When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it can turn your life upside down. It’s a common problem that can affect one or both of your hands, making it difficult to perform daily activities. Though treatments do help, it’s important to understand how certain habits you may have actually worsen this condition.
At Kellogg Brain and Spine, located in both Portland and Wilsonville, Oregon, our team can help you when you’re dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Jordi Kellogg is our esteemed neurosurgeon, who also provides care and treatment for carpal tunnel disorder through both conservative measures and surgery.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Your carpal tunnel is actually a tiny canal in your wrist that’s formed by your wrist bones. This canal houses the tendons and nerves that innervate your fingers. One of the main nerves that runs through your carpal tunnel is known as your median nerve.
Your median nerve allows you to feel sensations with your middle finger, index finger, and thumb. It also provides feeling to part of your ring finger.
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve becomes compressed in your carpal tunnel. This leads to a variety of symptoms, including numbness and pain in your hand or wrist. It often starts out mild but continues to worsen as the nerve is compressed for longer periods of time.
If not treated early, carpal tunnel syndrome can sometimes lead to permanent damage to the median nerve. The pressure needs to be relieved early to prevent your symptoms from continuing to worsen.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is brought on by a number of different conditions, including diabetes and arthritis. You may also suffer from this condition because of pregnancy or repetitive use of your hands and wrists.
Understanding the symptoms
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome often start out mild and worsen over time. In the beginning, you may only notice your symptoms at night or occasionally during the day. As the condition worsens, your symptoms also take a turn, and they may include:
As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, your symptoms usually become worse and more frequent. You may find yourself dropping objects a lot, or you might have trouble with the simplest of tasks, like tying your shoes.
When the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome begin to affect your quality of life, it’s time to see Dr. Kellogg to discuss what you can do to get relief. Although treatments are proven to help, it’s also important to understand how certain habits could be making the condition in your hands much worse.
These habits could be making it worse
If you already have carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be doing things regularly that are making the condition worse. Bad habits in your hands and wrists can actually speed up the progression of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some of these habits include:
Poor posture
When you slouch or allow your shoulders to fall forward, you’re putting excess pressure on the muscles in your shoulders and neck. When these muscles become tight, it can lead to nerve compression down your arm, sometimes causing carpal tunnel syndrome to get worse.
Repetitive activities
Activities such as texting, painting, and knitting can all lead to worsening carpal tunnel syndrome. These activities require you to constantly use your wrists and hands. If you don’t take proper breaks from these activities, inflammation can ramp up in your wrist, putting more pressure on the median nerve.
Holding on too tight
Gripping tools or objects too tightly puts excess strain on the nerves in your hand. Over time, this can in fact make your carpal tunnel condition much worse. Loosen your grip on your phone, and type lightly when working on a keyboard.
Typing at the wrong angle
Wrist position also has a lot to do with your symptoms. If your wrist is bent too far up or down, it strains the median nerve, causing carpal tunnel syndrome. When typing or performing other activities, keep your wrists at a neutral angle to avoid excess wear on the nerve.
If your symptoms aren’t improving with better habits and conservative measures, Dr. Kellogg may recommend an endoscopic carpal tunnel release. This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows Dr. Kellogg to take the pressure off of your median nerve to hopefully resolve your symptoms.
If you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and need expert care, don’t hesitate to call one of our offices in Portland or Wilsonville, Oregon, to schedule a consultation. You can also click the request an appointment button while you’re here on our website.
FAQs
Swelling and inflammation: When tissues in and around the carpal tunnel swell up, they could press on the median nerve. Swelling and inflammation could result from: Frequent, repetitive movements with the hands. Extending or flexing the wrist for long periods of time.
What does carpal tunnel syndrome affect the ________________? ›
It is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of the hand. When the median nerve is compressed, symptoms can include numbness, tingling and weakness in the thumb and fingers.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome caused by? ›
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tunnel becomes narrowed or when the tissue surrounding the flexor tendons (known as synovium) swells, putting pressure on the median nerve and reducing its blood supply. This abnormal pressure on the nerve can result in numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the hand.
