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Metro Health


Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common source of hand numbness and pain. It is more common in women than men and affects up to 10 percent of the population. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by increased pressure on a nerve entering the hand through the confined space of the carpal tunnel (see illustration).

The median nerve travels from the forearm into your hand through a tunnel in your wrist. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist bones and the top of the tunnel is covered by a strong band of connective tissue called a ligament.


Symptoms usually begin gradually without a specific injury. Numbness, tingling and pain in the hand are common. You may experience an electric-like shocking feeling. The thumb side of the hand is usually most involved. Symptoms at night are common and may awaken you from sleep. During the day symptoms frequently occur with holding a phone, reading or driving. Symptoms may occur at any time. Moving or shaking the hands often helps decrease symptoms. Initially, symptoms come and go, but over time they may become constant. A feeling of clumsiness or weakness can make delicate motions like buttoning buttons difficult and may cause you to drop things. If the condition is very severe, muscles in the palm may become visibly wasted.

Risk Factors:

The actual cause is unknown in most people, although carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women. The swelling that occurs during pregnancy may cause symptoms, but those will frequently go away after delivery. Carpal tunnel syndrome becomes more common as we grow older and seems to affect people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid conditions and rheumatoid arthritis more frequently.

Treatment Options:

Symptoms can often be relieved without surgery. Treatment often begins with a brace or splint worn at night to keep the wrist in a natural position. Splints can also be worn during activities that aggravate symptoms. Simple pain relievers s such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help decrease pain. Changing patterns of hand use to avoid aggravating positions and activities may also be helpful. A corticosteroid injection will often provide temporary relief, but symptoms may come back.

If your carpal tunnel syndrome continues to bother you and you do not gain relief from non-surgical treatments, surgery can be effective in diminishing symptoms.

Treatment Options Surgical:

The strong roof of the carpal tunnel is cut during carpal tunnel surgery to increase the size of the tunnel and decrease pressure on the nerve. This is done through an incision in the palm or wrist. A small camera may be used to allow the surgery to be performed through a smaller incision (arthroscopy). After surgery, elevating the hand and moving the fingers helps minimize swelling and stiffness. Minor soreness in the palm is common for several months after surgery. Most patients have improvement following surgery, but recovery may be gradual.





