You’re tapping your fingers on your desktop in between hours of scouring job boards online. Your fingers are starting to feel numb, your wrist is sore and the thought that you might have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and you haven’t met your deductible yet crosses through your mind. Don’t freak out. There are a surprising number of less serious potential causes for that tingling sensation.
First of all, what is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? There are eight bones in your wrist called the carpals. These bones form an arch across the backside of your wrist. Under that arch (on the soft side where you take your pulse) run the tendons that move your fingers as well as the Median Nerve. Sometimes these tendons get aggravated and swell, pinching the nerve. Because this is the nerve strand that serves the thumb, index and middle finger, and that part of the palm, you might feel a burning or tingling sensation in those areas. With more severe cases of CTS, you might even feel this sensation up your forearm and into your shoulder.
Specific causes of CTS are still unknown, though it is commonly accepted that repetitive motion, specifically flexing and extending the wrist, aggravate the condition. Contrary to popular belief, a study in Denmark showed that “computer use does not pose a severe occupational hazard for developing symptoms of CTS.” In fact, another study showed that only one out of every five people who complained of CTS symptoms actually suffered from CTS.
There are several different tests your physician can administer to see if you have CTS, but a simple (less comprehensive) do it yourself check is to pay attention to whether or not your pinky finger also feels tingly or numb. Since the Median Nerve doesn’t usually affect the pinky finger, CTS shouldn’t affect it either. So if that pinky’s aching, it’s probably not CTS.
If you’ve been typing at your computer or writing all day, what you might be experiencing is writer’s cramp; which is easily remedied with a little rest and stretching. Other possible causes that you might want to have your doctor look at include: tendinosis, Tennis elbow (pain in your elbow when you extend your wrist), or Golfer’s elbow (when you flex your wrist).
Still think you have CTS? The best course of action would be to have your doctor look at it. The most effective treatments include local or oral steroids (though the benefits are usually temporary), ultrasound, or incorporating yoga. Other common treatments with more variable results include: splinting the wrist, laser therapy, and exercise therapy. If the condition is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery.
As with just about any medical condition, the best treatment is prevention. If your job requires a lot of repetitive motion of the wrists and hands, take these tips into consideration: do exercises and stretches to strengthen your arms and hands; sleep with your wrists as straight as possible; grasp objects with your whole hand rather than just your thumb or index finger; when typing, keep your fingers lower than your wrists; and ultimately, take frequent hand breaks to stretch your wrists out and relax.
Sources:
Anderson, MD PhD, Johen Hviid, et al. Computer Use and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The Journal of American Medical Association. 2003. 5 Mar 2009. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/289/22/2963?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=carpal+tunnel&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Atroshi, MD, Isam, et al. Prevelance of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the General Population. The Journal of American Medical Association. 1999. 5 Mar 2009. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/282/2/153?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=carpal+tunnel&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Piazzini, D. B. et al. A Systematic Review of Conservative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Sage Journals Online. 2007. 5 Mar 2009. http://cre.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/4/299
Haraldson, MD, Samuel J. Repetitive Motion Injuries. WebMD. 2006. 5 Mar 2009. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/repetitive-motion-injuries
Healthwise, Incorporated. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. WebMD. 29 Oct 2008. 5 Mar 2009. http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-topic-overview
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