Find Relief from Severe Hand Pain

 A sponsored article by Silver Cross Hospital. 

“Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist,” says Barbara Shoemaker, occupational therapist with The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) at Silver Cross Hospital.  

“The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. The carpal tunnel, which is a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand, houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed. The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.”

Free Carpal Tunnel Screening and Non-Surgical Treatment

Early diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid permanent damage to the median nerve.  Occupational therapists with RIC at Silver Cross will offer free screenings from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 9 at The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross, 1051 Essington Rd. in Joliet.  

Register to attend this free program by calling 815-300-6580. Therapists will perform a physical examination of the hands, arms, shoulders and neck to determine if the patient's complaints are related to daily activities or to an underlying disorder that mimic carpal tunnel syndrome. 

They will also examine the wrist for tenderness, swelling, warmth and discoloration. Each finger will be tested for sensation and the muscles at the base of the hand examined for strength and signs of atrophy. 

Screening participants will receive at home exercises to relieve the symptoms or prevent future carpal tunnel syndrome and may also be referred to a physician on staff at Silver Cross Hospital if further evaluation or treatment is needed. 

Treatments for Relief

Initial treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome generally involves resting the affected hand and wrist for at least two weeks, avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms and immobilizing the wrist in a splint to avoid further damage from twisting or bending. 

If there is inflammation, applying cool packs can help reduce swelling. Stretching and strengthening exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated. These exercises may be supervised by a physical therapist, who is trained to use exercises to treat physical impairments, or an occupational therapist, who is trained in evaluating people with physical impairments and helping them build skills to improve their health and well-being.  

Recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome following treatment is rare. The majority of patients recover completely.

“If treated early, carpal tunnel symptoms usually go away with nonsurgical treatment,” Shoemaker said.   

About the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital

Silver Cross Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) have teamed up to expand post-acute physical medicine and rehabilitation services in Will County and the southwest Chicagoland communities. 

The partnership provides world-class rehabilitation care for a range of conditions for patients close to home. Silver Cross is the only healthcare facility in the area with this breadth of services in partnership with RIC. Together, Silver Cross and RIC provide rehabilitation services in inpatient and outpatient care settings at four locations—at the main Hospital and the Silver Cross Professional Buildings in Homer Glen, New Lenox and West Joliet. 

Additionally, the RIC team provides therapy services for patients on the hospital’s medical and surgical floors. For more information about RIC at Silver Cross, call 815-300-7110 or go to www.silvercross.org.

About Silver Cross Hospital

Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers.

With more than 3,500 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a new 289-bed acute care hospital at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox and five satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, go to www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).  

Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care.  These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services.