Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when a nerve in your wrist, called the median nerve, gets squeezed. The nerve passes through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel. It is common, especially in women and people over 40.
Symptoms
- tingling or pins and needles in the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger
- numbness or pain in the hand, which can spread up the arm
- symptoms that are worse at night and may wake you
- a weak grip, or dropping things
- shaking your hand often eases the symptoms for a while
What makes it more likely?
- pregnancy
- diabetes, an underactive thyroid or rheumatoid arthritis
- being overweight
- a family history
- work that involves vibrating tools or repeated, forceful wrist movements
- a wrist injury
Getting diagnosed
A GP or physiotherapist can often diagnose it from your symptoms and simple tests, such as tapping the wrist. You may be sent for nerve conduction studies, which measure how well the nerve works.
Read about carpal tunnel treatment.
Common questions
Will carpal tunnel syndrome go away on its own?
Sometimes, especially in pregnancy when it often gets better after the baby is born. For others it lasts or gets worse, and treatment helps.
Is carpal tunnel syndrome caused by typing?
The evidence is mixed. Work with vibrating tools or lots of forceful, repeated wrist movements is more clearly linked than typing.
Sources we used
- NHS, Carpal tunnel syndrome
- NICE clinical knowledge summary, Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Versus Arthritis, Carpal tunnel syndrome
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