Numb & Tingling Hands: Treating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

If you are experiencing pain in your shoulders, neck, and arms, and/or numbness or tingling in your hands, you may be suffering from Thoracic outlet syndrome. In Part 1 of this Article Detroit Area hand specialist Dr. Uzma Rehman discussed the Causes & Symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and in Part 2 she covered how Treating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands) is diagnosed.

In this article we take a look at how Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is treated in our Detroit area hand specialty offices.

Treatments for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands)

The main objective of for thoracic outlet syndrome is to ease symptoms of numbness, tingling and pain in the hands. Treatment protocols will vary depending upon both the cause and severity of the narrowing that is putting pressure on the nerves and the blood vessels.

Detroit Area board certified hand surgeon Dr. Uzma Rehman will discuss which treatment options are best for you, after careful examination, diagnosis and testing.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands)

Generally, especially with early intervention, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands) can be successfully treated with medications and/or physical therapy and medication. In more advanced cases, Detroit area board certified hand surgeon Dr. Rehman may need to perform surgery, if symptoms don’t improve after the more conservative treatments.

Treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome usually starts with medications to help ease the symptoms. This may include over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as naproxen or ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) to reduce the inflammation and pain.

Thrombolytic or “clot-busting” drugs may also be administered to dissolve any blood clots causing vein or artery blockage in the thoracic outlet. Additionally, anticoagulants may be prescribed to prevent blood clots from forming and blocking blood flow in the thoracic outlet.

Therapy for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands)

Additionally, a physical therapy plan may be put in place for our Detroit area patients, to help strengthen and stretch the shoulder muscles. This can improve both the patient’s range of motion as well as their posture – as well as provide support for the collarbone and muscles surrounding the thoracic outlet.

And, for patients who are overweight, Dr. Rehman may recommend a weight-loss program or specific diet to help offer relief from the numbness & tingling of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Returning to a healthier weight can help reduce the pressure on the joints.

Surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands)

If a patient’s symptoms don’t improve with medication, physical therapy and/or weight loss, Detroit Area board certified hand surgeon Dr. Uzma Rehman may recommend surgery. Depending upon the cause of the pressure or blockage, surgery may involve removing an extra rib, removing a section of the first rib, or rerouting the blood vessels around the thoracic outlet and through a wider opening.

In other cases, if the blood vessels themselves in the thoracic outlet are severely narrowed, angioplasty -insertion of tiny balloons into the veins – may be utilized to open them up.

Numb & Tingling Hands – Detroit Area

The recovery outlook for people with thoracic outlet syndrome (Numb & Tingling Hands) is typically very good, especially with early diagnosis and prompt treatment by a hand specialist like Detroit area hand surgeon Dr. Rehman.

So if you are suffering from Numb & Tingling Hands it is important to contact a hand specialist as soon as possible. Getting rapid and skilled treatment by our Detroit area hand specialists will only stop the numbness, tingling and pain, but will also prevent serious complications from developing such as permanent neurological damage.

Numb & Tingling Hands – Detroit Doctor Consultation: 248.335.2638