Symptoms include numbness, pins and needles, and pain particularly at night. Anything that causes swelling inside the wrist can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, including repetitive hand movements, pregnancy and arthritis.
Possible treatments include rest, splinting, cortisone injections and surgery. The carpal tunnel The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist, which opens into the hand. It is surrounded by the bones of the wrist underneath and the transverse carpal ligament across the top. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel and gives feeling to the thumb, forefinger, middle finger and half of the ring finger. Many tendons also pass through this carpal tunnel and if any swelling occurs, the large median nerve can easily be compressed, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Flexor tendons run through the carpal tunnel into the hand. These tendons are covered by a smooth membrane called the tenosynovium and allow hand movement.
Any thickening from inflamed tendons or other causes of swelling can reduce the amount of space inside the carpal tunnel. If left unchecked, the median nerve is squashed against the transverse carpal ligament until the nerve cannot function properly.
Numbness and pain are the result. It can affect one or both hands. The muscles of the thumb are also serviced by the median nerve. A person with advanced carpal tunnel syndrome may find they cannot properly use or move their thumb any more, and may find it difficult to grasp objects. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include: Numbness Pins and needles Pain, particularly at night Darting pains from the wrist Radiated or referred pain into the arm and shoulder Weakness of the hand The little finger and half of the ring finger are unaffected.
Causes of carpal tunnel syndrome In some cases the cause cannot be found. Sometimes there is a combination of factors such as: Arthritis — various types of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, can cause inflammation and swelling Pregnancy — the hormones associated with pregnancy cause general fluid retention, which can compress the nerve.
Carpal tunnel syndrome triggered by pregnancy usually goes away soon after birth Wrist fractures — bone fragments can irritate the tenosynovium or reduce the amount of space in the carpal tunnel Congenital factors — some people have a smaller carpal tunnel than others Overuse injury — the tendons in the carpal tunnel can become irritated and inflamed by awkward postures or repetitive hand movements.
Risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome Some people are at higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, including: Women between the ages of 40 and 60 years Pregnant women People with certain types of arthritis Anyone who experiences a period of rapid weight gain People who use their hands repetitively in their day-to-day activities, such as typists or assembly line workers.
At first, the pain and stiffness may be slight. But they may increase until your hand hurts all the time. You can suffer permanent damage if the cause is not addressed. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome Surgery is one treatment option for carpel tunnel syndrome. The surgeon makes an incision cut less than 5 cm long in your palm, and perhaps into the wrist as well, to expose the transverse carpal ligament.
The surgeon then cuts the ligament to reduce pressure on the underlying median nerve. It does not control the little finger. Pressure on this nerve can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness in the hand and wrist, and this may cause pain to radiate up the arm and even to the shoulder.
CTS can develop for various reasons. However, it is more likely if the person frequently uses extremes of wrist motion, if they are exposed to vibration, and if they repeatedly use their fingers, for example when typing. The most common causes are thought to be:. Researchers have found that a previous wrist fracture and the use of insulin , metformin, and sulphonylureas are associated with a higher chance of CTS. Smoking, hormone replacement therapy HRT , the combined oral contraceptive pill, and oral corticosteroids did not appear to be not linked to a higher risk of CTS.
One study has suggested that obesity , combined with a square-shaped wrist shape, may increase the likelihood of CTS developing. However, the team concluded that obesity was probably not the cause, because when participants with obesity lost weight, they continued to have CTS.
The same team concluded in other research that the age of women at the menopause might be a factor, and that pregnancy-related hormones may increase the risk of CTS in women at the time of the menopause. Postmenopausal women who use aromatase inhibitor drugs for breast cancer often experience CTS.
Apart from work-related factors, the main risk for CTS is inflammatory arthritis, but hypothyroidism and diabetes also appear to increase the chance of developing it, according to research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
According to the National Library of Medicine, there is no evidence that using a computer increases the risk of CTS, but ergonomic keyboards with an elevated and curved keyboard may reduce strain by helping to keep the hands in a neutral position.
Some people recommend hand movement exercises, including yoga, and massages, but research has not confirmed that these are effective. Repetitive strain injury RSI covers a range of painful or uncomfortable conditions of the muscles, tendons, nerves, usually due to repeated or….
Wrist pain is a common complaint and can have many different causes. This article looks at some of these, including carpal tunnel syndrome and…. Bursitis is an inflammation of one or more of the bursae. Examples include tennis elbow and housemaid's knee. Find out more about bursitis, including….
The ulnar nerve gives sensation to the forearm and fourth and fifth fingers. Entrapment occurs when the nerve is compressed or irritated. Carpal tunnel syndrome: What you need to know.
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Exercises Causes Prevention Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful, progressive condition that occurs when the median nerve in the wrist is compressed.
Share on Pinterest Carpal tunnel syndrome causes discomfort in the hand and up into the forearm. Share on Pinterest CTS is linked to repetitive hand movements, but there is no evidence to suggest that computer use is a significant factor. Share on Pinterest Cold makes symptoms worse, so wearing gloves in winter can help.
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Related Coverage. Why does my wrist hurt? Tennis elbow and other types of bursitis. Show references Carpal tunnel syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed Nov.
Carpal tunnel syndrome. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Kothari MJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome. Spagnolo F, et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Yung M, et al. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. Amadio PC expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Hunter AA, et al. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Mayo Clinic; Riggin EA. Allscripts EPSi. Shiri R, et al. Computer use and carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. Related Carpal tunnel anatomy Carpal tunnel exercises: Can they relieve symptoms?
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