Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve where it passes through the wrist, causing numb, tingling fingers and a weak grip. Physical therapy works on the wrist, the nerve and how you use your hands, and also supports recovery after surgery. Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats carpal tunnel in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Numb fingers: what carpal tunnel is and what you feel
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage on the inside of the wrist that protects the median nerve and the tendons that bend your fingers. When it narrows, the nerve is squeezed.
Which fingers
The thumb, index and middle fingers go numb or tingle. Pain in the wrist and hand and swelling in the hand and fingers are possible too.
Why nights are worse
Many people have hand numbness at night because the wrist curls while they sleep and fluid collects in the hand. Waking up shaking out tingling hands is a typical story.
Weak grip
Dropping things and trouble holding a cup or tool are common. Wrist pain from typing is another route in.
Why the tunnel narrows
The tunnel is a fixed space, so anything that swells the tissue inside or keeps the wrist bent for long stretches raises the pressure on the nerve. Typing with the wrists bent, gripping a tool for hours or sleeping with the wrists curled all do it. Your physical therapist looks at the habits and positions of your day, not only the wrist.
What brings carpal tunnel on
- Repetitive hand work such as assembly-line work and keyboard use
- An injury to the wrist
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
Carpal tunnel without surgery: what we try first
For mild to moderate carpal tunnel, physical therapy can relieve symptoms and is a reasonable first step before surgery is considered. Your physical therapist evaluates your wrist, hand, elbow and neck to find where the nerve is under pressure.
Care centers on nerve and tendon gliding exercises that help the nerve move freely, manual therapy, and grip strengthening. Ergonomic and workstation training changes the positions that squeeze the nerve at work. Where it fits, we add deep tissue laser therapy or Therapeutic Ultrasound.
Carpal tunnel release recovery
If your doctor recommends carpal tunnel release surgery, physical therapy comes after it. We help you restore wrist and finger motion, manage the scar and swelling, and rebuild grip and use of the hand for work and daily tasks. See post-surgical rehab for how we approach recovery.
If your job is the cause, work injuries explains how we help with that. During pregnancy, when carpal tunnel is common, see prenatal and postpartum care or call us to talk through options.
When the tingling is not from the wrist
The neck
A pinched nerve in the neck can send tingling into the whole hand. If your symptoms change with neck position, see Neck Pain.
Other wrist problems
General wrist pain without numbness is covered under hand and wrist pain. Numbness in both hands and feet from diabetes is a different problem; see peripheral neuropathy.
Carpal tunnel care in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats Carpal tunnel at our Hot Springs clinic, 1880 Airport Rd., Suite C.
Not sure whether your plan needs a referral? Call us. As a courtesy, we verify your health benefits before you arrive.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.