Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Explained: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition where pain, numbness, and tingling occur in the hand and wrist due to pressure on the median nerve, often from inflammation or narrowing of the tunnel.

Causes & Risk Factors:
• Genetic predisposition
• Repetitive hand movements
• Extreme hand and wrist positions
• Fluid retention (e.g., pregnancy)
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Wrist injuries

Symptoms:
• Tingling and numbness, especially in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers
• Pain traveling up the arm
• Weakened grip and coordination
• Dropping objects due to numbness
• Nighttime symptoms, often disrupting sleep
• Temporary relief by moving or shaking hands

Treatment:
Nonsurgical: Rest, ice, wrist splints, NSAIDS, steroid injections, and activity modification.
Surgical: Carpal tunnel release surgery, either endoscopic or traditional open surgery. Some may opt for local anesthesia.

Recovery:
• Elevate and move fingers post-surgery
• Ice the surgical area periodically
• Possible use of splint or wrist brace for weeks
• Adherence to doctor's return-to-work guidelines
• Potential referral to a hand therapist if pain persists
• Full recovery can take up to a year, with factors like arthritis or tendonitis possibly extending recovery time

[peacebeuntoyou]

Our manager booked a day of bowling for our team but since I was suffering from CTS I had no intention of going, but I was persuaded by the manager who reassured me that I could spectate only, not participate. After spectating for a while, the manager pulled me out of the seat saying 'come on, have a go'. I thought the only way to get him off my back was to try to bowl. I can tell you that it was very painful, but something happened, I can honestly say that I have no idea how many balls were bowled, but the pain had disappeared, I only noticed the pain had gone after I stopped playing and sat down again. That was about 20 years ago, I've never suffered from it since.

[hopevity]

i feel a small discomfort in my palm. i try to move my hand cuz it feels like i need to crack the bone (like cracking knuckles) but it won’t budge in the moment. but it goes away eventually.

i draw A LOT. along with piano for fun and that definitely requires lots of hand movement. i’m drawing a comic right now so you can only imagine. the way i hold the pen isn’t right. when you draw you aren’t supposed to use your wrist much. it supposed to flow. i use my wrist. so i’m trying to cut back on the wrist movement as much as possible before it actually becomes carpal tunnel. cuz maybe it is now but it’s very small discomfort

but i’ll be an artist my whole life in many ways. chef, animator, illustrator… pianist… i need to be careful.

[KatieKemna]

Mine isn’t numbness but pain and it extends to my thumb from the forearm. This didn’t start until my third trimester. I’m wondering if it’s related to carpal tunnel, pregnancy, or just haven’t slept on it wrong..

[catherinelyden]

Great video to start with, however what about the exam - phalens and tinels?

[annebartells]

I just had the nerve test done. The good news, my carpool tunnel is mild in my left hand. The bad news, its severe in my right hand. My muscles have atrophied and I lost sensation in my finger tips

[JackRyan]

I don't know if I have carpal tunnel but when I would sleep I would use my hand as a headrest and when I woke up my hand was slanted and I couldn't feel it but under water my hand would feel like pins and needles and eventually will come back to normal but I did it again 2 days ago and now my wrist hurts it's like a pulling pain and it comes and goes, I have a wrist brace currently which does help somewhat.

I hope surgery isn't an option because i already had surgery on this hand for cut tendons and well I don't have full functionality in my ring and pinky finger. I can no longer make a fist

[Moneymagi]

So that's why mine spasms and closes etc

[skepticGFX]

I play the baritone saxophone in band and my sax tech always tells everyone who plays to curve their hands so they dont get it

[DankXtracts]

I’m. A butcher, my hands fkn kill at night