Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a relatively common condition in which the median nerve is compressed along the wrist. This results in numbness, tingling, weakness or even muscle damage in the hand and fingers.
The median nerve runs from your forearm to your hand and passes through a narrow passage called the carpal tunnel. This nerve provides movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve due to swelling or other factors that may reduce the size of the carpal tunnel. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may stem from several things including:
- Repetitive hand and/or wrist movements over a long period of time.
- Wrist injuries
- Bone spurs
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Illness (hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes)
- Smoking
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
For most people the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome increase over time. Typical symptoms include tingling, numbness, pain, and weakness in the hand, wrist and forearm. You may first notice symptoms at night due to the fact that many people bend their wrists while sleeping, which further compresses the carpal tunnel. Many patients report a high occurrence of dropping things but it is unclear whether this is due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or other factors.
Diagnosis
A typical diagnosis by your doctor includes a physical examination and questions regarding your health and daily activities. Your doctor may suggest blood and nerve testing to rule out other health factors which may cause your symptoms. It is possible Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to be misdiagnosed or another condition to be misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A nerve conduction study or referral to a neurologist will be help to clarify the diagnosis.
Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If your symptoms are mild you may reduce or eliminate the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with home care. Simple preventative measures such as more frequent breaks and applying cold packs to reduce occasional swelling. Wearing a rigid splint on your wrist during sleep will also help to avoid further swelling. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be taken to relieve pain and reduce swelling. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the causing factors and allow swelling to heal naturally before permanent damage occurs.
Surgery may be an option for more serious cases where symptoms persist for 3-12 months and effect your ability to work or function normally. Surgery involves cutting the ligament at the top of the carpal tunnel to increase room in the tunnel and reduce pressure on the median nerve. Surgery generally eases symptoms but depending on the severity of the damage to the median nerve it may not completely eliminate symptoms. Discuss the details of surgery with your doctor to determine if this is the best route for you.