Symptoms and diagnosis
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common condition affecting approximately 3.8 percent of the population with a yearly incidence rate of 276 cases/100000 patients. Damage to the median nerve is caused by pressure on the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of your hand. When the median nerve is compressed, the symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm.
The anatomy of your wrist, health problems and possibly repetitive hand motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diagnosis requires the completion of electrodiagnostic studies (nerve conduction studies and EMG) to understand how much damage has occurred, and possibly an ultrasound of the wrist to look for any identifiable cause.
Proper treatment is based on the severity of nerve damage identified in nerve conduction studies. Treatment is highly effective and usually relieves the tingling and numbness and restores wrist and hand function. Carpal tunnel splints, carpal tunnel corticosteroid injections, and carpal tunnel release are recommended treatments. Tingling or numbness, usually of the thumb, index, middle, and/or ring fingers, but not of the little finger.
- You may be awakened from sleep by the symptoms
- Activities such as holding a steering wheel, phone, or newspaper may bring on the symptoms
- Weakness
