May 26, 2012
Topics A-Z Pain What specialist to see for a possible Carpal tunnel syndrome?
What specialist to see for a possible Carpal tunnel syndrome? |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I have been having pain in my left hand from the wrist, pam and fingers. my doctor did an x-ray, tested uric acid, cholestral,r factor, all came through normal. he gave a splint to wear on my arm but the pain is getting worse. i intend to travel some 350km to a big hospital to see a specialist but am not sure who exactly to see. should it be a bone specialst or who. please help. the arm is not swollen Dear Doreen: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease of the hand characterized by numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness. The disease typically affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers and is often particularly troublesome at night. A major nerve, specifically the median nerve, travels down the arm and enters the hand through the carpal tunnel, which is located in the central part of the wrist. In people with carpal tunnel syndrome, pressure in the carpal tunnel is higher than in unaffected people, and median nerve irritation occurs. The first line of treatment for mild carpal tunnel syndrome is to wear a wrist brace. This has been shown to relieve the symptoms from the carpal tunnel by placing the wrist in a neutral position and reducing the nerve irritation. Splinting is usually tried for a period of 4-6 weeks. Some people wear their splints at night only and others wear their splints both day and night, depending upon when the symptoms are at their worst. I recommend to have an evaluation by a Hand Surgeon. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 January 2012 ) |
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