Quick Answer
Carpal tunnel syndrome is graded by electrodiagnostic testing, performed and interpreted at both CNS offices in independently accredited laboratories: 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147 and 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012.
Part ofThis guide sits beneath carpal tunnel syndrome, which covers the study itself, how it is performed and what the report should contain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome →Key Takeaways
- Numbness in the thumb, index, middle and half the ring finger, characteristically waking you at night.
- Grading determines whether splinting or decompression is appropriate.
- A neck problem can produce identical hand symptoms, and the two can coexist.
- Surgery is referred rather than performed, and the graded study informs that referral.
- Thyroid disease, diabetes, pregnancy and repetitive hand use all contribute.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. It typically causes numbness, tingling and night-time symptoms in the thumb, index and middle fingers.
Grading determines whether you splint or operate
Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The diagnosis is usually straightforward; the useful question is how severe it is, because that determines the treatment.
The pattern
Numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle and half the ring finger, characteristically waking you at night and often relieved by shaking the hand. Frequently worse with driving, holding a phone or a book. In more advanced cases, weakness of thumb movement and visible wasting at the base of the thumb. Symptoms affecting the little finger, or extending above the wrist, point elsewhere.
Why the neck matters
A nerve root problem in the neck can produce hand symptoms that resemble carpal tunnel, and the two can coexist, which is common enough to be worth testing for rather than assuming. An electrodiagnostic study distinguishes them, and operating on a wrist when the problem is in the neck is a well-recognised way of achieving nothing.
What grading changes
Mild compression with preserved nerve fibre function frequently responds to night splinting, activity modification and time. Moderate involvement widens the options. Significant slowing with measurable fibre loss shifts the conversation toward surgical decompression sooner, because prolonged compression at that level risks change that does not fully recover. Those patients describe similar symptoms, and only a graded study separates them, which is why asking for the study to be graded rather than merely reported matters.
The contributors worth addressing
Occupational and repetitive hand use, where modification helps. Pregnancy, where it frequently resolves afterwards. Thyroid disease and diabetes, both of which contribute and are correctable or controllable. And workstation setup, which is worth reviewing where the work is desk-based.
| Also considered | How it is distinguished |
|---|---|
| Cervical radiculopathy | Neck-derived symptoms extend above the wrist and often involve the shoulder or arm. |
| Generalised neuropathy | Both feet and both hands are affected in a symmetric pattern. |
| Other entrapments | Ulnar or radial entrapment produces a different sensory map; nerve conduction studies localise it. |
| Tendon and joint conditions | Pain with grip and movement without a nerve-territory sensory change. |
What the practice does
01
What brings people in
Night-time hand numbness, dropping objects, or a surgical opinion that needs objective confirmation first.
02
What the evaluation settles
Whether median nerve conduction is measurably affected, how severe, and whether another site or a wider neuropathy explains the symptoms better.
03
What you leave with
A graded electrodiagnostic result suitable for surgical decision-making, and a conservative-management plan where surgery is not yet indicated.
Testing performed and interpreted here
Nerve conduction studies with needle electromyography at both offices, in laboratories holding AANEM accreditation independently, on the EMG page. Because the physician performing the study also interprets it, the study can be extended on the day where an early finding raises the question of a coexisting neck problem, rather than requiring a second appointment.
What treatment is provided
Conservative management including splinting guidance and activity modification, and treatment of contributing conditions coordinated with primary care. Surgical decompression is referred rather than performed, since the practice performs no surgery, and the graded study is what informs that referral.
What to bring
When symptoms occur, particularly whether they wake you. Which fingers specifically, mapped with a finger rather than described. Whether anything in the neck accompanies them. Your occupation and hand use. And any prior nerve study as the actual measurements, since a comparison establishes whether it has progressed.
The first 30, 60 and 90 days
Step 1
First visit
History and neurological examination, a review of records and prior imaging, and a decision on which studies are actually indicated. You leave with the plan, not just a referral.
Step 2
Within 30 days
Indicated in-office studies are performed and interpreted by the neurologist who ordered them, in our AANEM-accredited laboratories. Results are explained in plain language.
Step 3
60 to 90 days
Follow-up to judge whether the plan is working, adjust it, and coordinate with your referring clinician. Where a diagnosis needs time to confirm, this is where it is revisited.
Attending from Nevada
Both offices sit in the Las Vegas valley, several hundred miles from the north of the state, and there is no northern Nevada location. Each of the six in-office studies requires attending in person, and ambulatory EEG needs two visits days apart, so distance is a genuine practical factor rather than an inconvenience.
