Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes & Risks

Why do pregnant women get carpal tunnel syndrome?

A Answers (2)

  • AMehmet Oz, MD, Cardiology, answered
    You're flooded with hormones that help the uterus grow, but your body doesn't have some off-on switch that allows you to pick and choose which parts of your body respond to them. So as your uterus grows, so do a lot of other tissues. In most parts of your body, that's not a huge problem. But think about your wrists and forearms. In such a narrow area, the tissues swell and compress the nerves. That's when you feel the shooting, paralyzing pains. Surgery isn't necessary in most pregnancy-related carpal tunnel cases, and splinting your forearms usually helps control the pain. After pregnancy, the condition promptly goes away within a few weeks in at least two-thirds of women.
  • ARachel Rohde, MD, Orthopedic Surgery, answered

    Women develop carpal tunnel syndrome at least three times more commonly than men. The reason for this is unknown but currently a topic of research. It has been proposed that the "swelling" we have during pregnancy--particularly in the third trimester--causes pressure on the nerve. However, many women develop this early in pregnancy (or even when they are using hormonal contraception). Women also develop it around and after menopause. It is suspected that there are genetic and hormonal reasons for this that go beyond "swelling." 

    Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms can be treated during pregnancy. Splinting and (in some cases) corticosteroid injections into the carpal canal can provide relief. If you are pregnant and have symptoms, discuss the options with your OB or ask for a consultation with a hand specialist.

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