Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the weakness, pain, numbness, or tingling in your hand caused by pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. The wrist bones on the bottom and a ligament create the carpal tunnel over the top. The median nerve runs through the tunnel along with the flexor tendons to the wrist. The pressure within the tunnel can compromise the nerve and lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Symptoms/Causes of Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel can be mild, moderate, and severe. Symptoms usually develop gradually and cause numbness, tingling, and pain in your hand from pressure on the median nerve on your wrist.

Anything that causes pressure on the median nerve will result in carpal tunnel. There are a few diagnoses that make carpal tunnel smaller and the pressure can come from any sort of swelling. Many things can attribute to this swelling such as:

• Pregnancy
• Cramping hand movements over a long period of time, such as keeping the wrist bent in a certain way or making the same hand movements repeatedly
• Illnesses such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism.

Diagnosis

First and foremost, your doctor will ask you if you have any illnesses or health problems such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor will also ask you if you are pregnant. If none of the above, he or she will want to know if you have recently hurt your neck, arm, or wrist, and they will also want to know about your daily routine.

After this, your exam will consist of your doctor checking your mobility, strength, and feeling of your hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck. Your doctor may suggest nerve or blood tests to check for any underlying causes.

Treatment for Carpal Tunnel

Some symptoms are mild, and treatment usually consists of home care. Start by:

• Reducing daily activities that result in numbness or pain. Rest your wrist in intervals.
• Wearing a wrist splint while you sleep or at any time you are feeling discomfort-this takes pressure off of the median nerve.
• Try using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and relieve pain/tension.
• Place ice on your wrists for 10 minutes or a few times an hour.

If you are diagnosed with an above illness, you might be placed on medications. As soon as you noticed symptoms, it is important to start treatment. The sooner you start taking care of carpal tunnel, the less likely you’ll have long-term damage to the median nerve.