Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When To Call a Doctor
Call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately if you notice sudden loss of feeling in your arm.
Call your health professional if you:
- Have tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in your fingers or hand that keeps coming back or that has not gone away after 2 weeks of home treatment.
- Have gradually developed little or no feeling in your fingers or hand. (If you notice sudden loss of feeling in your arm, call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately.)
- Cannot do simple hand movements, or you accidentally drop things.
- Cannot pinch your thumb and index finger together, or your pinch is weak.
- Cannot use your thumb normally (diminished thumb strength).
- Have problems at work because of pain in your fingers or hand.
Watchful Waiting
You can treat mild symptoms of wrist and hand pain or numbness at home. You may try home treatment for 1 to 2 weeks before calling your health professional.
Who To See
Your family doctor or general practitioner can check symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
For further testing or evaluation, you may be referred to:
- An orthopedic surgeon (orthopedist).
- A neurologist.
- A hand surgeon.
- A plastic surgeon with training and experience in hand problems.
- A rheumatologist.
- A physiatrist.
For treatment, you may be referred to:
- An orthopedic surgeon (orthopedist).
- A physiotherapist or occupational therapist specializing in hands or overuse injuries.
- A specialist who identifies workplace situations that contribute to repetitive-motion injuries (an ergonomist).
- A hand surgeon.
- A plastic surgeon with training and experience in hand problems.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: January 11, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine David Pichora, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery | |
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