Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Very often, I get patients that come in with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel. There seems to be very specific tingling in the thumb, index, middle finger and a little bit of the ring finger. This tingling and numbness, or the “pins and needles” feeling especially comes on with typing on a keyboard or in the middle of the night.
Some common causes of CTS are:
Pregnancy
Constant compression on the palmar side of the wrist (e.g. with typing)
Diabetes
Trauma to the wrist, especially if it causes swelling
Hypertension
Thyroid Dysfunction
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve gets pinched or is under constant compression. This can happen in the neck, the elbow or forearm, or in the wrist. It’s important to try and identify where the issue is so that it can be addressed properly. Usually, some manual therapy, stretches, and changes to posture and ergonomics can relieve the symptoms of CTS. A wrist splint or brace may also be recommended by your doctor or physiotherapist to keep the wrist in neutral. In most severe cases, surgery may be indicated. Regardless of severity, a good physiotherapy intervention can provide some much needed relief of the symptoms of CTS.