Can I Have Carpal Tunnel Release On Both Sides At Once?

Carpal tunnel, Hand Surgeon, Sonex, Ultrasound

Can I Have Carpal Tunnel Release On Both Sides At Once?

Unfortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome is very common. One out of every 20 adult Americans has this condition, which can interfere with sleep, work, and free-time activities. Worse still, many have severe problems in both hands.

Sometimes simple treatments for carpal tunnel can help to quiet down the symptoms, especially if the symptoms came on recently. These include oral anti-inflammatories such as steroids or NSAIDs, wearing a wrist splint at night, avoiding activities that make the symptoms worse, and even injections performed by a hand surgeon such as Dr. Nelson.

But what do I do when carpal tunnel on both sides does not get better?

Carpal tunnel release is the time-tested treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. It reliably and quickly relieves the numbness, tingling, and especially night pain and gripping pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome. And in most patients, it does this permanently!

However, patients with carpal tunnel on both sides, also known as “bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome,” worry about having surgery on both hands at the same time. Some are concerned that they will not be able to take care of themselves. For example, they are worried that dressing, going to the bathroom, picking up a small child will become too difficult. Simply put, they feel they need to have one “good hand” to help out while the operated hand heals.

But with new technology and a technique offered by North Carolina Carpal Tunnel Specialist Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD, this is no longer the case.

For many years, carpal tunnel release was done with an open incision in the palm. While this treats and cures the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, the incision in the palm can be painful, especially in the early days after surgery. This can require a prolonged healing time, where heavy or even simple, light activities around the house can be difficult.

However, Dr. Johnny T. Nelson is an expert in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome under ultrasound guidance!

Due to the extremely small “poke” incision on the wrist, without an incision on the palm, the same release and relief of symptoms can be done “inside-out” while shortening the period of healing pain after the surgery. With ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, most patients with carpal tunnel on both sides have it treated on the same day. With ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, you may return to all activities immediately, including cooking, hygiene, dressing, and even work, including heavy or repetitive labor.

Since 2022, 50% of patients treated by Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD have both carpal tunnels released at the same time!

If you have carpal tunnel on both sides and you are ready to be free of your symptoms, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release on the same day for both hands is often the best option for you. But remember, every patient is different! Your treatment plan depends on a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Johnny T. Nelson MD, North Carolina Carpal Tunnel Specialist. Call 919-872-5296 for an appointment.

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Why Are Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Worse At Night?

Carpal tunnel, Hand Surgeon, Ultrasound

Why Are Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Worse At Night?

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it is very likely that you are feeling discomfort. This discomfort is different in different patients. Raleigh, North Carolina, carpal tunnel expert Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD understands that carpal tunnel syndrome and similar nerve problems come in different “flavors.”

The most common symptom that patients feel is pain, numbness, tingling in the hands at night. Carpal tunnel syndrome and similar nerve problems are special in this way. They almost always bother you more at night.

But why does carpal tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel symptoms seem to be worse at night?

The answer is complex, but there are several explanations.

First of all, during the day our brains are very active. Multiple signals are coming and going from the brain to the limbs, and from the limbs to the brain. There are external noises, people moving around this, work we need to do, and other feelings coming from all sides. However, at night, a lot of this “noise” quiets down. As a result, nerve problem such as carpal tunnel syndrome are no longer “drowned out” by the noise. As a result, the carpal tunnel “noise” seems louder and more painful. This is why patients with carpal tunnel syndrome report waking up at night, hanging their hands off the edge of the bed, and flicking or shaking their hands and fingers.

The second explanation has to do with being still while we sleep. During the day, we are using our hands, moving our arms to do things like to eat, drink, work, drive a car, and play with her children. This motion helps to keep fluid and blood from building up in her hands and feet. The movement of the muscles and joints actually helps to “pump” swelling back to the heart. But at night, when we are still, fluid and swelling tends to build up in our hands and feet. As a result, this small amount of swelling can “crowd out” the carpal tunnel nerve and make carpal tunnel symptoms worse.

Finally, when we sleep we tend to “curl up like a baby.” We like to clinch our fists, bend our wrists and elbows close to our body. These positions, although they are comfortable, actually increase pressure on the carpal tunnel nerve. In fact, when Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD is testing you for carpal tunnel syndrome, one of the movements he tests is to bend the wrist and hold it in this position. If this creates carpal tunnel symptoms or makes them worse, you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome and are having a hard time sleeping, call 919-872-5296 today to schedule a visit with North Carolina Carpal Tunnel Expert Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD.

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I Think I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Do I Need Nerve Studies?

Carpal tunnel, Hand Surgeon, Ultrasound, Uncategorized

I Think I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Do I Need Nerve Studies?

If you have been told that you need to have nerve studies, also called “electrodiagnostic studies,” it is possible that you have been diagnosed with a nerve condition like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Nerve studies work by using electric signals and shocks to study how well nerves are working. They can be helpful in certain situations to tell if a nerve is not working correctly. While they can be useful, they can also be painful, expensive, and time-consuming.

And they also may be completely unnecessary!

Carpal tunnel specialists like Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD understand that nerve studies are not always necessary. For most patients, a few simple questions and a few simple examination signs will tell Dr. Nelson whether or not you have carpal tunnel. A very quick and painless 30 second ultrasound scan will further confirm the diagnosis.

Did you know that 1 out of every 5 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome have normal nerve studies?

It is a good idea to start with a carpal tunnel specialist, such as Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD, before you have your nerve studies completed. If nerve studies are truly necessary, he will order the nerve studies and review the results with you. If they are not necessary, Dr. Nelson diagnosed you properly and very likely perform a quick and painless ultrasound scan to confirm your diagnosis.

If you have carpal tunnel or are considering having a release procedure, make sure you call 919–872–5296 today to schedule a visit with Dr. Johnny T. Nelson, MD, North Carolina carpal tunnel expert!

I Think I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Do I Need Nerve Studies? Read More »