Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when a nerve that runs from the forearm into the hand is squeezed at the wrist, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS. This occurs because the nerve runs through a small passage of bones and ligaments called the carpal tunnel at the base of the hand. If there's any swelling in the area, the nerve is compressed and this painful condition is triggered.
Symptoms
At first, a person with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience frequent burning, tingling, numbness or a feeling of swelling in the palm or fingers, according to the NINDS. The little finger is rarely affected but the other four fingers are. The symptoms often start slowly at night in one or both hands. As they progress, there may be tingling during the day, pain spreading up the arm to the shoulder or a loss of strength in the hand.
Causes
Some people have a smaller carpal tunnel than others and that predisposes them to carpal tunnel syndrome. Anything that causes swelling in the wrist can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, including injury, arthritis, problems with the pituitary or thyroid gland, holding water during pregnancy or menopause, tumors, use of vibrating hand tools and repetitive use or injury. Women are three times more likely than men to develop the problem, according to the NINDS.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Sometimes drugs can be used to reduce the swelling that causes carpal tunnel syndrome and alleviate pain, according to the NINDS. Drug options include anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin or ibuprofen, and diuretics. Sometimes corticosteroids are injected into the carpal tunnel to decrease swelling.
Physical therapy and yoga can also help, according to NINDS. When symptoms are mild and the problem is caught early, a simple wrist splint can offer relief, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Surgery
If symptoms last more than six months, surgery may help, according to NINDS. In surgery, the band of tissue around the carpal tunnel is cut so that the tunnel itself is enlarged. The surgery can be done in a traditional open procedure with a two-inch incision or in a minimally invasive procedure where special tools are used to keep the incisions smaller. Both procedures are done with local anesthetic on an out-patient basis. Most people improve after surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Prevention
If you experience carpel tunnel syndrome symptoms, taking frequent breaks, doing stretching exercises, wearing splints to keep the wrists straight and using the correct posture and wrist position while performing work tasks may help but they haven't been proven effective, according to NINDS. Investing in workstations and tools that have been designed to prevent injuries that lead to carpal tunnel may also help. So can relaxing your grip and using less force to perform tasks with your hands, according to Mayo Clinic.
