How to Detect Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition in which the carpal tunnel becomes worn down, damaging the median nerve that runs through your wrist and into your hand. This nerve provides feeling to your thumb and middle and index fingers. Though CTS is often associated with typing, people who work in manufacturing jobs are more at risk. Early detection is crucial for effective treatment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Look for swelling and tenderness in the wrist. This is a sign that the carpal tunnel might be damaged. Besides repetitive motion, this swelling can be caused by a wide variety of conditions including fluid retention, a wrist sprain or rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Be aware of any tingling in your fingers, even if it starts hours after you finish working. This is one of the earliest signs of CTS, but people who suffer from the condition often don't realize it because the tingling occurs so long after working.
3. Pay attention to any pain in your fingers, wrist or forearm. Numbness, itching or burning also can occur. Again, this pain can occur long after you stop working, often in the middle of the night. If you wake up hurting, it might be related to CTS.
4. Grip your hand and see how it feels. People with CTS have trouble making a closed fist, due to numbness or pain.
5. Keep your wrist bent for about a minute. If this is painful, it is time to see a doctor.

Tips & Warnings

• Often, symptoms that seem like carpal tunnel syndrome are caused by an underlying condition. Only a doctor can correctly rule out other possibilities and make the right diagnosis.