Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Brief Version

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful problem of the wrist and hand. It is very common.

What is the cause?

The pain is caused by pressure on a nerve inside your forearm and wrist.

People who use their hands and wrists in the same way all the time get this problem. For example, carpenters, painters, and typists often have this problem.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can also be caused by a wrist injury or problems like diabetes or arthritis. It is common to have it during pregnancy.

What are the symptoms?

• You feel pain in your hands, wrist, fingers, or forearm. It hurts the worst when you are using your hand.
• Your hands and wrists are numb and tingly.
• Your thumb is weak.
• You have more pain at night.
• Your hands are sensitive to cold.
• You drop things more often.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will:

• Check your hands and wrists
• Talk to you about how you use your hands.

To test your wrist, your provider may:

• Tap the inside of your wrist. It may feel like an electric shock.
• Have you bend your wrist down for 1 minute to see if it causes pain.
• Check your nerves and muscles with a machine.

How is it treated?

Your health care provider may tell you to:

• Rest your hands more often.
• Change the way you use your hands.
• Wear a wrist splint.
• Do wrist exercises.

Your provider may also give you medicine to lessen the swelling and pain. For a very bad case, you may need surgery.

If you have other problems, like diabetes, you will need to treat them first. This may help lessen the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome.

How long will it take to get better?

Sometimes the pain and swelling go away without any treatment. Most often, you will need to take medicine to help the problem.

If a pregnant woman gets carpal tunnel syndrome, usually it goes away after she has the baby.

How can I take care of myself?

Do what your health care provider says. You can also:

• Put your arm up on pillows when you lie down.
• Use different tools or use your other hand.
• Try not to use your hand too much.
• Try not to bend your wrists.

When can I return to my normal activities?

The problem might get worse if you go back too soon. It may also damage your hands and wrist for the rest of your life.

Your health care provider can tell you when it is safe to go back to your normal activities. You may go back when:

• You can hold things in your hands without pain.
• You can move your wrist easily.
• You don't feel any more pain in your hands.

What can I do to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome?

• Make sure that your hands and wrist are comfortable when you work.
• Take regular breaks.
• Do not rest your wrists on hard surfaces for a long time.
• Get treated for other conditions, like diabetes, that might cause it or make it worse.