Coping with CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

This occurs when the median nerve in the wrist is compressed or squeezed, often by inflammation

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The median nerve controls some thumb muscles, returning information to the brain about thumb and finger sensations, and passes through the carpal tunnel between the wrist bones. When squeezed it can cause tingling, numbness, pain or aching. Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect people of all ages but is commoner in people over 50, affecting more women than men.

Symptoms usually develop gradually and include tingling, pins and needles, numbness and sometimes pain in the hand - that may extend into the forearm or further up to the shoulder or neck. Although usually worse in the thumb, index and middle fingers, sometimes all of one or both hands are affected, and often more so at night, disturbing sleep or apparent on waking. Hanging your hand out of bed or shaking it can help reduce symptoms. Activities like writing, typing, DIY or housework can bring on symptoms, but if the nerve's badly squeezed, symptoms may be continuous. Your hand might feel weak, the fingers numb, and you may drop things.