There it is again. The numbness and tingling in your wrists that keeps you from doing your job. The sharp, shooting pain in your hands at night that keeps you from getting a good night's rest. Not only is this annoying, it is painful and is affecting your work and other areas of your life due to lack of rest and sleep.

What is it? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when you do repetitive work with your hands. You have a nerve in that runs through your wrist, the carpal tunnel, called the median nerve that gets squeezed or compressed.

Why does the median nerve become compressed?

The area where the median nerve runs through is called the carpal tunnel. It is a narrow, rigid tunnel of ligament and bones at the base of your hand. Sometimes, doing the same movement over and over with your hands irritates or thickens the tendons in this area and it presses on the median nerve.

What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The symptoms start out mild and then gradually build up to intense pain. The increase of pain is gradual because the tendons and ligaments are gradually swelling. It is this gradual swelling that causes the symptoms to build up slowly.

The symptoms usually start out with frequent burning, tingling, or an itching numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers. The thumb, the index and middle finger are affected the most. Many sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome report the feeling of useless and swollen fingers even though no swelling is visible.

As the symptoms gradually worsen, sufferers report feeling the tingling during the day and being wakened during the night feeling like they need to "shake the numbness out of their hands."

Symptoms can be worse at night because most people sleep with their wrists in a flexed position. This cuts off the circulation to the hands even more causing the feeling of numbness.

As carpal tunnel syndrome becomes increasingly bad, it may become difficult to pick up small objects. If the condition is left untreated, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away and the loss of sensation may occur.

If you have these symptoms, discuss them with your family physician and make a plan for treatment.

Javier Hernandez

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