#Symptoms of carpal tunnel skin#

It is still debated whether repetitive work activities cause carpal tunnel syndrome, but it is thought that some repetitive hand activities, especially motions that can produce vibrations, can worsen the symptoms. In these instances, especially when untreated, individuals can experience hand weakness, impaired use of the hand, and loss of sensation in their hand due to permanent nerve and muscle damage.Ĭarpal tunnel syndrome may occur in patients who are pregnant, overweight or have various medical conditions, including thyroid disease, diabetes or arthritis, or injuries such as wrist fractures. In some severe and chronic cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, loss of muscle mass occurs at the base of the thumb on the palm side of the hand. However, the disease can progress to more persistent numbness and burning. Individuals will often shake their hands trying to obtain relief and may feel that their hand is swollen when no swelling is present.īecause numbness and tingling may be mild and occur only periodically, many do not seek medical help. Activities that require use of the hands, such as buttoning a shirt, may become difficult, and carpal tunnel sufferers may drop things more easily. Symptoms can occur with certain activities such as driving, holding a book or other repetitive activity with the hands, especially activities that require a person to grasp something for long periods of time or bend their wrist. In addition to numbness, patients with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience tingling, a pins and needle sensation or burning of the hand occasionally extending up to the forearm.įrequently, symptoms appear in the morning after a person wakes up, but they can also happen during the night and interrupt their sleep. Usually, carpal tunnel syndrome affects only one hand, but can affect both at the same time, causing symptoms in the thumb and the index, middle and ring fingers. Because the median nerve provides muscle function and feeling in the hand, this causes symptoms ranging from mild occasional numbness to hand weakness, loss of feeling and loss of hand function. When the median nerve in the wrist is squeezed (by swollen tissues, for example), it slows or blocks nerve impulses from travelling through the nerve. Flexor tendons help flex or bend the fingers. The median nerve and nine flexor tendons to the fingers pass through the carpal tunnel. This ligament stretches over the top of the tunnel. The remaining side of the tunnel, the palmar surface, is composed of soft tissues, consisting mainly of a ligament called the transverse carpal ligament. Eight small wrist bones form three sides of the tunnel, giving rise to the name carpal tunnel.

#Symptoms of carpal tunnel skin#

The carpal tunnel is located at the wrist on the palm side of the hand just beneath the skin surface (palmar surface). However, there are many other conditions which can cause similar complaints, so it is important to know the difference.Ĭarpal tunnel syndrome is possibly the most common nerve disorder experienced today. Because of widespread familiarity, people often attribute any discomfort or pain in the hand or wrist to carpal tunnel syndrome. Middle-aged to older individuals are more likely to develop the syndrome than younger persons, and females three times more frequently than males.Ĭarpal tunnel syndrome symptoms range from mild occasional numbness in the fingers to hand weakness, loss of feeling and loss of hand function. It affects 4 – 10 million Americans and is usually very treatable. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated effectively with medications, splinting, and steroid injections in the wrist and/or surgery.Ĭarpal tunnel syndrome is possibly the most common nerve disorder experienced today.Physicians can diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome by history of the symptoms, physical examination and electrical nerve testing, and in some cases by use of ultrasound or MRI.Other conditions, such as arthritis, tendonitis and other nerve involvement, need to be ruled out before diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.Carpal tunnel syndrome may interfere with hand strength and sensation, and cause a decrease in hand function.In severe cases, sensation in the affected fingers or ability to perform fine motor tasks can be lost permanently. In some cases, this might cause you to drop things or feel clumsy with your hands. Many individuals experience symptoms at night as many people bend their wrists while sleeping, which further compresses the nerve.Īctivities that involve gripping, such as holding a hairdryer, phone, or steering wheel, also can bring about these sensations of pain, numbness or tingling. The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are pain, numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.