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What is Carpal Tunnel and who gets it?Ìý

- One of the most common hand conditions.Ìý

- Pressure on something called ‘median nerve’ that goes through the wrist.Ìý

- The nerve goes through a narrow ‘tunnel’ (carpal tunnel) in the wrist, and when it gets compressed, you can develop symptoms.Ìý

- 1-5% of the population get it at some point. Twice as common in women as men.Ìý

- Most often seen in those between 30 and 60 years of age.Ìý

- Increased risk with pregnancy, diabetes, wrist injury, obesity, and repetitive wrist activities such as manual labour and sport.Ìý

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How do you recognise it?Ìý

- People often start to notice it at night: wake up with a tingly or numb hand and have to shake the hand out. Especially prominent in the thumb, and index, and middle fingers.Ìý

- Sometimes described as electric shock, sometimes holding the steering wheel of car, holding a newspaper.Ìý

- May be described as pain, and people often get discomfort up the forearm.Ìý

- Can cause hand weakness and cause people to drop things.Ìý

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How do you diagnose it?Ìý

- Your doctor will take careful history.Ìý

- Examine the wristÌý

- Order a nerve conduction study which shows if the nerve is being compressed.Ìý

- Sometimes an Xray or blood tests are ordered to check for any underlying condition like diabetes.Ìý Ìý

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What do you do about?Ìý

- It depends on the severity.Ìý

- Often it involves avoiding activities that make it worse, resting the hand if repetitive movements make it worse.Ìý

- Using a wrist splint to keep wrist straight – especially at night to alleviate symptoms.Ìý

- If it’s severe and ongoing, then refer to the orthopaedic surgeon, who do a simple operation to relieve the pressure on the nerve.Ìý

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