Pain in your hands, numbness, or tingling may be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome.This condition makes it hard to do simple things, such as buttoning your shirt or opening a jar. There are a number of treatment options that can help, including injections that relieve your pain.
At University of Toledo Physicians LLC, located in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Nabil Ebraheim offers expert orthopedic care for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Ebraheim is an esteemed orthopedic surgeon who offers steroid injections when you can’t tolerate your symptoms any longer.
When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, treatment is often necessary for you to go about your busy life. Surgery is an option, but isn’t always necessary if you undergo steroid injections first.
Corticosteroids are the typical injection choice when treating carpal tunnel syndrome. These injections are man-made and are used for their anti-inflammatory properties. They’re often referred to as steroids, but they differ greatly from hormonal steroids used by some athletes.
Corticosteroids are very similar to the natural hormone cortisol that your body makes. Cortisol plays a vital role in keeping the inflammation in your body down. Steroid injections work in the same way, reducing inflammation and relieving pain for a period of time.
Injectable steroids often work much better than oral steroids for carpal tunnel relief. This is because some of the potency of the pill is lost in your digestive tract as it’s absorbed. The injection is given directly into your hand, which starts to work right away.
Typically, a corticosteroid is injected with a local anesthetic, which helps numb the area for a few hours after the injection. This means you’ll probably feel better almost immediately. However, the steroid takes a few days to actually kick in.
Each person experiences relief after an injection differently. You may have immediate relief that stays even after the local anesthetic wears off. It could also take a few days to a week or two to get optimal results from a steroid injection.
You may need another steroid injection later on if your symptoms come back. You can have several steroid injections over the course of a few years if needed to control your symptoms and discomfort.
In mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, steroid injections may give you relief for a long period of time. In more severe cases, steroid injections might only give you temporary relief.
However, if your pain continues to return after multiple steroid injections, it may be time to consider carpal tunnel surgery for permanent relief of your symptoms.
Corticosteroid injections have a number of advantages over other forms of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. They’re minimally invasive and only require a small injection in your wrist. The risk for infection is very low compared to surgery.
Injections of steroids also may help you avoid surgery for a long period of time. The amount of time the injection lasts depends a lot on the severity of your condition and how your body metabolizes the medication.
There’s also little to no downtime after an injection. You can have your injection done, go home, and be back to your normal activities the next day. You should be careful right after the injection and watch for signs of redness or swelling. This could indicate a reaction to the medication.
Due to the injection’s anti-inflammatory properties, your symptoms will likely subside. This allows you to enjoy activities you couldn’t when the carpal tunnel flared up. In most cases, you’ll have significantly less pain and discomfort after the injection.
If you’re looking for expert treatment for your carpal tunnel syndrome, call our office at 419-383-3761, or book a consultation online today. You can also learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome on our YouTube channel.
