News
Carpe Diem without Carpal Tunnel
Seize the day and find relief. Dr. Gary Kronen & RIC at Silver Cross Host Free Program June 6
New Lenox, IL (May 25, 2012)— Carpal tunnel syndrome can make life miserable. The compression of a nerve in the wrist can make a movement painful, creating numbness and pain up the arm and into the shoulder. Even sleep becomes impossible because of the constant numbness and tingling.
“Carpal tunnel is caused by the compression of a nerve in the hand as it passes through the wrist. It is often caused by repetitive actions, such as working long hours at a computer without breaks” says Dr. Gary Kronen, hand surgeon on staff at Silver Cross Hospital at I-355 and Rout 6 in New Lenox.
People with carpal tunnel syndrome first notice that their fingers "fall asleep" and become numb at night. They often wake up with numbness and tingling in their hands. The feeling of burning pain and numbness may generally run up the center of the person's forearm, sometimes as far as the shoulder. “As carpal tunnel syndrome becomes more severe, symptoms are persistent throughout the day. If it is left untreated, it can lead to loss of feeling, strength and coordination,” says Dr. Kronen.
If you spend hours working at a desk, or feel any of the above symptoms, try these tips to help prevent carpal tunnel:
- Sleep with your wrists straight or using a splint.
- Avoid flexing and extending your wrists repeatedly. If you work at a computer, or in a repetitive job, make sure to take small breaks throughout the day.
- Perform conditioning and stretching exercises. Yoga is a fun way to incorporate daily stretching.
- Use correct positioning of hands and wrists while working. If you are spending a lot of time in front of computer, make sure you are sitting up, and your hands are angled appropriately.
“Carpal tunnel does not have to hinder your life style,” adds Barbara Shoemaker, Certified Hand Therapist with The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital, "it is important to learn wrist neutral techniques, tendon glides, and nerve glides. It is also very important to take small breaks in your daily activity to reduce pain and tingling."
Learn more about “Conquering Carpal Tunnel” on Wednesday, June 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Silver Cross Hospital, Pavilion A, Conference Center Room 1BC, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Dr. Kronen will be joined by Barbara Shoemaker from The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital for a free discussion on the causes of carpal tunnel and the latest non invasive and surgical treatment options available. Visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325) to register.
About Dr. Gary Kronen
Dr. Gary Kronen is a board certified hand and plastic surgeon. He attended State University of New York Medicine and completed his residency in plastic surgery and surgery at Montefiore Hospital & Medical Center. He completed fellowships at both Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Louisville, specializing in hands. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Roland, please contact his office at Mid America Hand to Should Clinic at 708-237-7200.
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 three locations. Additionally, the RIC team provides physical 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 visit 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 years and one of America’s Most Customer Friendly Hospitals by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 10 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Construction on a state-of-the-art replacement hospital is complete and opened on Feb. 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).
