Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and How to Ease Your Pain

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the many conditions treated by Dr. Raul Martinez and his expert team of pain management consultants in San Antonio. You may be experiencing this very common ailment if you’re noticing numbness, weakness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles feeling in your wrist, thumb, index, or middle fingers. In some cases, the forearm can be affected, as well. These sensations tend to start gradually and then come and go intermittently.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the median nerve that runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand.  The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel—a narrow passage of bone and tendon—and provides feeling to the fingers while also controlling small muscles at the base of the thumb.

If you’re feeling discouraged by recurring pains in your hands, learning the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and how to ease your pain can help you regain a sense of control. Depending on the severity and duration of your symptoms, you may want to seek professional help with chronic pain management.

What are the Most Common Symptoms?

Carpal tunnel specialists will tell you that this syndrome most often presents as regular sensations of aching, burning, tingling, and numbness. These symptoms can occur in the middle of the night since many people sleep with flexed wrists. Waking up in pain can seriously disrupt one’s ability to get a healthy amount of sleep, not to mention the pain it usually causes while typing, which can adversely affect your work. It’s easy to see how this kind of pain can negatively impact one’s quality of life.

Repeated, forceful actions that strain the wrist and hand can worsen carpal tunnel syndrome. Avoid these whenever possible. Using a keyboard improperly or using certain power tools that vibrate for extended periods of time can certainly contribute to the worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome. If your work requires these kinds of activities, our Texas pain specialists advise that you take short breaks as often as possible.

Our pain management consultants want to help you manage your symptoms and get your life back in balance. If carpal tunnel syndrome worsens over time, thumb muscles can weaken and shrink, and people report having difficulties holding things in their hands. Carpal tunnel generally only occurs in adults and women are three times more likely than men to be affected.

Can I Manage My Symptoms Without Surgery?

Searching for a “pain specialist near me” can be a vulnerable position. Perhaps you’ve already tried several natural remedies and over-the-counter solutions at home in an attempt to alleviate your pain. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can offer some temporary relief. Wearing a splint during the day and/or at night while you sleep can prevent you from placing too much strain on the wrist joint and aggravating the median nerve. At the office of Dr. Martinez, we offer injections with steroids or other medications that have been effective for many of our patients.

What Else Can I Do to Alleviate My Pain?

If you’ve had limited success with the options you’ve already tried, utilizing our skills and expertise with chronic pain management could be the appropriate next step for you. In some cases, surgery may be an option.  In fact, carpal tunnel surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. Some small amount of residual numbness and weakness is common for many people that choose surgery.

Knowing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and how to ease your pain will help you find the best path forward for your healing. Here in San Antonio, Dr. Raul Martinez and his excellent team of pain management consultants can help you manage your pain and make the best decision for the future of your health. Call us today to schedule an appointment.