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It might seem quite unlikely that the pain you are experiencing in your neck could have anything to do with what is going on in your wrist. After all, there is quite a lot of real estate between your wrists and your neck, and they are engaged in quite different activities when it comes to moving various parts of your body.

But the fact is, carpal tunnel syndrome can, in some cases, lead to a literal pain in the neck.

Carpal Tunnel and It's Connection to Neck Pain

Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve is pinched in the carpal tunnel at the base of the hand. The median nerve is quite long—running all the way from the tips of the fingers through the wrist, forearm, elbow, humerus, shoulder, and into the neck. With that in mind, it is easier to understand how an issue down near your hands can be causing pain up near your head.

It Is Important to Get the Diagnosis Right With Your Neck Pain

Of course, carpal tunnel syndrome is far from the only thing that could be causing pain in your neck. That is why it is essential that you see a doctor with expertise in nerve issues so that you receive the correct diagnosis.

An incorrect diagnosis might lead to the wrong treatments, which in the end could make the problems you are experiencing far worse rather than better.

What Can Be Done If My Neck Pain Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

If your doctor determines that you are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, they may recommend ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release. This procedure can repair the tunnel that is pinching your medial nerve, which can lead to significant relief from pain—no matter where along the median nerve you have been experiencing that pain.

Dr. Williams Can Help. Contact Our Nerve Pain Specialist Today.

If you are experiencing pain related to a nerve issue, Dr. Eric H. Williams can help you find relief. He offers a full range of effective treatment options, including ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release. Don’t suffer any longer. Contact our clinic today to make an appointment.

Related Links: Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cause Pain All the Way to My Shoulder? Cold Hands and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Why Women Have an Increased Risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Numbness or a feeling of weakness in your hands when holding small objects such as a cellphone is a classic sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition can make many everyday activities difficult to perform, but effective treatment options are available.

How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Affects Fine Motor Skills

The carpal tunnel is a narrow region in your wrist located on the side of the palm. It protects the median nerve, but sometimes there can be too much pressure in this area. The compression of the median nerve leads to the condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The median nerve controls your thumb, which is why it can be difficult to grasp small objects when you have carpal tunnel syndrome. You may notice trouble holding your phone first since this is something that you’re likely to do many times throughout the day. However, as your condition progresses, other simple tasks might become more difficult. Some examples of activities that might be hard to do with carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Opening a bottle of juice or milk
• Chopping vegetables to make a salad
• Gripping the steering wheel of your car
• Holding a pen or pencil
• Buttoning up a dress shirt
• Brushing your teeth
• Applying makeup

As your condition progresses, you may find that you feel clumsy and struggle to tell where your hands are in relation to objects. This is called proprioception.

Getting Treatment for Carpal Tunnel. Contact Our Nerve Pain Specialist Today.

Not being able to complete simple tasks on your own is understandably frustrating. Carpal tunnel release can help you restore your independence.

You may be reluctant to consider carpal tunnel syndrome surgery because of the long recovery time associated with traditional open surgery or an endoscopic procedure. However, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release typically requires a recovery time of just three to six days. Since there’s normally no need for follow-up physical therapy, this is an effective way to help you get back to making the most of each day. Contact our Towson office to learn if this procedure might be the right choice for addressing your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

Related Links: Cold Hands and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Physical Therapy Isn’t Always the Right Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Genetic Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

It’s common knowledge that carpal tunnel syndrome can cause numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands, but many people are surprised to learn that cold hands can also be a symptom of the condition.

How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Can Lead to Cold Hands

The carpal tunnel is a narrow region in the wrist that is located on the side of the palm and protects the median nerve. When there is too much pressure in this area, and the median nerve is compressed, a person develops carpal tunnel syndrome.

Coldness in the hands is due to pressure on the median nerve and a temporary loss of circulation. People with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience cold hands in any weather, but this symptom is generally most noticeable during the winter months.

If you’ve ever used an ice pack on a sprained ankle or another soft tissue injury, you might be wondering why cold hands increase the pain from carpal tunnel syndrome instead of making you feel better. Therapeutic icing is done for 15-20 minutes at a time and is usually alternated with heat therapy. Chronically cold hands occur because blood circulation is being limited through vasoconstriction, which is a normal response of the body to conserve heat. This exacerbates the restricted blood circulation that is already associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Getting Relief From Carpal Tunnel

If you have cold hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome, wearing fingerless gloves to keep your hands and wrists warm may help provide temporary symptom relief. However, if your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms have progressed to the point where the pain is preventing you from doing the activities you enjoy, surgical treatment may be needed. Contact our Towson office to make the right choice for addressing your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

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Shoulder pain is an often overlooked symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the pinching of the median nerve affects more than just your hand. You may experience pain or numbness in every muscle and joint between the tips of the fingers and the cortex of the brain.

How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Can Lead to Shoulder Pain

The carpal tunnel is a narrow region in the wrist that is located on the side of the palm. It protects the tendons that are responsible for bending the fingers, as well as the median nerve. When there is too much pressure in this area, a person can experience weakness, numbness, or tingling in the fingers and hand.

Over time, the entire functionality of a person’s arm can be affected. Shoulder pain can be intense and constant, or it can occur with specific motions such as reaching overhead or behind the back. This can make it difficult to handle everyday tasks as simple as brushing your hair or putting away your groceries after a shopping trip.

Getting a Diagnosis for Carpal Tunnel

Do not attempt to diagnose your condition at home. Although it’s estimated that about 75% of cases of shoulder pain are related to carpal tunnel syndrome, there are a number of other medical problems that can also cause similar pain and limited range of motion. A doctor can perform a full examination to determine if carpal tunnel syndrome is the culprit. Contact our Towson office to learn more about how we can get you back to making the most of each day.

Related Links: Carpal Tunnel FAQs Benefits of Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release How Do I Know If Surgery Is Right for Me?

It’s a common misconception that office workers who spend their days typing at a computer are placing themselves at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. A 2001 study in Neurology conducted by researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offers insight into the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among office workers. This study looked at office workers who used their computer keyboards for six to seven hours per day and did not find an increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome compared to other workers. Only 3.5% of the 250 workers in the study met the diagnostic criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome—a rate that was similar to the general population.

Computer Use Makes Symptoms More Noticeable

While typing doesn’t cause a person to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, it can make the symptoms of the condition more noticeable. Office workers who experience numbness, tingling, and burning in the fingers or pain that travels up the forearm towards the shoulder while typing should consult their healthcare provider for a diagnosis. A doctor can rule out conditions with overlapping symptoms, such as tendonitis.

Office Workers May Have Other Risk Factors

The mistaken belief that typing causes carpal tunnel syndrome may be related to the fact that office workers often have other risk factors for the condition. Women, especially those who are experiencing hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause, have an increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are also known risk factors.

Get Carpal Tunnel Treatment at Our Towson Office

Dr. Eric H. Williams, a nerve expert who specializes in reconstructive surgery and pain relief, knows that the demands of your work may not allow for you to spend several weeks or even months recovering from a traditional endoscopic procedure or open surgery. Learn more about your options for quickly and effectively addressing your carpal tunnel pain by contacting our Towson office.

Related Links: Benefits of Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release Break Free From Carpal Tunnel Pain With Faster Recovery Genetic Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Please note that not every case is the same. There may be factors that change your expected recovery situation, and we will discuss these possibilities with you during your examination.

On average, however, you will be wide awake during the procedure, so no grogginess will be present afterwards.  However, should patients wish to have sedation arrangement for this can be provided in advance.  The total time you should spend with us is about 1 to 2 hours, with a fraction of that being the procedure itself.

Your incision may be closed with adhesive bandages or a single tiny suture if needed, but you will not have to immobilize your wrist. A Band-Aid or light dressing will be applied over the incision.  Standard over-the-counter medication should be all you need to manage discomfort after surgery; however, stronger medication will be prescribed if needed.

Recovery from the soreness of surgery typically takes 3-6 days, compared to weeks with other methods of carpal tunnel release. Resolution of the nerve symptoms of carpal tunnel vary for every patient depending on many factors – including length of time you have had the nerve compression, and the severity of the compression. 

The worse the disease, the longer it can take for the nerve to recover.  Moderate nerve symptoms are expected to resolve very quickly; frequently the symptoms of numbness, tingling, and pain that were present prior to surgery can resolve within hours, days, or weeks.   

There are many! To name several^1,2:

• A small incision (3-5 mm) above wrist crease on the forearm is all that is required compared to open scar on the palm of the hand or a potentially slightly larger incision with and endoscopic releases.
• The procedure itself takes only a matter of minutes.
• Carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance can be performed entirely within our office, with no need for a hospital or surgical center.
• Only local anesthesia is typically required.
• Sutures are rarely needed to close the small incision. Adhesive strips are often enough.
• There is no need for a brace or cast.
• The patient can return to most daily activities almost immediately (though we do emphasize caution – no reason to be fool hearty!
• Most patients will be able to return to work very quickly after surgery, typically within 3-6 days. 

<sub>1. Rojo-Manaute JM, Capa-Grasa A, Chana-Rodriguez F, et al. Ultra-minimally invasive sonographically guided carpal tunnel release: a randomized clinical trial. J Ultrasound Med. 2016 Jun;35(6):1149-1157.
2. Henning PT, Yang L, Awan T, et al. Minimally invasive ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release: preliminary clinical results. J Ultrasound Med. 2018 Nov;37(11):2699-2706.</sub>

How badly the nerve is injured will affect how fast it can recover.  If a nerve is cut in half and sewn together, it can grow at the rate of an inch a month or a millimeter a day.  If the nerve is mildly pinched but still functional, then it can recover function in a few hours or a few days. 

As the nerve compression gets more severe or if it has been compressed a long time, it can take months for nerves to improve.  The nerve will regenerate better in younger patients than in older patients. However, we do see nerve regeneration and functional improvement even in the elderly.

Contact Our Office To Get Help With Nerve Damage Recovery

Dr. Williams can create a treatment plan to help ease your pain and get you back to living pain-free as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment in the Baltimore office, contact us at (410) 709-3868 or fill out our contact form online.

Generally, post-operative instructions call for rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time.  The length of recovery varies with each procedure and is different for each individual.  Bruises usually disappear within a few days, and most swelling is gone in a matter of weeks.  Your scars will fade over time but are permanent.  All patients recover at a different rates.  Patients who have been in pain for years may take a lot longer to heal and feel better than those have have a fairly recent problem.  Those patients who are already taking a large amount of pain medication will require more medication than those who are not taking large doses of medication.  Each patient is a little different.  Those who are more active before surgery and who are able to push through daily activities despite their discomfort, will be more active after surgery.  Our favorite post surgical recovery "therapy" is water therapy.  Getting in a swimming pool and walking in the water does wonders for the lower extremity patients. 

There are several important factors that come into play when deciding whether surgery is the right option for you.  One of the most important factors is your health.  Being in good health greatly reduces the risk of complications occurring during surgery and leads to a speedy recovery.  Next, you need to ask yourself what is your level of pain, discomfort, disability, or functional loss.  Then, you need to understand the common and not so common risks of surgery and the healing process.  Finally, you should be able to express your expectations to your physician.  You should not proceed until you understand to potential risks for a procedure, and have a clear understanding of a reasonable expectation for what can hopefully be achieved.