Banish Chronic Migraines with Botox®
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How Peripheral Nerve Injections Relieve Carpal Tunnel Pain
When people think about the joints in their body, their minds often go to big ones, such as the knees or hips. But the joints that connect your arm to your hand — your wrists — do heavy-duty work throughout the day. If you have carpal tunnel pain, you know that all too well.
Carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t a joint problem, though. Instead, the pain or discomfort you feel comes from pressure on a key nerve inside your wrist.
Dr. Jonathan Carlson can target the problem nerve to bring you relief. With peripheral nerve injections, he helps people with carpal tunnel syndrome experience less discomfort.
If you have persistent carpal tunnel symptoms, see Dr. Carlson and our team at Hawai’i Pain & Spine on the Windward side of O’ahu in Kailua, Hawai’i.
How injections can help with carpal tunnel pain
Dr. Carlson can apply medication directly to the problem nerve to help with your carpal tunnel. The peripheral nerve injection he uses combines steroid medication and an anesthetic. These work together to address your symptoms while keeping treatment comfortable.
The anesthetic provides near-immediate pain relief. It numbs the area, so the injection doesn’t hurt. Meanwhile, the steroid targets the swelling inside your wrist. As a powerful anti-inflammatory medication, it helps to ease the pressure on the median nerve in your wrist.
What to expect with nerve injections
Once Dr. Carlson determines that you’re a good candidate for a peripheral nerve injection, he uses ultrasound technology to perform the injection. That helps him ensure he injects the area where the medication can be the most effective.
Experts recommend that a doctor who monitors placement with ultrasound perform your nerve injection. That limits the risk of side effects and improves outcomes. Multiple studies back this. Dr. Carlson always uses ultrasounds during peripheral nerve injections.
Some people feel tingling or numbness during treatment. The anesthetic in the injection usually takes effect quickly, though, helping to minimize any discomfort.
If the nerve injection works for you, you should experience relief within 2-4 weeks. Symptom abatement can last for up to six months.
After treatment, take steps to minimize pressure inside your wrists, which can help you avoid future symptoms. Those steps include taking regular breaks to stretch your wrists, keeping your wrists warm, and optimizing your workplace setup to make it more ergonomic.
To see if a peripheral nerve injection may be the right treatment for your carpal tunnel pain, call our office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carlson.
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