Patient information leaflets
It is a fairly common condition. It can cause pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensation in your hands and fingers. Some people also get weakness in their fingers and, or thumb and find it difficult to write.
Your median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel, which is in your wrist (see picture). When it is squashed or compressed then you can get the symptoms described above.
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can affect one or both hands. At first symptoms come and go, often they are worse at night and when you wake up. Often people find themselves raising the hand up or hanging it down or shaking their wrist to give some relief.
It is not always known why it happens. It is thought that some inflammation develops in the tendon going through the carpal tunnel. This causes swelling and squashing of the nerve.
It can be more common:
- during pregnancy
- if you are overweight
- if you have diabetes
- if you are going through the menopause, or
- it can be the side effect of some drugs
- Some of these cause water retention.
