Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – a surprisingly common issue that starts to affect the wrist and hand causing pain and discomfort.   

What is Carpal Tunnel and how common is it?  

• A nerve compression issue – one of the most common.   
• Pressure on the 'median' nerve as it passes through the wrist  
• It causes numbness, tingling, pain, and hand weakness.  
• Affects around 3–6% of adults, and is more common in women.  

How do you recognise it? What are risk factors?  

• Gradually notice tingling or numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and ring finger on the palm side.   
• Symptoms are often worse at night, waking people up, or after repetitive use  
• It can cause weakened grip, resulting in dropping objects, and pain using the steering wheel while driving.  
• Those at risk: people who do repetitive work, pregnant people, those with diabetes, obesity, arthritis, or thyroid disease.  
• It’s most common in women aged 40–60.  

How is it diagnosed?  

• Your doctor will take a history and do an examination.  
• They will refer you for nerve test to confirm the diagnosis.  
• An early diagnosis helps prevent permanent damage.  

What is the treatment?  

• In mild cases, night splints to keep stop the wrist 'flexing' (bending over) while asleep and reducing activity.  
• Manage underlying conditions which aggravate the condition such as thyroid issues, diabetes.  
• Steroid injections can sometimes help.  
• However, people are often referred to surgeon for a simple procedure to cut the ligament in the wrist that compresses the nerve.  
• Most people recover well with excellent long-term results.   

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