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Author: Jeffrey Elbers, M.D.
Clinic: Banning Avenue Clinic

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     Think how often you use your hands during a typical day. We rely on our hands for not only routine daily activities, but also work and recreation. It's not surprising that approximately 3% of adults in the United States develop a condition called carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS). This problem is usually caused by overuse of the hands and wrists.                            

 

     Abnormal pressure on a nerve that travels through a space (tunnel) in the wrist causes CTS. This nerve, named the median nerve, travels in the middle of the wrist and leads to parts of the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.

 

     The symptoms of CTS are pain and/or numbness of the fingers and hand. In many cases, both hands are affected. In more severe cases, weakness of the thumb and fingers can develop, making it difficult to grip objects normally. The symptoms tend to be worse at night, waking people up from sleep. Prolonged bending of the wrist can also make symptoms more noticeable,                                     

 

     Diagnosing CTS is not always as easy as it might seem.   Many people tend to put up with the symptoms for long periods of time before seeking advice, leading to more severe injury to the nerve. A visit to a physician can usually determine whether someone is afflicted with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The physician will need to get a detailed history of the symptoms from the patient. Then, some simple examination techniques are used to test for nerve injury. If the diagnosis is still uncertain, a nerve-conduction test can be performed to determine if the median nerve is working properly.

 

If you are diagnosed with CTS, treatment will depend on the cause of the problem and the severity. Avoiding certain activities to "rest" the nerve is usually essential.

 

Wrist splints may be worn to prevent repetitive or prolonged bending of the nerve. Medications maybe helpful for some of the symptoms. In severe cases, injections of cortisone can be used to reduce the swelling in the wrist. Finally, surgery is sometimes required to release pressure from the nerve as it passes through the wrist.

 

It is almost always better to diagnose and treat CTS early as possible.  If you are having symptoms, don't ignore the problem!  You need to take care of your hands so they serve you for a lifetime.