- Do you feel numbness or a tingling sensation in your hand or hands at night?
- Do you sometimes experience pain in your wrist and hand, particularly at night?
- Do you have difficulty holding objects without dropping them?
If you answered, "yes" to any of these questions, you may be experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common problem that ultimately affects the use of one or both of your hands. It most often occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes inflamed after aggravation from repetitive movements, such as typing on a keyboard or playing the piano. The condition may cause progressive compression (squeezing) on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, or "canal" in the wrist through which the median nerve passes from your arm into your hand. Any repetitive motion that causes significant irritation of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel may alter transmission of sensations from the hand up to the arm and to the central nervous system.
RisksDiseases or conditions that may contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome include pregnancy, diabetes, and broken or dislocated bones in the wrist. Some of the main causes include repetitive and forceful grasping with the hands, bending of the wrist, and arthritis. You don't have to be a concert pianist, hairdresser, computer operator, or assembly line worker to experience the pain of this illness.
Symptoms can include hand and wrist pain, a burning sensation in the middle and index fingers, thumb and finger numbness, or an electric-like shock through the wrist and hand. During the day, symptoms may occur during any activities that involve bending of the wrist. Finger numbness or wrist pain may be most significant at night, when they can actually wake you up from sleep.
Get Medical HelpIt is important to seek medical advice when you first notice symptoms. Do not wait for your pain to become intolerable. Before your doctor can recommend a course of treatment, he or she will perform a thorough evaluation, including a medical history, physical examination, and perhaps diagnostic tests. Your doctor will ask about the extent to which your symptoms affect daily living.
Early treatment aims to reduce or eliminate repetitive injury to the median nerve. Your doctor may place your wrist in a splint or prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, possibly even cortisone injections to reduce swelling. You may be given hand and wrist exercises and physical therapy - or simply told not to use your wrist.
If, after six to eight weeks, these techniques aren't providing relief, your doctor may recommend surgery. A neurosurgeon may make a small incision on your wrist and "release" the ligament that is putting pressure on your nerve. Most people feel full relief of symptoms after surgery. But the earlier you get a diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcome.
For more information about carpal tunnel syndrome, visit the website of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
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