Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-

Oklahoma City Prolotherapy

It all starts with a tingling in your hands, perhaps some numbness, and before you know it, your entire arm is in pain or your hand doesn’t function properly. This progression is not uncommon when it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, which is why seeking help sooner rather than later is so important. At Venturis Chiropractic & Prolotherapy, Dr. Alvin Philipose specializes in treating this debilitating wrist problem in his patients in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas in Oklahoma.

Here’s a look at carpal tunnel syndrome and what measures we can take to give you full function and feeling in your hand again. Here is some Carpal tunnel syndrome basics.

Your median nerve travels down your arm and into your hands through your carpal tunnel, which is located on the underside of your wrist. This important nerve controls the feeling and movement of your thumb and all fingers except your pinky. Like any good tunnel, your carpal tunnel doesn’t only provide passage for your median nerve. Crowding this tight passageway, which only measures an inch wide, are nine flexor tendons that pass through, allowing your fingers to bend. To help these flexor tendons move freely, they’re surrounded by synovium, which are tissues that provide lubrication. If your synovium swells within the tight confines of your carpal tunnel, it puts pressure on your median nerve, usually causing numbness and tingling to start. If the swelling isn’t addressed, it doesn’t go away on its own and often becomes worse, making the numbness seem far preferable to the radiating pain and loss of function that further compression of the nerve can cause.

Since CTS is a gradual condition, this provides Dr. Alvin Philipose ample opportunity to get in there to relieve the swelling, starting out with more conservative measures. After examining your wrist, both visually and with advanced imaging, he may also use an ultrasound study to measure how severely your median nerve is affected. With a diagnosis in hand, he can determine the best course of action.

To start, a simple brace may be the answer to your problem. By immobilizing your wrist into a straight or neutral position, a brace takes the pressure off your nerve. This also allows time for the swelling to go down.

Swelling can be tricky to deal with because it compounds easily and it’s hard to avoid. Think, for example, about biting the inside of your mouth. Once you do that, your mouth swells and then it becomes almost impossible not to keep biting down or irritating the area, making the problem ever worse.

The same holds true with CTS. By keeping your wrist immobile, Dr. Philipose allows the swelling to come down by reducing the activity in the area. In conjunction with the brace, the doctor usually recommends some physical therapy exercises, possibly all natural injections, and changes in your hand usage.

While Dr. Philipose is often able to treat your CTS without surgery, if your condition is unresponsive, natural injections may prove to be your best option. If your CTS continues unchecked, it can lead to irreversible muscle and nerve damage in your thumb.

Now, here’s the good news -- CTS injections are very simple, and Dr. Philipose performs these treatments on an outpatient basis. The goal of the natural injections is to release your carpal tunnel. To do that, Dr. Philipose will create a treatment plan customized to your symptoms and diagnosis. 

This treatment can be done in office with Sarapin as well as Prolotherapy, and it often provides quick relief. You may have some work to do to reactivate and heal your nerve, but with more room in your carpal tunnel, your nerve has the freedom to heal properly.

If you still have questions about carpal tunnel syndrome, please don’t hesitate to call us, or use the online form on this website to schedule an appointment.

It all starts with a tingling in your hands, perhaps some numbness, and before you know it, your entire arm is in pain or your hand doesn’t function properly. This progression is not uncommon when it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, which is why seeking help sooner rather than later is so important. At Venturis Chiropractic & Prolotherapy, Dr. Alvin Philipose specializes in treating this debilitating wrist problem in his patients in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas in Oklahoma.