Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

You may have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome and wondered what it was. Often referred to as ‘CTS’, carpal tunnel syndrome is a fairly common condition that mainly affects the wrist, hands, and fingers.

Our bodies are made up of various tendons and nerves and these are all channelled into various areas of the body – in this case the hand. The carpal tunnel is situated at the bottom of the palm near the wrist and it is basically there to protect (and keep in place!) the nerves that make our fingers move.

When there is a build up of pressure within the tunnel through fluid or tissue pressure, the median nerve that runs through the tunnel is compressed and this can cause various symptoms to whoever has contracted the condition.

As the median nerve is the main nerve that controls the movement, flexibility and feeling in the hands and fingers, this can be the main reason that there are various symptoms that accompany carpal tunnel syndrome, some of these being numbness, pain, and a tingling sensation.

Although the numbing, alongside the feeling of pins and needles, and pain are the main carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, there are others to look out for as well. The mild tingling that you may have originally have felt can develop into a much stronger feeling like an extremely uncomfortable pins and needles or a strong burning sensation.

The numbness also can develop into a more serious form of itself too, where hypoesthesia can make your hands less sensitive to touch. Other carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms may also include an extension of the pain you felt at first, where your hand and sometimes the rest of your arm can begin to ache or feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes dry skin can develop around the affected area too, or the skin on the hand may change colour. The muscles in the hand and thumb may also become weak and flexibility of the fingers may become restricted if you do have CTS.

Another of the carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms can also include loss of strength in the hands and can often make you lose your agility. This can often make simple tasks like making a meal or a drink very difficult.

If you recognise any of these symptoms as your own, it is vital to keep your hand active by loosely shaking it out. If symptoms persist, you will need to speak to a professional who will recommend various treatments to suit your specific needs which could range from the use of wrist splints to surgery.