What is Carpal Tunnel?

The Carpal Tunnel is a narrow passageway of ligaments and bones located at the base of one’s hand. Tendons responsible for bending fingers and the median nerve are housed here. When the median nerve becomes pinched or squeezed, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs. This results in wrist weakness, tingling numbness, and usually some form of pain.

Causes & Symptoms

The cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often due to the median nerve not having enough space within the carpal tunnel it’s self. A reduction in space can happen from an injury to the wrist that causes swelling, work stress, fluid retention, or even cysts. However, in many cases no single cause can be identified.

Symptoms of CTS tend to begin gradually. Frequent tingling, burning, or numbness is felt in fingers and the palm of the hand. Symptoms also tend to begin during the night with many people recording the feeling of needing to “shake out” their hand. As symptoms progress, the tingling sensation stays throughout the day. Many also report a decrease in grip strength, and lose the ability to differentiate between hot and cold by touch.

Treatments

Platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP therapy, is a revolutionary regenerative medical technique used to treat the underlying causes of CTS. A blood sample is drawn from the patient’s body and placed in a rapidly rotating centrifuge. This process separates the platelet-rich plasma. The separated blood is then injected back into the patient’s body at the site of injury. This ensures that a high concentration of growth and restorative cells are targeting the area in need of healing. As an added bonus, because the blood is drawn from one’s own body, there virtually no risk of rejection or allergic reaction.