Do you experience numbness, tingling or pain in your hand or forearm after working on your computer all day? You may have carpal tunnel syndrome, a common hand condition that affects up to 5% of the adult population.
When pressure is placed on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist, it can cause symptoms like tingling or weakness that gradually progress. Other symptoms may include:
- Numbness, tingling, burning or pain mainly in the thumb and index, middle and ring fingers
- Occasional shock-like sensations that radiate to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers
- Pain or tingling that may travel up the forearm toward the shoulder
- Weakness or clumsiness in the hand that may make it difficult to perform certain movements (like buttoning your clothes) or lead to dropping objects you’re carrying
So, what are the risk factors that may lead to development of carpal tunnel syndrome? A combination of factors can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, including:
- Hereditary factors – some people have a smaller carpal tunnel, or there may be a difference in the amount of space for the nerve. These traits can run in families.
- Repetitive hand use – repeating the same hand and wrist motions or activities over a long period of time may aggravate the tendons in the wrist, causing swelling that puts pressure on the nerve.
- Hand and wrist position – activities that involve extreme extension of the hand and wrist can increase pressure on the nerve.
- Pregnancy – hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause swelling that results in pressure on the nerve.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider. For most people, with no treatment or intervention, carpal tunnel syndrome will worsen over time, so it’s important to be evaluated soon after you begin noticing symptoms.
The dedicated orthopedic providers of Fairfield Healthcare Professionals Orthopedics can provide a physical examination to determine your diagnosis and the best treatment plan for your situation. Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome ranges from nonsurgical, like wearing a brace or taking NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), to a surgical procedure, called carpal tunnel release.