inflammation and swelling which relieves pressure on the median nerve. Sometimes your doctor uses an ultrasound to guide these injections.
