If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your symptoms appear gradually and are mild at first.
Early treatment helps you avoid surgery and prevents permanent nerve damage.
The inflammationpinches the nerve, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Verywell
Many people find their symptoms are most bothersome at night and when they engage in the same repetitive activities.
These are the top four carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms:
1.
Changes in Sensation
Pinched nerves cause tingling and burning sensations (paresthesias).
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
You may also experience electric shock sensations or tingling from your wrist up your arm.
These sensations are similar to when your foot or hand “falls asleep.”
Numbness occurs as ongoing compression damages the nerve.
As the condition progresses, the numbness may be constant.
You experience changes in sensation along the median nerve and in the areas it serves.
Carpal tunnel syndrome should not cause symptoms in the little finger.
Pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome often causes pain and aching.
The pain usually affects the palm side of your wrist, thumb, and fingers.
However, the discomfort may follow the nerve, radiating up the arm to your shoulder.
Like tingling, pain is often relieved by shaking out the hand.
For example, your rings will still fit as usual.
You may struggle to pick up and hold objects or perform tasks that require manual dexterity.
You may frequently drop items You may feel clumsy, but it’s from the weakness and numbness.
At first, this weakness is associated with the loss of sensory feedback from the brain to your muscles.
But as carpal tunnel worsens, you’re able to also develop muscle loss (atrophy).
Muscle atrophy makes treatment and recovery more challenging.
A healthy median nerve also sends sensory information from the hand to the brain.
When spinal conditions pinch these nerves, they can cause the same symptoms as carpal tunnel.
However, you might tell the difference because cervical radiculopathy causes neck pain.
Tendonitis causes pain and stiffness similar to tunnel syndrome.
However, tendonitis alone doesnt cause tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or atrophy.
Arthritis: Arthritis affects the joints in your fingers and wrist.
As a result, it may be hard to know when to see your healthcare provider.
Early treatment can also help you avoidsurgery.
Visit your primary care provider for an assessment and general health check.
To diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, your healthcare provider will review your medical history and learn about your symptoms.
They should also run electrodiagnostic tests to evaluate nerve and muscle function.
After determining you have carpal tunnel syndrome, your healthcare provider will recommend customized treatment.
Your provider should also discuss how to change your activities to reduce the pressure on your wrist.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
The primary symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
Letting it go for too long can lead to permanent nerve damage and make surgery more likely.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carpal tunnel syndrome.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Carpal tunnel syndrome.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Ulnar tunnel syndrome of the wrist.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve).
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Arthritis: an overview.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Carpal tunnel syndrome.
University of Utah Health.Wrist pain & hand pain when to see a doctor.
