Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Overview

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common nerve condition that occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed, leading to numbness, tingling and sometimes weakness in the hand. It's more common in women and in middle-aged or older adults, and it usually affects one hand, though it can occur in both. Pregnancy, being overweight, diabetes, an underactive thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis and repetitive hand use can all raise the risk or make symptoms worse.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Did the Phalen test, Tinel sign, or nerve conduction testing confirm carpal tunnel syndrome, or could my symptoms have another cause?
• Is an underlying condition, like diabetes, thyroid disease or arthritis, contributing to this, and should that be treated too?
• Would a wrist splint, activity changes, or a cortisone injection be reasonable to try before anything more invasive?
• At what point would you recommend carpal tunnel release surgery, and what does recovery involve?
• What hand positions or activities should I avoid at work or at home to keep this from getting worse?

Getting Care

A rheumatologist or hand specialist can evaluate carpal tunnel syndrome, especially when it's connected to an underlying condition like arthritis, and discuss whether nonsurgical treatment or carpal tunnel release surgery is the right next step. Seek care sooner if you notice worsening weakness, dropping objects more often, or numbness that isn't improving, since delaying care can allow nerve damage to progress.

Source: https://rheumatology.org/patients/carpal-tunnel-syndrome