Willimantic, CT – If your hands ache after a day at the computer or you can’t open a jar without help, how do you know if it’s a sign of something Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?5 Signs You May Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Stephen Scarangella, MD, director of the Hand Program at Windham Hospital, suggests asking yourself these five questions before making a call to an orthopedic specialist for help with your hand pain and weakness.
“Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is simply a compression of the nerve that runs from the hand through the wrist at what is called the ‘carpal tunnel,’” Dr. Scarangella explains. “It can be caused by repetitive motion at work, injury, rheumatoid arthritis or even obesity. Anything that causes pressure on that nerve can be a problem.”
If you’ve answered yes to most of these questions, he suggests talking to your primary care provider about the possibility that you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A specialist can diagnose the syndrome by talking with you and having x-rays taken of your hand(s) and wrist(s).
Treatment can range from wearing a splint on your affected hand to immobilize it and ease the pressure on the nerve in the carpal tunnel, cortisone injections, physical therapy and/or surgery.
For more information on the Hand Program at Windham Hospital, go to www.windhamhospital.org.
Windham Hospital is a 130-bed, not-for-profit acute care community hospital in Willimantic that provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive medical services to the people living in its 19-town service area in the northeast corner of Connecticut. For more than 75 years, Windham has offered emergency care with access to advanced care via LIFESTAR helicopter services, in partnership with Hartford Hospital, primary care, wound care, Mako robotic-arm assisted hip and knee replacement services, Globus ExcelsiusGPS™ surgical guidance system for spine procedures, a comprehensive cancer program affiliated with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, minimally-invasive surgery using the daVinci® surgical robot, advanced cardiology care and services for the geriatric population through the Center for Healthy Aging.
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Windham Hospital