What Causes Hand Pain and Numbness?
The carpal tunnel is a structure in the wrist that contains the tendons that control the fingers and then median nerve, which innervates the thumb and first two fingers.
When the carpal tunnel is too small and/or inflammation occurs in the tendons that run through it, the median nerve becomes compressed, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the wrist, hand, and fingers.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Tingling and numbness in palm, thumb, or first two fingers, especially during the night or in the morning. The sensation may cause people to want to “shake out” the hand.
● Aching pain in the wrist and hand, with occasional shooting pains up the forearm
● Weakness in the hands and fingers and trouble gripping or holding objects
Carpal tunnel syndrome is treated with nonsurgical methods such as splinting, ice therapy, and behavioural modifications. It can also be treated surgically with a procedure called carpal tunnel release.
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