Article Revisions
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ . American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.asshmayo.orgedu/ AM/Template . cfm . Katz RT. Carpal tunnel syndrome: a practical review. American Fam Physician. May 1, 1994.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a compressed nerve in the wrist, which subsequently causes symptoms in the hand. Pressure on the median nerve, which is inside a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, causes the nerve to malfunction. This nerve provides feeling to the thumb, index and middle fingers, and half the ring finger. It also controls several muscles in the hand, the most important of which allows the thumb to touch the little finger. Compression occurs when the tissues in the carpal tunnel swell up.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive strain injury. Although there are many causes for carpal tunnel syndrome, by far the most common is doing repetitive motions as part of your job. Fragmentation of work to the point that one person does one task over and over has been blamed for the increase in cases of carpal tunnel syndrome in recent years. There are approximately one million new cases every year.
What are the risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome?
[What are some causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?
[What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
[How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?
What are the treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Are there screening tests for carpal tunnel syndrome?
[How can I reduce my risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
[What questions should I ask my doctor?
Where can I get more information about carpal tunnel syndrome?
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
American Society for Surgery of the Hand website. Available at: http://www.assh.org/AM/Template.cfm .
Carpal tunnel syndrome: a practical review. Am Fam Physician. 1994 May 1.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a compressed nerve in the wrist, which subsequently causes symptoms in the hand. Pressure on the median nerve, which is inside a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, causes the nerve to malfunction. This nerve provides feeling to the thumb, index and middle fingers, and half the ring finger. It also controls several muscles in the hand, the most important of which allows the thumb to touch the little finger. Compression occurs when the tissues in the carpal tunnel swell up.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive strain injury. Although there are many causes for carpal tunnel syndrome, by far the most common is doing repetitive motions as part of your job. Fragmentation of work to the point that one person does one task over and over has been blamed for the increase in cases of carpal tunnel syndrome in recent years. There are approximately one million new cases every year.
What are the risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome?
What are some causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?
What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed?
What are the treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Are there screening tests for carpal tunnel syndrome?
How can I reduce my risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Where can I get more information about carpal tunnel syndrome?
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ . American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.asshmayo.orgedu/ AM/Template . cfm . Katz RT. Carpal tunnel syndrome: a practical review. American Fam Physician. May 1, 1994.
Anything that causes irritation, inflammation, fluid retention, or an abnormal growth in or around the carpal tunnel can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, including:
- Repetitive movements of the hands, wrists, or fingers—especially overactive use of a computer keyboard, certain musical instruments, or hand tools (this is the most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Use of vibrating equipment or tools
- A narrow carpal tunnel (due to heredity)
- Wrist injury
- Water retention due to:
- Kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Hormone-related conditions, such as:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Menopause
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing's disease
- Excess growth hormone
- Medications, such as:
- Birth control pills
- Cortisone pills or shots
- Some high blood pressure drugs
- Tumors and cysts in the carpal tunnel
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
Handbook of Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests. Lippincott Raven; 1998.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop carpal tunnel syndrome with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.
Risk factors include:
Occupation
The vast majority of carpal tunnel syndrome cases are work related. People whose occupations involve repetitive work with the hands, such as keyboard operators, factory workers, typists, barbers, musicians, and vehicle drivers, are at increased risk. In addition, people who use vibrating tools, such as jack hammers, chain saws, chippers, grinders, drills, and sanders, for long periods everyday may be at increased risk.
Injuries
Wrist injuries, such as burns, broken bones, compression, or crush injuries, may increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Medical Conditions
Having the following medical conditions may increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome:
- Heart failure
- Kidney problems
- Hormone-related conditions
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Menopause
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing's disease
- Excess growth hormone
- Medications
- Birth control pills
- Cortisone pills or shots
- Some high blood pressure drugs
- Tumors and cysts in the carpal tunnel
Age
Carpal tunnel syndrome is most often diagnosed between the ages of 40-60.
Gender
Women are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome three times more often than men.
Genetic Factors
Inheriting a narrowed carpal tunnel increases your chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes symptoms in one or both hands that, more rarely, may also extend up the arm. Symptoms are caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. This nerve supplies feeling to the thumb, index, middle, and half the ring finger. It also innervates the muscles that move the thumb toward the little finger and move the index finger around in a circle.
Carpal tunnel Symptoms include:
- Tingling, burning, or numbness, especially in your thumb and index or middle fingers
- Pain or numbness that worsens with:
- Wrist, hand, or finger movement
- Sleep (symptoms may wake you)
- Hand stiffness or cramping that gets better after:
- Shaking the hand
- Waking up in the morning
- Weakness or clumsiness of your hand
- Loss of grip strength
- Difficulty touching your little finger with your thumb
- Frequently dropping things
- Pain extending up your arm
Carpal tunnel treatments often address the compression issues and core causes of the syndrome.
References:
National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nih.gov/ .
