Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
Ask the doctor
Q. I wake up every night with numbness and tingling in my hands. My sister says I must have carpal tunnel syndrome. Could she be right?
A. She certainly could be. Spurred by increased pressure within the carpal tunnel — a narrow passage in the wrist containing the median nerve and tendons that run into the hand — carpal tunnel syndrome can also cause your hands to fall asleep when driving or even holding a book. It's more common among women and older adults, but also in people with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or thyroid problems. It's believed carpal tunnel syndrome can also result from excessive keyboard use, and this motion can definitely aggravate symptoms.
Most people with the syndrome have only mild symptoms and can benefit from wearing a carpal tunnel splint — available in drugstores and online — while sleeping or doing activities that lead to symptoms. See your doctor if that approach doesn't bring relief. Other remedies include a cortisone injection to reduce inflammation or minor surgery, which relieves pressure on the median nerve by "releasing" the carpal tunnel ligament.
Image: © andreswd/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 天博体育 Publishing; Contributor
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