Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the common hand conditions, with millions of people in the U.S. suffering from the disorder annually. The condition happens when the median nerve, which sends signals of muscle movement and sensations in your hand, becomes compressed. When this happens, it becomes difficult for you to move and use your hand as you normally do. If you are experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome Houston, it is best to address the condition as early as possible before it worsens. So, how do you know you might have carpal tunnel? In this blog, we will discuss the symptoms of carpal tunnel and know you have it.
Numbness/Tingling
Numbness and tingling sensations are common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can experience these sensations in your hand, wrist, and fingertips. However, the sensation is mostly experienced in the thumb and fingers. The severity of the discomfort often worsens when using your hand to squeeze and grip. In severe stages, the numbness can be so intense that some people feel they can cut their hands to relieve it.
Weakness
In severe cases of the carpal syndrome, you might start experiencing weakness in your hands. You will lose strength in your wrist and hands making it difficult to hold on to objects. Also, the compression of the median nerve can weaken your muscle responses, decreasing your precision and power. Combined with numbness, this weakening effect can make it hard to hold on to objects and open things. Many patients need assistance to dress, bath, and toilet.
Decreased Sensation in The Fingertips
As stated earlier, numbness is a common sign of carpal tunnel. The numbness can worsen, causing less sensation in your fingers. Your affected hand can become so numb that you won’t be able to feel cold or hot. In this case, you will need to be very careful around hot appliances. Almost all treatments, including surgery, cannot effectively reverse carpal tunnel syndrome in cases of complete loss of temperature sensation.
Arm Pain
Another symptom of carpal syndrome is a pain in the arm. However, the pain experienced can be different from other wrist and hand conditions. Normally, carpal syndrome is linked with a burning sensation or electric shock that runs from the wrist up the arm. The painful spell comes and goes based on how you use the hand and wrist, but the pain can persist as it worsens with time. When pain becomes a predominant symptom, it can be excruciating such that pain relievers can feel useless. Steroid injections might relieve pain but only last for some weeks.
Normally, these are the common symptoms of carpal tunnel. Normally, the symptoms start as tingling and numbness in the hands and fingers. However, you can also start by experiencing mild pain. As the condition becomes severe, you might experience excruciating or intolerable pain. You might also experience arm weakness and an inability to sense cold and hot temperatures with your fingers and hands. If you notice any of these signs, it is best to seek medical care before the condition becomes any worse than that.
