FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2006
Contact: Cyndi Alvarado (936) 760-7860
At The Woodlands Mall on January 6, 2006
The Woodlands, TX -- On Saturday, January 6, at 10 a.m., Sadler Clinic will sponsor a presentation entitled “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” given by orthopedist and hand surgeon Dr. Charles F. Kallina, IV. The presentation will take place in Future Court at The Woodlands Mall (first level across from JC Penney).
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome made a name for itself in the 1990s, as more and more people found themselves working long hours at computers, check-out bays with scanners, and in manufacturing jobs that require a high degree of repetitive motion. The age of those affected by carpal tunnel syndrome is decreasing, now that more and more students and young people are spending increased time at computers for school work or at video game consoles.
The pain caused by Carpel Tunnel Syndrome can range in degree from irritating to excruciating for the CTS sufferer. The pain results from compression of the median nerve at the wrist, inside the “carpal tunnel” formed by the bones, tendons, and ligaments that surround the nerve. The National Center for Health Statistics has reported that CTS accounts for the highest number of days lost among work-related injuries.
It’s important to diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome early, and physicians advise that persons, who experience persistent wrist pain, even for short periods of time, should consult a doctor as soon as possible. “It’s all too easy to tell yourself you can live with the pain in the early stages of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,” Dr. Kallina explains. “It’s important to remember that this pain is not just the result of a sore muscle, but of a compressed nerve. Continuing to use the wrist in these circumstances does not work like exercise—just the opposite; it will quickly worsen the condition, and at its worst, can literally take someone off the job and into occupational disability.”
Symptoms that indicate someone is suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include: hand and / or wrist pain, burning sensation in middle and index fingers, thumb and finger numbness, or an electric-like shock sensation that goes through the wrist and hand. Dr. Kallina will discuss treatment options for CTS, ranging from medication and physical therapy to carpal tunnel release surgery.
Dr. Kallina earned his MS degree in behavioral neuroscience from Texas A&M, and his MD degree from Texas A&M University College of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedics at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas, and recently completed a specialized hand surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
For more information, contact Cyndi Alvarado at 936.760.7860 or calvarado@sadler.com.