Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
By Alan Peterson, M.D.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve. This is the nerve that goes through your wrist. The median nerve can become pinched in the carpal tunnel, which is a small canal, or space, near the base of the palm of your hand.
What are some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, some or all of your fingers may feel numb. You may have a “pins and needles” feeling in your hand, as if your hand is asleep. Your hand may hurt. You may have pain or a burning or prickling feeling in your arm. You may drop things. Sometimes you may feel something like “electrical shocks” from the center of your wrist into your hand.
Your symptoms are likely to be worse at night. They also may be worse when you bend your wrist while you read the newspaper, talk on the telephone, drive your car, or work at the computer.
Hanging your hand down or shaking your wrist may make your hand feel better for a while.
How does my doctor know that I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
Your doctor may be able to tell that you have carpal tunnel syndrome by examining your hand and wrist and asking you about your symptoms. You also might need to have a special test, such as a nerve conduction study. This test will show how well your median nerve is working.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?
It may help to wear a special splint that keeps your wrist in a neutral position while you sleep. You also might choose to wear the splint during the day. Exercises to stretch the carpal tunnel may help.
Your doctor might have you take a steroid medication in pill form or some other anti-inflamatory drug..
If your symptoms bother you a lot or you do not get better after a period of time, you might need carpal tunnel release surgery. Obviously trying to decrease the amount of activity involving your wrist that might be causing increased inflammation in the carpal tunnel will also be helpful.
What is carpal tunnel release surgery?
During carpal tunnel release surgery, the surgeon cuts the band that forms the top part of the carpal tunnel. This takes some pressure away from the median nerve.
Carpal tunnel release surgery can be done through a cut in the palm of your hand with the aid of small surgical instruments.
You will need to wear a wrist splint for some time after the surgery.
Dr. Peterson is a doctor of Family and Community Medicine at the Walter L. Aument Family Health Center, 317 S. Chestnut St., Quarryville.