Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Numbness of the hands, pain of the fingers and tingling of the palms are the most common carpal tunnel symptoms. It often occurs in the parts supplied by the median nerve such as the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger.

If your little finger is not affected, this may be a sign that the condition is carpal tunnel syndrome, because a different nerve than the thumb and other fingers nerves usually control the little finger.

Carpal tunnel symptoms often occur in both hands, but they are usually worse in one hand than the other. You may first notice it at night- people with this disorder can usually fall asleep, but in the middle of their slumber, they are awakened by the pain.

Mild Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Those mild carpal tunnel symptoms primarily affect the hand and sometimes the forearm, but they can radiate up to the shoulder. It includes the following:

• Numbness or pain in your hand, forearm, or wrist. Shaking or moving your fingers may ease this numbness and pain.
• Numbness or pain that worsens while using your hand or wrist, especially when gripping an object with your hand or bending your wrist.
• Stiffness in your fingers when you get up in the morning.
• Occasional tingling, numbness, "pins-and-needles" sensation or pain. The feeling is similar to your hand "falling asleep."
• Occasional aching pain in your forearm between your elbow and wrist.

Moderate Or Severe Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

With moderate or severe carpal tunnel symptoms, you may have numbness or reduced strength and grip in your fingers, thumb or hand. It may even be difficult to:

• Do simple hand movements, such as brushing your hair or holding a fork. You may accidentally drop objects.
• Use your thumb while doing simple tasks such as opening a jar or using a screwdriver. With long-lasting carpal tunnel syndrome, the thumb muscles can get smaller and weaker.
• Pinch an object between your thumb and first finger.

Carpal tunnel symptoms may develop gradually over time. It gets shoddier when you do not make a decision to put an end to the activity that is contributing to the disorder. In its early stage, you may occasionally lose some feeling in your hands. Majority of the slight cases of carpal tunnel syndrome gets better with treatments. Usually there is no permanent damage to the median nerve.

The carpal tunnel symptoms may improve by itself when the following happens:

• Fluid buildup decreases, such as after pregnancy.
• The underlying condition that caused or contributed to your carpal tunnel symptoms has improved.
• You change or stop the activity that has caused your carpal tunnel syndrome.

Remember that not all the numbness, pain and tingling are brought about by carpal tunnel symptoms. It may be caused by other disorder so it’s best to consult with a specialist to make sure.