What is the Carpal Tunnel?
It is the narrow passage/tunnel in your wrist. It contains connective tissue, tendon and the median nerve. It is the median nerve that provides movement and sensation to the fingers and hand.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Hormonal changes in pregnancy can lead to fluid retention which can collect around the wrist joints, pressing on nerves going from the forearm and wrist, through to the hand via the carpel tunnel. It is compression /pinching of the median nerve that causes the pain/tingling and is often worse at night. Symptoms can be intermittent.
Other causes are being overweight, work using constant gripping or vibration to hand/wrists, having arthritis or diabetes, previous injury to wrist or if your siblings or parents have suffered with it.
Symptoms
- Aching /pain in fingers/hand +/- wrist
- Tingling sensations/numbness
- Difficulty gripping
- Weakness in hand
Self care
Symptoms may resolve themselves, particularly if they are related to hormones in pregnancy.
Regular pain relief such as paracetamol may ease the pain but will not help treat the cause. Keeping your wrist straight at night may help relieve some of the pressure, so purchasing a wrist splint from your local pharmacy or online may be helpful. It won’t relieve the symptoms immediately but can take several weeks.
Trying to reduce activities that causes the wrist to bend or using fine motor movements; such as playing musical instruments or strenuous work that causes pressure/gripping or vibration to the wrist /arm will help reduce the symptoms.
Elevation, rest and ice. Rest and elevating your hand/arm on a pillow may ease some of the symptoms. Ice to the wrist for 10-20 minutes 3 times a day will help reduce some of the swelling, therefore easing some of the symptoms.
Try avoiding sleeping with your arm underneath you as this may worsen the symptoms. Sleeping with your wrist in a splint will keep it in a neutral position and also supporting it on a pillow in a position that eases the pain will improve symptoms.
When to see your GP
If your symptoms do not improve or if they are worsening despite some self care, then you may need to see your GP. Your GP may refer you to a specialist to discuss steroid injections to reduce the swelling or surgery. If your symptoms have only developed since being pregnant, they are likely to resolve after pregnancy within a few weeks. However if they do not resolve, then please discuss with your GP.