Michael Neely
410-601-5026

For Immediate Release

Carpal tunnel syndrome. It�s something that affects millions of people who battle daily with numbness and tingling in their hands and difficulty handling or holding objects. Some even feel a shooting pain that stretches from their hand to their shoulder. For many, the pain becomes so debilitating that common, everyday activities become impossible to accomplish.

But now with the use of cutting-edge technology, Scott Brown, M.D., chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, is making the diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome easier and more thorough. With this new ultrasound procedure, we are able to take a real-time look inside our patients� hands to see just exactly what�s causing the pain,� said Brown. The non-invasive procedure gives us the ability to see which muscle or muscles may be placing pressure on the median nerve that travels from the forearm into the hand through a �tunnel� in the wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.�

Recent test have shown that this ultrasonographic technology is a fast, noninvasive and highly accurate method for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome. Brown will be using this new procedure during a free carpal tunnel screening June 4, 2004. The screening will be held inside the Sinai Rehabilitation Center from 2 to 4 p.m.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by swelling, thickening or irritation of the synovial membranes around the tendons in the carpal tunnel that result�s in pressure on the median nerve. Some common causes and associated conditions are repetitive and forceful grasping with the hands; repetitive bending of the wrist; broken or dislocated bones in the wrist that produce swelling; arthritis, especially the rheumatoid type; thyroid gland imbalance; sugar diabetes; hormonal changes associated with menopause or pregnancy. Although any of the above may be present, most cases have no known cause.

To find out more about this cutting-edge procedure and to sign up for future screenings, call 410-601-WELL.