Do you feel numbness or tingling in your fingers? Do you often wake up in the middle of the night with the need to shake out your wrist or hand? Have you been having increased difficulties with talking on the phone, reading, and other typical activities? If yes, it’s time to visit Dr. Bobby Bilitsis at Prestige Health and Wellness.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is considered one of the most common entrapment neuropathies, affecting around 3-6% of the adult population. This disorder can make it hard for people to complete day-to-day activities. Fortunately, there can be various treatment options to ease the symptoms of this condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome often feels like:
- Weakness or numbness in the hand or wrist
- Burning sensation
- Pain that disrupts sleep
Keep reading to learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome and the best treatment options in Manhattan, NYC.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
When we hear the term carpal tunnel, we often think something is wrong. However, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway from the wrist to the hands made up of ligaments, bones, nerves, and tendons. One major nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel is the median nerve. It plays a critical role — providing function and feeling to the hand, wrist, and forearm.
However, when the media nerve becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, this is known as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms often start slowly, presenting as mild and sporadic. In addition, symptoms may appear in different places depending on the activity, your wrist position, or even the time of day. In fact, many of the patients at Prestige Health and Wellness initially came to us because the symptoms were rousing them from sleep or causing them to drop objects.
Some of those symptoms might include:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms in the Hands
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation
- Pain in the thumb, pointer, and middle finger
- Difficulty with certain activities, such as reading and driving
- Hands feeling cold
- Swollen hands
Advanced carpal tunnel syndrome may even affect someone’s ability to open doors, button clothes, and more.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms in the Wrist/Forearm
- Wrist pain
- Intermittent shock-like sensations
- Numbness or weakness that radiates through the hand, wrist, and up to the forearm
- Disruption of sleep with the need to ‘shake out’ your wrist and forearm
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs from pressure on the median nerve, potentially from frequently bending the wrist or partaking in prolonged wrist movement. This can include activities such as writing, typing, driving, and more.
The second most common cause for this condition is trauma or injury to the wrist. This can include a sprain, fracture, or a broken bone, which can cause swelling.
Other reasons a patient may develop carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Inflammatory conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and other conditions that cause inflammation of the joints can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Pregnancy: When pregnant, the body tends to retain much more fluid, which can increase pressure.
- Metabolic disorders: Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, can cause glycosylation and inflammation of the tendons. This further promotes stretching of the tendons, which results in swelling.
Interestingly, research also shows that women are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Manhattan, NYC
Carpal tunnel syndrome can impact a person’s day-to-day life. Therefore, Dr. Bobby Bilitsis feels that it’s vital for individuals to get carpal tunnel syndrome relief as early as possible.
Non-surgical treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Chiropractic Care
Our experienced Manhattan chiropractors will use techniques that reduce swelling in the carpal tunnel and boost blood flow to help restore function. Over time, this should help you achieve relief. Research even shows that people with carpal tunnel syndrome saw improvement from manipulative therapy of the wrist and cervical spine.
Acupuncture
Manhattan acupuncture services are another successful way to combat symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. One study found that acupuncture helped reduce pain by over 50% in patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Our certified acupuncturists can help formulate an individualized plan to help bring you relief from the painful symptoms of this condition.
Occupational and Physical Therapy
Manhattan occupational therapy and physical therapy are also beneficial. Our team can provide ergonomic assessments to help people with carpal tunnel syndrome navigate daily life. We’ll also examine possible techniques and strategies to prevent flare-ups and further strains.
Massage Therapy
One study assessed the impact of participants with carpal tunnel syndrome receiving 30 minutes of massage twice a week for six weeks. The results revealed a significant change in symptom severity and functional status by week two. Therefore, allow our team of Manhattan massage therapists to assist you in restoring your quality of life.
Achieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief in Manhattan
Carpal tunnel syndrome can hinder your daily life, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Connect with Prestige Health and Wellness to learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome relief. We look forward to working with patients to get them on a path to wellness once more.
Book an appointment for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment in Manhattan, or call our office at 212-393-4673 to speak with our compassionate staff.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our locations in Manhattan NYC: