What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that can cause painful and uncomfortable sensations in your wrist and hand. You might feel pain, tingling, or a "pins and needles" sensation in your fingers, especially in the middle fingers and thumb. Many people wake up with this pain, and it can affect tasks like typing, using a mouse, or doing repetitive activities like lifting or chopping. Carpal tunnel syndrome is sometimes linked to pregnancy, where hormonal changes can affect joint stability and increased physical strain from carrying and feeding. Other factors like obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and menopause can also increase your risk. If not treated, the symptoms can get worse, leading to hand weakness and difficulty holding objects.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Pain?
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve in your wrist gets pressed or squeezed. This nerve passes through a narrow space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel, along with tendons. If the tendons become inflamed or thicker, they can reduce the space in the tunnel, putting pressure on the nerve.
How Can Shockwave Therapy Help?
Shockwave therapy uses sound waves to help heal the tendons and soft tissues in your wrist. It boosts blood flow and helps your body repair itself. Research shows that shockwave therapy is effective and safe for treating mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s often recommended as an option before trying steroid injections or surgery. This therapy can reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and support healing of tendons, muscles, and nerves. Combining shockwave therapy with exercises, stretches, activity modification and wrist splints can be a helpful approach to managing carpal tunnel syndrome.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of shockwave therapy sessions you need can vary depending on how severe your symptoms are and how long you’ve had the condition. Most people require between 6 to 8 sessions to feel better. If your pain is mild, you might need fewer sessions. Treating carpal tunnel syndrome early is usually more effective. If left untreated for too long, it can lead to tendon thickening and muscle weakness, which might require more sessions or other more invasive treatments. It’s best to seek help sooner rather than later to get the best results.
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