Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

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What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The primary symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are a tingling, numbness or pain in one or both hands. While it can strike just one hand, in many cases the condition goes on to affect both. It is quite common that in the early stages the symptoms are noticed in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger, and in many cases these symptoms first present themselves in the middle of the night; waking the sufferer in the early hours of the morning.

Pins and Needles / Tingling

The sensation of pins and needles is familiar to most people. When we sit in an awkward posture for periods of time we can develop the tingling sensation in a foot or leg as the blood supply that has been reduced then re-establishes its flow again. In most cases people would not refer to this tingling as pain, but in the case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the distinction between tingling and pain can become blurred.

Loss of Sensation / Numbness

Whereas pins and needles can be thought of as an increase in sensation, numbness refers to a reduction in sensitivity. This means that in some cases patients will be unable to feel the full effect of a pinprick or burn, or even touch upon the affected area. This in turn can lead to injuries where the patient has not noticed the pain that usually protects us from further damage to our bodies. This occurs as a result of nerve impairment stemming from pressure on the nerve.

Pain

Pain is usually distinct from the sensation of tingling or numbness, but is a common feature in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pain can be felt through the hand, the wrist, or even up to the shoulder, as the median nerve runs from the armpit all the way to the thumb.

Weakness

Loss of grip function and weakness are common in the more severe stages of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but can also present themselves in early or mild cases. Due to the reduction in the transmission of nerve reflexes the fine motor skills used to grip, pinch or manipulate small objects can become more difficult and many sufferers complain of dropping things and struggling to open objects such as bottles or jars.

Swelling

In a lot of cases patients describe a swelling of the hand or fingers, however frequently an objective examination of the hand will show no outward signs of this. This can be a result of the misinterpretation of the nerve impulses due to the pressure exerted upon the nerve. When swelling is noticed it is most commonly in the area just above the wrist.

Stiffness

Another symptom that can be misinterpreted is the feeling of stiffness within the hand. When examined by a doctor using a passive flexibility test, it is often the case that while the fingers seem stiff to the sufferer, they can be moved and flexed without difficulty by the examiner; this also suggests pressure upon the nerve causing the sensation. If the fingers really are stiff it is often as a result of other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

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