Carpal Tunnel Injection

What is a Carpal Tunnel Injection?

A Carpal Tunnel Injection is a method used to help diagnose the source of pain in the hand and simultaneously provide relief by delivering anti-inflammatory medication into the carpal tunnel area of the wrist.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The carpal tunnel is an area in your wrist that the median nerve and tendons inhabit. The carpal tunnel runs through your forearm directly to your hand. Carpal tunnel affects up to 3% of Americans. This occurs when this narrow passageway on the side of your palm composed of bones and ligaments experiences disabling pain. This member of the body controls sensation and movement in the thumb and first three fingers. When the passageway is compressed it results in numbness, tingling, weakness or pain in the hand. This pressure on the passageway directly affects carpal tunnel syndrome. These sensations all contribute to the syndrome. This condition may be caused by repetitive movements, hand-arm vibration and working in awkward positions for a long period of time. It can be closely associated to work related tasks.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain and tingling throughout the hands.
Pressure and pain occurring mainly in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger
Weakness throughout the hands
Lack of sleep due to pain at night
Swollen fingers that create daily obstacles
Difficulty gripping things with hands
Complications performing basic hand functions
Problems with sensation within the hand
Dry skin throughout the hand

Individuals who suffer from the following are more susceptible

Trauma
Fractures
Pregnancy
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Broken bones
Dislocated bones
Bone spurs
A Ganglion Cyst

Frequently Asked Questions

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A CARPAL TUNNEL INJECTION?

Patients suffering from all or some of the signs and symptoms listed above are qualified for the carpal tunnel injection. If you have any further questions about your eligibility for the injection, feel free to contact us today.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT CARPAL TUNNEL FROM HAPPENING TO ME?

Keep your wrists straight. Avoid long bouts of repeated hand movement. Maintain good hand posture. Make sure your daily activities and work is does not hinder the comfort of your hands.
If you are typing make sure your hands are higher than your wrists. Relax your shoulders. Maintain hand and wrist movements that evenly spread pressure throughout those central areas. Steer clear of constant texting and phone time to avoid repetitive movement that could hinder your hand’s health. Make sure you take breaks when you are doing repetitive movements or motions to prevent carpal tunnel.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET CARPAL TUNNEL?

People suffering from obesity, hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes, pregnancy and trauma are more likely to be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. Women are also three times more likely to get carpal tunnel. People with highly repetitive jobs are also easily affected by carpal tunnel syndrome as well.

AFTER TREATMENT, WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO PREVENT WORSENING CARPAL TUNNEL SYMPTOMS?

To keep carpal tunnel syndrome at bay you can take care and maintain a healthy weight. Avoid smoking. Stay active and exercise to keep hands strong and spry. Try a wrist splint to correct pains from worsening. One easy exercise you can try to ease your carpal tunnel would be to put hands together, separate fingers and push fingers together and apart. You could also shake hands to loosen them up.

HOW WILL THE INJECTION TAKE EFFECT?

The injection can alleviate carpal tunnel pain and last weeks to months at a time. Each patient’s response to the injection is different. Be sure and talk to our doctors to gain knowledge as to what your outcome could entail.

Treatment

At Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine we offer Carpal tunnel treatment. This treatment involves an injection that is inserted into the inflamed tissues to reduce pain. The injection serves the inflamed tissues by lessening the pain. The injection is an easier alternative to surgical options. The treatment is quick and easy as the injection is inserted into the targeted area. This treatment helps patients by sending quick relief and helping heal their syndrome. The injection helps normalize nerve activity. During the injection there will be slight discomfort. If left untreated, symptoms could become constant and worsen over time. Other problems like permanent nerve damage, disability and loss of hand function could result from leaving symptoms untreated.

What to expect after the injection:

You may encounter minor numbness and relief following the injection.
Decreased stress about your carpal tunnel.
Reduced swelling in the wrist.
Every patient is different, some may experience a two to three day period for the injection to dramatically take effect.
The injection will decrease inflammation, once the inflammation deteriorates so will the pain.
Remain aware of the effects of the injection, so you can inform your doctor and they can adjust accordingly.