Dr Bryan Betty: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – a surprisingly common issue that starts to affect the wrist and hand causing pain and discomfort.      What is Carpal Tunnel and how common is it?   A nerve compression issue – one of the most common.    Pressure on the 'median' nerve as it passes through the wrist   It causes numbness, tingling, pain, and hand weakness.   Affects around 3–6% of adults, and is more common in women.     How do you recognise it? What are risk factors?   Gradually notice tingling or numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and ring finger on the palm side.    Symptoms are often worse at night, waking people up, or after repetitive use   It can cause weakened grip, resulting in dropping objects, and pain using the steering wheel while driving.   Those at risk: people who do repetitive work, pregnant people, those with diabetes, obesity, arthritis, or thyroid disease.   It’s most common in women aged 40–60.     How is it diagnosed?   Your doctor will take a history and do an examination.   They will refer you for nerve test to confirm the diagnosis.   An early diagnosis helps prevent permanent damage.     What is the treatment?   In mild cases, night splints to keep stop the wrist 'flexing' (bending over) while asleep and reducing activity.   Manage underlying conditions which aggravate the condition such as thyroid issues, diabetes.   Steroid injections can sometimes help.   However, people are often referred to surgeon for a simple procedure to cut the ligament in the wrist that compresses the nerve.   Most people recover well with excellent long-term results.      LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.