Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs as the result of compression of the median nerve. This nerve comes though a space called the carpal tunnel. When the space is too tight or is pinched off, the nerve suffers pressure and the result is tingling, numbness, pain in the hand and specifically in the thumb, index, middle, and adjacent side of the ring finger. Other fingers are affected by damage to the ulnar nerve.
Causes are bad sleeping position (hands curled up with wrists bent), repetitive motion jobs, writing, typing, and the like.
Protecting the hands from this position is the best prevention and treatment of mild disease. Use of wrist splints at night can greatly reduce the chance of permanent damage. Splints can be obtained from chain stores such as CVS, Walgreen's, etc. or from a surgical supply store. They will cost about $15-20 per splint. You may want to try just one at first to see if you see an improvement. Imrovement should be noticeable on the first morning after you wear the splint, but if there is damage it may still bother you as the day goes on.
Alternately, you can see a hand specialist or a plastic surgeon for other methods of treatment such as surgery to release the median nerve from any scar tissue that is around it. You may need to see a neurologist as well for the testing (EMG) of the nerves to determine the extent of damage and the need for surgery.
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