How does carpal tunnel syndrome affect your daily life? ›
Having carpal tunnel syndrome can limit the things you can perform in your daily tasks. You may find yourself having difficulty to hold onto small items and carry or lift things. Also, it may be painful to brush your hair, open a jar or bottle, and sign or sort documents.
What activities are bad for carpal tunnel? ›
Any job or activity that demands repetitive movements of the fingers and wrist, awkward hand movements, vibration, and/or mechanical stress on the palm increases the risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The occupations associated with CTS tend to emphasize strong tugging, pulling, pushing, or twisting movements.
What food is bad for carpal tunnel? ›
Foods to Avoid for Carpal Tunnel
- Sugary breakfast cereals.
- White bread.
- White flour.
- Pasta (try whole grain instead)
- White rice.
- Many desserts, including ice cream, cake, pies, cookies, and candy.
Objective. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common median nerve entrapment neuropathy characterized by pain, paresthesias, diminished peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and maladaptive functional brain neuroplasticity.
Is carpal tunnel a disability? ›
Yes, you can get disability for your carpal tunnel. But qualifying isn't easy. You'll have to provide thorough documentation that proves you cannot work because of your carpal tunnel. A disability lawyer can also increase your odds of approval, and help you ensure you have enough medically-acceptable proof to qualify.
What organs are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome? ›
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a peripheral nerve disorder in which a nerve becomes pinched or compressed. Peripheral nerves connect the body with the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). This syndrome involves the carpal tunnel nerve, also known as the median nerve.
What is mistaken for carpal tunnel? ›
Arthritis is another common condition, affecting over 24% of adults, which can be misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms of arthritis affecting the hand and wrist area. Osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to the joint cartilage and bones.
Here are five ways you can treat your carpal tunnel syndrome at home.
- Ice it down. Ice your wrist or soak it in an ice bath for 10 minutes to 15 minutes once or twice an hour. ...
- Wrist splints. ...
- Shake it off (gently) ...
- Pain relievers. ...
- Warm water treatment. ...
- Ergonomic changes. ...
- Cortisone shots.
Whether on your back, your stomach, or your side, the best sleeping position for people with carpal tunnel is one that protects your wrists from strain and pressure throughout the night. Get plenty of magnesium.
What's the worst that can happen with carpal tunnel? ›
Muscle loss. The most severe symptom of carpal tunnel is muscle loss at the base of your thumb. This occurs because of lack of muscle movement. When left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause irreversible nerve damage.
What are the red flags of carpal tunnel syndrome? ›
The most common warning signs are pain, tingling, and numbness in the fingers (all but the pinky). Other symptoms may include: A feeling that your fingers are full or swollen. Muscles at the base of the thumb becoming smaller than they used to be.
What is the best medication for carpal tunnel pain? ›
Take a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). Wear a snug, not tight, wrist splint at night. You can buy these without a prescription at most drugstores or pharmacies.
Carpal Tunnel: Causes, Symptoms, and DiagnosisHealthlinehttps://www.healthline.com ›
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve as it passes into the hand. The median nerve is located on the palm side of your hand.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain, tingling, and numbness in your hand from pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. Learn more about symptoms, causes, trea...
Diagnosis · X-ray. You may need an X-ray of the affected wrist to exclude other causes of wrist pain, such as arthritis or fracture. · Ultrasound....
DON'T use vibrating hand tools. DON'T hold your hand or wrist in awkward positions. DON'T use repetitive movements of the hand or wrist, especially forceful grasping or pinching. DON'T use direct pressure over the palm and wrist.
How do you calm carpal tunnel pain? ›
Take short, frequent breaks from repetitive activities involving the use of the hands. Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Rotate the wrists and stretch the palms and fingers. Take a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
Why did my carpal tunnel suddenly flare up? ›
Repetitive Hand Movements
CTS is often related to repetitive motions like typing, writing, or any continuous wrist movements. These activities can lead to swelling around the carpal tunnel, exerting more pressure on the median nerve.
How do you know when a carpal tunnel is severe? ›
The most severe symptom of carpal tunnel is muscle loss at the base of your thumb. This occurs because of lack of muscle movement. When left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause irreversible nerve damage.