Not sure what is causing it?
Ask for the study to be graded rather than only named. Severity is what informs the decision.
The Bottom Line
Ask for the study to be graded. Mild compression splints; significant fibre loss points toward decompression sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the typical symptoms?
Numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle and half the ring finger, characteristically waking you at night and often relieved by shaking the hand. Symptoms affecting the little finger or extending above the wrist point elsewhere. Symptoms brought on by driving, or by holding a phone or a book, are typical and worth mentioning.
Why does grading matter?
Because it determines the treatment. Mild compression with preserved nerve function frequently responds to night splinting and activity modification. Significant slowing with fibre loss shifts the conversation toward decompression sooner, and those patients describe similar symptoms. The report should state the measured values, not only mild, moderate or severe, so that a later study can be compared against it.
Could my hand symptoms be coming from my neck?
Yes, and the two can coexist. A nerve root problem in the neck produces hand symptoms resembling carpal tunnel, and an electrodiagnostic study distinguishes them. Operating on a wrist when the problem is in the neck achieves nothing. Symptoms in both hands raise the question of a wider neuropathy as well, which the same study addresses.
Is surgery performed at the practice?
No. Surgical decompression is referred, since the practice performs no surgery. The graded study is what informs that referral by establishing severity. The graded study accompanies the referral, so the surgeon receives objective severity rather than a description of symptoms. Conservative measures are tried first where the grading supports it.
What contributors are worth addressing?
Occupational and repetitive hand use, pregnancy where it frequently resolves afterwards, thyroid disease and diabetes which both contribute, and workstation setup where the work is desk-based. Night splinting is the usual first measure and is worth a genuine trial of several weeks, worn consistently, before it is judged to have failed.
Can the study be extended if something unexpected appears?
Yes, because the physician performing it also interprets it. Where an early finding raises the question of a coexisting neck problem, the study can be extended on the day rather than requiring a second appointment. That is a direct consequence of the physician-owned model, where the person performing your study is the person reading it.
Where in Nevada are the offices?
Both are in the Las Vegas valley: 7751 W. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas and 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. There is no northern Nevada location, and the north of the state is several hundred miles away, so for most of Nevada outside the valley local care is generally the appropriate route rather than travelling.
Is it worth travelling across Nevada for this?
For a single consultation sometimes; for anything needing repeated visits, rarely. Each of the six in-office studies requires attending in person, and ambulatory EEG needs two separate visits days apart. Describe the situation on the booking call and the team will say honestly whether the journey is justified in your case.
Does pregnancy change the approach?
Often, because carpal tunnel symptoms in pregnancy frequently settle after delivery. That makes conservative measures the usual first course, with testing reserved for symptoms that are severe, persistent or accompanied by weakness. It is worth mentioning at the appointment rather than assuming it is irrelevant to the assessment. Symptoms in both hands raise a wider question that the same study addresses.
Should I try a splint before being tested?
It is reasonable and frequently helpful, worn at night and given several weeks before being judged to have failed. Testing is still worth having where symptoms persist, because it establishes severity and excludes a neck or wider nerve problem producing similar symptoms in the same hand. Bring the splint you have been using so its fit can be checked.
How this page was sourced
Practice facts come from Clinical Neurology Specialists directly: that electrodiagnostic testing is performed and interpreted at both offices in independently accredited laboratories, that two neurologists focus on neuromuscular medicine, and that surgery, imaging, infusion therapy and physical therapy are all coordinated or referred rather than provided on site. Clinical context is sourced to the organisations listed below.
No reference values, severity thresholds or named medications appear, because electrodiagnostic values vary by nerve, age, height and temperature and treatment selection is a clinical decision. No outcome is promised. Scope is adults 18 and older.
Change log
- 2026-07-28 — page published; clinical content reviewed.
- 2026-07-28 — last reviewed against AAN, AANEM and NINDS guidance; internal links and schema verified.
- Review cadence: quarterly, or sooner if guidance changes.
How to cite this page
Clinical Neurology Specialists. “Carpal tunnel syndrome specialist Nevada.” Reviewed 2026-07-28. https://www.cnsnevada.com/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-specialist-nevada/
References
- Muscular Dystrophy Association — patient information across neuromuscular disorders.
- American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine — electrodiagnostic standards and laboratory accreditation.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — the reference catalogue of nervous-system disorders.
This page is for general information about a Clinical Neurology Specialists office and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Adults 18 and older. For an active stroke, a first-time or prolonged seizure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness, sudden vision loss, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.