Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by swelling of the passage in the wrist where the median nerve enters the hand. It can cause tingling and pain, and weakness in the fingers, hands and wrists. This is a common condition, affecting around 6% of the adult population. Most cases of carpal tunnel are caused by repetitive tasks or can be caused by genetics or medical conditions. If you are experiencing pain and swelling in your hand or wrist but aren’t able to pinpoint a cause, here are some surprising carpal tunnel symptoms that may help get to the bottom of your discomfort.
Could It Be Carpal Tunnel?
The following symptoms could indicate carpal tunnel syndrome:
- You are having trouble tying your shoes. Small tasks like buttoning buttons, zipping pants or even tying your shoes have become difficult, and leads to a tingling or tight feeling in your hands.
- You can’t hold on to anything. The swelling from carpal tunnel blocks the sensation in your fingers, leading you to drop things.
- You have elbow pain. Since carpal tunnel syndrome causes inflammation to the median nerve, you could experience shooting pain up to your elbow.
- It hurts to text. If you text a lot, you may notice pain as you hold your phone. The repetitive nature of using your thumbs to type can lead to median nerve pain.
- Your fingers feel tight. You may experience a swelling sensation in your fingers which is sometimes not visible to the eye.
Carpal Tunnel Treatments
Carpal tunnel syndrome can run the gamut from mildly annoying to debilitating. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help relieve the symptoms. Pain medications and splints can often solve the problem, but for more severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
If you believe you are experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome, it is important to have your condition evaluated by an experienced physician. Contact the office of Dr. Steven Struhl to schedule your consultation today.