Occupational Safety and Health Administration website. Available at: http://www.osha.gov/ .
In diagnosing carpal tunnel syndr syndrome, the doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and examine your neck, arms, wrists, and hands. The physical exam will include tests of strength, sensation, and signs of nerve irritation or damage. The physical exam may include:
Tinel's Sign—The doctor will tap firmly on your wrist right over the carpal tunnel to see if it sends an electric shock feeling into your hand. You can actually do this test yourself, as well. Tap right over the creases on the inner side of your wrist between the two bones on either side of the base of your palm.
Compression Test—The doctor will bend your wrist down so that your thumb comes as close to your forearm as it will go, and then hold it there for a minute or two to see if it causes tingling and numbness in your hand.
Other tests may include:
Nerve Conduction Study—The speed at which your nerves carry signals can be determined by stimulating them with tiny electrodes attached to special machines. If conduction is slowed through the carpal tunnel, you probably have a problem in the carpal tunnel.
Electromyogram (EMG)—In a similar fashion, tiny currents can be used to stimulate muscles. The muscles respond with electrical activity that can be measured. When the nerves connecting to muscles are damaged, the muscles give off abnormal signals.
X-rays, CT Scan, and MRI Scan—These imaging tests may identify other causes of carpal tunnel syndrome or give more extensive information as to your particular problem.
Arthroscopy—This procedure is useful in both diagnosing and treating carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a minor surgical procedure during which a thin, lighted tube (arthroscope) is inserted into your wrist. The surgeon can then look through the tube to see exactly what is wrong. The same tube can be used to repair the problem, using tiny tools inserted through the arthroscope into the wrist.
References:
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html .
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .
Occupational Safety and Health Administration website. Available at: http://www.osha.gov/ .
Carpal tunnel syndrome is most often caused by activity associated with repetitive hand motion on the job. Those most at risk, such as keyboard operators, factory workers, typists, musicians, barbers, and bus drivers, can do much to prevent development of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic specialists can help you set up your workplace to be as comfortable and efficient as possible.
Lifestyle Changes
You may reduce your chances of getting carpal tunnel syndrome by taking these steps:
- Minimize repetitive hand movements when possible.
- Alternate between activities or tasks to reduce the strain on your body.
- When using your wrists, keep them straight and let your arms and shoulders share the stress.
- Use your whole hand or both hands to pick up an item.
- Avoid holding an object the same way for a long time.
- If you work in an office, adjust your desk, chair, and keyboard so you are in the best possible position:
- Back straight
- Feet flat on the floor or resting on a footrest
- Knees level with or slightly lower than your hips
- Shoulders in a neutral position, not forward or back
- Elbows bent at a 90 degree angle
- Forearms parallel to the floor and wrists straight
- Take breaks at least once an hour to:
- Rest or shake your hands.
- Massage the palms and backs of your hands.
- Do a few stretches and loosening movements of the shoulders and arms before settling in to work. Do them often during the day.
- Keep hands warm, with gloves if necessary.
- Get regular aerobic exercise such as walking or swimming.
- Cut down on caffeine and smoking, which may reduce blood flow to your hands.
Exercise
According to a report published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a simple warm-up routine may greatly reduce the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The warm-up routine is as follows: * Hold your hands in front of you as if pushing on a wall. Count to five. * Relax your wrists and fingers. * Make tight fists with both hands. * Bend both fists downward. Count to five. * Repeat each step ten times. * Then shake arms loosely while hanging at your side.
Sleeping Position
A simple change in how your wrists are positioned during sleep may reduce your risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Sleep with your wrists cocked upward instead of bent downward to minimize pressure in the carpal tunnel.
The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Guidelines
At this time there are no screening tests or screening guidelines to detect carpal tunnel syndrome before symptoms begin.
You have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor about your personal risk factors and/or experience with carpal tunnel syndrome. By talking openly and regularly with your doctor, you can take an active role in your care.
General Tips for Gathering Information
Here are some tips that will make it easier for you to talk to your doctor:
- Bring someone else with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask.
- Write out your questions ahead of time, so you don't forget them.
- Write down the answers you get, and make sure you understand what you are hearing. Ask for clarification, if necessary.
- Don't be afraid to ask your questions or ask where you can find more information about what you are discussing. You have a right to know.
Specific Questions to Ask Your Doctor
About Symptoms
- What else could account for these symptoms?
About Your Risk of Developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Given my work or lifestyle, how concerned should I be about developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Since I do repetitive hand motions at work, what can I do to reduce my risk of carpal tunnel syndrome?
About Treatment Options
- I've heard there are several ways to treat this condition. Which treatment will be the most effective and long lasting for me?
About Lifestyle Changes
- I can't seem to make all the lifestyle changes at once. Which are the most important to attempt first?
About Your Outlook
- Should I explore a change of occupation, either permanent or temporary?
- Among my other job possibilities, which are the best options for my condition?
- Can carpal tunnel syndrome cause permanent disability?
