If you’ve ever experienced
pain or numbness that compromised your ability to use your hands normally, you know how challenging not having normal hand function can make everyday activities. If you think you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, learn about the signs and symptoms, what causes carpal tunnel and how to best prevent it going forward.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is characterized by pain, tingling or numbness in the hand caused when the median
nerve – which relays sensation from the thumb and three middle fingers to your brain – is compressed by swelling in the passageway made of bone and ligament (the carpal tunnel) that it passes through at the base of the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may occur when an underlying condition causes swelling in this area, such as rheumatoid
arthritis, diabetes or
hypothyroidism. In some cases,
pregnancy can cause swelling and bring on carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms that resolve after childbirth. Hormonal changes during
menopause may be another risk factor in developing CTS.
Wrist injuries may also cause the area to swell and put pressure on the median nerve, as can activities involving repetitive motion, like long hours playing stringed instruments or using machinery like a jackhammer.
There’s some controversy about whether too much typing can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Some hand surgeons say there’s no evidence to back up a connection between computer use and CTS, but the
National Association of Neurological Surgeons and many other healthcare organizations continue to list keyboarding as one of many possible contributing factors to developing the condition.
Some
studies have suggested that prolonged use of a computer mouse may contribute, as it keeps the wrist in a flexed position for long periods of time.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs three times more often in women than men and affects over 10 million people in the United States.
Determining whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome (or something else)
Not all pains in the hand are caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, which is diagnosed by characteristic numbness or tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers, as well the side of the ring finger adjacent to the middle finger.
Symptoms of pressure in the carpal tunnel tend to worsen at night and sometimes make it difficult to sleep.
To diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask you about symptoms. They may order electrodiagnostic tests – which evaluate nerve function – to confirm the diagnosis.
Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome
To decrease your chances of getting CTS, experts recommend the following:
Manage inflammatory conditions: Since swelling is the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, working with your doctor to manage arthritis,
diabetes and other inflammatory diseases can help cut your risk of developing carpal tunnel issues.
Obesity is another inflammatory condition that
elevates risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Keep wrists in a neutral position: Flexing your wrists puts pressure on the median nerve so keeping them in a neutral position will help avoid irritating it.
Take frequent breaks: Taking breaks from your work or mixing up the type of work you’re doing will help reduce stress on your wrists.
Use less force: No matter how passionate you are about that report you’re finishing, try not to bang on your keyboard. If you use tools or operate a machine, try to relax your grip rather than holding on as tight as you can.
While at first carpal tunnel symptoms can seem like a minor nuisance, it’s important to seek help right away if you’re experiencing pain or numbness in your hands.
Dr. Nitin Goyal, a hand and wrist specialist at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH University Medical Center, notes that “Patients may find themselves dropping objects or have difficulty performing fine motor tasks as time goes on.”
He urges anyone with these symptoms to “seek early treatment from a hand, wrist and elbow specialist,” as symptoms tend to worsen with time and can lead to permanent nerve damage that may result in dysfunction of the hands.
Alleviating carpal tunnel pain
If you’re experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, Dr. Goyal says, “It’s critical to get evaluated by a hand surgeon to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome and assess how severe it is. When carpal tunnel symptoms are mild and have been going on for a short amount of time, we initially recommend sleeping with a wrist brace to keep the wrist in a relatively neutral position so that patients can avoid positions that increase pressure on the carpal tunnel.”
Dr. Ila Dayananda, on OB/GYN at
Oula Clinic in Brooklyn, New York recommends that her patients experiencing early carpal tunnel symptoms make “lifestyle adjustments, including altering work habits to minimize strain, using splints to immobilize the wrist during rest time and engaging in physical therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility.” She also suggests “ice and rest if wrists get sore or if you cannot avoid the repetitive motion sometimes.”
In more severe cases, surgery may be needed. Considered a simple procedure and done with local anesthesia, surgery to address CTS usually involves cutting the carpal ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. Carpal tunnel symptoms rarely return after surgery, according the
National Institutes of Health.
Specialists in CTS urge those experiencing symptoms to seek help as soon as possible to avoid irreversible nerve damage. Treatments have a considerably higher success rate with early intervention. “Once it gets to the point of constant numbness or weakness,” said Dr. Goyal, “the amount of nerve recovery after the carpal tunnel release is not as predictable.”
To reduce pressure in the carpal tunnel, addressing causes of
inflammation may help. Treating underlying health conditions like arthritis or diabetes that may be triggering your carpal tunnel symptoms should help alleviate swelling. Following an featuring
herbs and spices that lower inflammation can help reduce inflammation in the wrist and has numerous additional health benefits.
A
physical therapist specializing in hands can help you adapt your habits and work area to minimize discomfort and help you with stretching and strengthening exercises. Working with a PT before and after surgery can also help improve outcomes.
If you’ve been experiencing discomfort in your hands and aren’t sure whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome or something else, be sure to get evaluated by a doctor to ensure a speedy return to normal function.
.jpg)
