Watch Your Wrist

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which there is significant nerve compression through your wrist. The median nerve is a long, major nerve that travels down the arm into the hand, allowing you to move your arm and hand and helping you feel sensation. It can become compressed or squeezed as it passes through the narrow path at the wrist. This compression can cause the fingers and thumb to feel tingly and numb.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, which can affect one or both hands, is a leading cause of lost time at work in the United States. Once detected, preventative measures can be taken to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent the problem from worsening.

What are the warning signs 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
• Pain from your hand up your arm
• Pain, tingling, and numbness that worsens at night and when the affected hand is warm
• Weakness in your hand, making it difficult to pick up and hold objects

See one of our wrist specialists at The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of Georgia for the evaluation and treatment of your symptoms. To schedule an appointment with a wrist specialist, call (404) 255-0226 or request an appointment online.