How we treat pain from carpal tunnel syndrome at DFW Interventional Pain Institute
Do you wake up in the middle of the night with a "pins and needles" sensation in your hand? Do you find yourself shaking out your wrists after typing for an hour or dropping objects you used to hold with ease? If these scenarios sound familiar, you might be dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome.
It’s more than just a nuisance. For many, the persistent numbness and aching can turn simple daily tasks—like buttoning a shirt or holding a coffee cup—into frustrating challenges. At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, we understand that hand and wrist pain can significantly impact your quality of life. The good news is that you don't have to just "power through" it. With the right evaluation and treatment plan, relief is possible.
Understanding the causes and symptoms
To understand why you're hurting, it helps to know a little bit about the anatomy of your wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist surrounded by bones and ligaments. The median nerve, which controls sensation and movement in your thumb and first three fingers, runs through this tunnel.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when this passageway narrows or when tissues surrounding the flexor tendons swell, putting pressure on the median nerve. This pressure is what causes the hallmark symptoms of the condition.
Common symptoms include:
Numbness or tingling: This often affects the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. It may travel up your arm like an electric shock.
Weakness: You might experience a loss of grip strength, leading to dropped objects.
Nighttime pain: Many patients report that carpal tunnel pain is worse at night, often interfering with sleep.
While repetitive motions (like typing or working on an assembly line) are the most famous culprits, they aren't the only cause. Anatomy, health conditions like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis and even pregnancy can contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.
DFW Interventional Pain Institute's approach to treating carpal tunnel pain
At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, our philosophy is simple: living with pain is not your only option. We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all solution because no two patients are exactly alike. Your lifestyle, your job and your specific symptoms all play a role in how we approach your care.
We focus on a patient-centered model. This means Dr. Edrick Lopez and our staff take the time to listen to you. We want to know how the pain is affecting your daily life so we can build a plan that helps you get back to doing what you love.
Comprehensive evaluation process
Accurate treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. When you search for relief, you want assurance that your doctor is looking at the whole picture. During your initial consultation, we perform a thorough review of your medical history and a physical examination.
Dr. Lopez utilizes specific carpal tunnel exam tests to pinpoint the source of your discomfort. These may include:
Tinel’s sign: Tapping over the median nerve to see if it triggers a tingling sensation.
Phalen’s maneuver: Having you press the backs of your hands together to see if numbness occurs.
Imaging and nerve studies: In some cases, we may order X-rays, ultrasound or nerve conduction studies to rule out other conditions and assess the severity of the nerve compression.
This comprehensive evaluation ensures that we aren't just treating the symptom, but addressing the root cause.
Treatment options at DFW Interventional Pain Institute
Once we have a diagnosis, we move to the solution phase. If you have been frantically searching for "carpal tunnel treatment near me," you'll be relieved to know that surgery is not always the first or only answer.
We offer a variety of non-surgical or minimally-invasive interventions designed to reduce inflammation and relieve pressure on the median nerve. Your tailored treatment plan may include:
Splinting: Wearing a wrist splint at night keeps your wrist in a neutral position, relieving pressure on the nerve while you sleep.
Corticosteroid injections: Dr. Lopez can administer targeted corticosteroid injections into the carpal tunnel to relieve pain and decrease inflammation and swelling. This often provides significant, long-lasting relief.
Medication management: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be recommended to help manage pain and swelling.
Occupational therapy referral: We may connect you with therapists who can teach you exercises to strengthen the hand and wrist, as well as ergonomic modifications for your work and home life.
If your condition is severe and doesn't respond to conservative management, we can provide a surgical referral. However, our primary goal is to help you manage and eliminate pain through the least invasive methods possible.
Dr. Edrick Lopez's expertise in treating chronic pain
When it comes to your nerves and mobility, experience matters. Dr. Edrick Lopez brings a unique and highly specialized background to your care. As a double board-certified physician, he has demonstrated the highest level of expertise in his field.
Dr. Lopez is Harvard-trained, having completed his residency at Harvard Medical School. He followed this with a fellowship in pain medicine at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. Uniquely, he is also one of the few physicians to hold both a Medical Degree (M.D.) and a Law Degree (J.D.) as part of the dual Medicine and Law program at the University of Puerto Rico.
This rigorous education, combined with his bilingual capabilities, allows Dr. Lopez to provide exceptional, communicative care to patients across the DFW metroplex. He is dedicated to innovative treatments that help you live your best life.
Natural remedies for temporary relief
While professional medical intervention is often necessary for long-term resolution, there are carpal tunnel natural remedies and lifestyle changes you can try at home to help manage symptoms in the short term.
Carpal tunnel home remedies to consider include:
Take breaks: If your work involves repetitive motion, set a timer. Take a break every hour to shake out your hands and stretch.
Ice it: Applying ice packs to your wrist for 10 to 15 minutes can help reduce swelling and alleviate acute pain.
Ergonomic adjustments: Ensure your computer mouse and keyboard are positioned so your wrists aren't bent at an extreme angle.
Stretching: Gentle wrist flexor and extensor stretches can help maintain flexibility.
Remember, while these remedies can soothe symptoms, they may not cure the underlying compression. If pain persists despite these efforts, it is time to see a specialist like Dr. Lopez.
DFW Interventional Pain Institute can help with carpal tunnel syndrome pain
You use your hands for almost everything you do. You shouldn't have to compromise your productivity or your happiness because of wrist pain. Whether it is typing an email, playing with your grandchildren or simply sleeping through the night, you deserve to do it without discomfort.
At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, we are ready to help you find the relief you need. Don't let carpal tunnel syndrome dictate your life any longer. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Lopez and take the first step toward living your best life.
