Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects the carpal tunnel region of a person’s hand. This “tunnel” consists of bone, tendons, tissue, and many nerves, all of which work together to provide the hand, arm, fingers, and wrist with unrestricted movement. But, if inflammation within the tunnel causes swelling, the pressure will cause a number of symptoms, including hand pain, numbness, tingling sensations, and much more. The cause of the carpal tunnel swelling can vary, but it is often a sign of other health conditions, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, or repetitive, unnatural movements in the wrist or hands.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome typically impacts women more than it does men. In fact, women are three times more likely to suffer from it. Although anyone can fall victim to the symptoms, those who type for long periods of time or spend a lot of time working with their hands are more prone to developing the disorder. Although the symptoms can be temporary and the syndrome can fade away on it’s own, people often suffer from symptoms for years due to the repetitive stress on their joints. In these cases, the condition can persist for a long time and the symptoms will worsen with time. Here are eight of the most common signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
1. Hand Pain
Pain in the hand is probably one of the most common signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; however, pain in this area can also be a symptom of arthritis, so it is important to be able to distinguish the difference between the two disorders. Pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome often extends all the way to your forearm and is often triggered by repetitive motions or holding your hand in an uncomfortable position for a long period of time, such as holding a phone while driving. Using hand splints, medications, or injections can typically treat this pain. In some cases, however, surgery may be required.
2. Hand Numbness
Hand numbness is another extremely common symptom of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This symptom, is also synonymous with that of arthritis. However, those who are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome often experience numbness that only affects their thumb and first three fingers, but does not affect the pinky finger. The numbness can also wake you up at night or be more severe right after you wake up in the morning. Numbness from this condition also often improves after shaking your hands; however, this is only really effective when in the early stages of the disorder. As with pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the numbness may be triggered by holding your hand in an uncomfortable position for an extended period of time.
3. Pins and Needles
Another possible symptom of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is pins and needles. This sensation is described as feeling similar to when your foot falls asleep after you’ve been sitting on it or in an odd position for a significant amount of time. For those who are experiencing the pins and needles feeling from their foot falling asleep, the sensation is typically uncomfortable, but not painful. If the tingling sensation is due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it can also be accompanied by pain. In those who are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, this tingling sensation is often felt only in the fingers, minus the pinky. If it’s felt elsewhere, the victim is probably not suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
4. Hand Clumsiness
The numbness and pins and needles sensation in the hands or arm can often lead to clumsiness when picking up objects or working with the hands. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome makes the hands weaker, so those who are suffering from it may notice that they drop objects more often or have trouble gripping smaller objects and instead have to scoop them into their hand. In some cases, people have reported randomly dropping things that they thought they had a good grip on. Even common tasks, such as brushing your hair or opening something become difficult for those who are experiencing hand clumsiness.
5. Hand Weakness
Frequently dropping objects and general clumsiness in their hands is a result of the hand becoming increasingly weak. Carpal Tunnel affects the pinching muscles in the thumb, which the median nerve controls. As a result, those who are suffering from the condition will feel as though they can’t pick up even the smallest of objects and may drop things more easily. This symptom, perhaps more so than some others, can be debilitating, especially for those who work with their hands on a regular basis. To remedy hand weakness, you can try massaging your hands with oil or using a hot and cold compress.
6. Wrist Weakness
Similar to hand weakness, some people suffering from Carpal Tunnel also experience weakness in their wrists. Weakness in this area may even be more prominent since the carpal tunnel is located in the wrist. Pressure on the median nerve, also in the wrist, can cause this weakness to occur. You can help ease the severity of this symptom by using splints on your wrist, relaxing your grip, or taking breaks from repetitive tasks like typing or playing an instrument. Be sure to take some time to stretch out your wrists and wiggle your fingers to improve blood flow and ensure that you don’t experience more wrist weakness in the future.
7. Evening Hand Pain
Hand pain from Carpal Tunnel is often first noticed at night. This is because your hands are in a more relaxed position while you sleep. People also rarely sleep with their wrists in a straight, natural position. This causes pressure on a normal wrist to double, but for those who are suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the severity of the pressure can much more than double. An odd sleeping position pinches the median nerve and the ligaments together and causes evening hand pain. Sleeping with a brace on your wrist at night can help to ease the pain.
8. Wrist Pain
Since the carpal tunnel is located on the palm side of your wrist, the pain from the syndrome often makes a home there. This pain can radiate to your hands all the way to your shoulder. If not treated, the wrist pain can become worse and instead of occurring intermittently, it may begin to occur consistently. The pain can also cause the muscles in your hands to weaken, making it difficult to perform simple tasks. Be sure to consult with a doctor to ensure that the wrist pain you are expiring is Carpal Tunnel and not something else, like arthritis or an injury to your hand.
