• About Us
• Office Information
• Specialties
  • Knee Surgery in Minnesota
  • Sports Medicine in Minneapolis
  • Sports Injuries of the Knee
  • ACL Surgery in Minneapolis
  • Knee Arthroscopy in Minneapolis
  • Custom-Fit Knee Replacement
  • Gender-Specific Knee Replacement
  • Partial Knee Replacement
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery
  • Minnesota Carpal Tunnel Treatment
  • Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
• View Educational Videos
• Patient Education
• Patient Testimonials
• Useful Links

Print this Page

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a musculoskeletal condition affecting the hands and wrist. The leading cause of missed work in America, carpal tunnel syndrome severely limits a patient's ability to perform everyday tasks with the hands, including driving, typing, writing, and painting.

The pain and discomfort associated with carpal tunnel syndrome is due to excessive pressure applied to the median nerve – a nerve in the wrist that gives feeling and mobility to the palm and fingers. This can be caused by irritated tendons surrounding the tunnel, causing the median nerve to become compressed. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome will exhibit pain, weakness, and numbness in the hand and wrist, which can commonly radiate up the arm.

Hand Surgery Excellence in Minnesota

Hand surgeons treating carpal tunnel syndrome must take a number of factors into consideration to ensure the patient is comfortable with the results. As Director of Orthopedics at both Mercy Hospital and Unity Hospital, Dr. Kruse is an ideal candidate to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome and various other hand pains.

Read more about Dr. Jay Kruse and Twin City Orthopedics two Minnesota locations »

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The most common symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness and a tingling sensation. These symptoms become more pronounced at night and commonly lead to lost sleep. Oftentimes these symptoms will resolve themselves on their own; however, many patients experience symptoms persistently and progressively, becoming more painful and debilitating as time passes.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel include:

• Numbness or Tingling
• Sharp Shooting Pains Radiating to the Forearm
• Limited Dexterity Due to Muscle Atrophy

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the condition. Before attempting surgical intervention, patients should attempt to rest the hand and wrist, as well as applying ice to the affected area. Additionally, activity modification, such as adjusting keyboard and chair height at work, can help alleviate symptoms.

Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If conservative treatments cannot sufficiently alleviate the debilitating symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, surgical intervention may be indicated. The most common surgical solution for treating this orthopedic hand condition is carpal tunnel release. This surgery can be performed using an "open" technique, as well as endoscopically, utilizing a small camera and smaller incisions.

Carpal tunnel release is performed by making an incision in the palm of the hand, in the fibrous sheath, around the carpal tunnel. By releasing built up tension in the carpal tunnel, the surgeon can alleviate pressure on the nerve.