How Do We Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Did you know that while carpal tunnel syndrome is very common, it can be very difficult to diagnose? This is because it shows symptoms similar to other conditions.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tunnel in the wrist that the median nerve travels through becomes crushed and it infringes on the nerve, producing pain or tingling.

The problem is that other conditions can also show the same symptoms. For example, neck issues can radiate pain down to the wrist which can produce similar symptoms to carpal tunnel syndrome.

So how to diagnose?

The first thing we would do after examining you, is to look at your medical history and the way you use your hands in your work. If your medical history contains such issues as neck pain or whiplash injury, it gives us a clue that the pain might be due to a problem in that area so we would attack the source there.

Or, if your job requires frequent strong gripping of tools or extensive mouse use at a desk for instance, then it may be the carpal tunnel that is impacted and we would treat there.

If the patient has both the conditions described above, then diagnosis is even more tricky.

Patients may be referred out for further testing in more complex situations to try and pin point the problem. An electrodiagnostic tool may provide further information, although studies have shown a high rate of false positives due to the discomfort caused by this testing. It really is difficult to work out.

So the most common course of action is for us to work with you and provide treatment to the most likely area based on your history and work practices and then adjust treatments accordingly based on the results we see.

Our goal at Back and Body Medical is to help you out of pain as quickly as possible. We use the latest evidence based treatment protocols and our staff are constantly kept up to date with new treatments.

If you are in pain, come in and see us. We are here to help. We will get to the bottom of your issue and help you back to normal again.

Dr Shan Sivendra MD

Dr Shan Sivendra MD is the founder and medical director of Back and Body Medical in Midtown Manhattan. A board-certified medical doctor, certified acupuncturist, and Director of House Physicians at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Dr Sivendra has been practicing in New York since 1995.

He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (affiliated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine) and received the Resident Research Award for three consecutive years.

Dr Sivendra has a background spanning internal medicine, pain management, and conservative spine rehabilitation, and was licensed in both the US and the UK.

At Back and Body Medical, he leads a multidisciplinary team of chiropractors, physical therapists, and acupuncturists dedicated to helping patients recover from pain without surgery or unnecessary medication.