Possible Carpal tunnel syndrome

Dear Ask The Doctor: I have been having numbness and tingling in my fingers on both hands for awhile now. It does not hurt and I have no other symptoms or had any type of injuries. I was hoping the feeling would go away but feels like it is getting worse. I do not have a doctor or insurance and I am scared and do not know what to do. Can you please help?

Dear Alicia: According to your description, most likely you may be experiencing a Carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a disease of the hand characterized by numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness.  The disease typically affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers and is often particularly troublesome at night.

A major nerve, specifically the median nerve, travels down the arm and enters the hand through the carpal tunnel, which is located in the central part of the wrist. In people with carpal tunnel syndrome, pressure in the carpal tunnel is higher than in unaffected people, and median nerve irritation occurs.

The first line of treatment for mild carpal tunnel syndrome is to wear a wrist brace. This has been shown to relieve the symptoms from the carpal tunnel by placing the wrist in a neutral position and reducing the nerve irritation. Splinting is usually tried for a period of 4-6 weeks. Some people wear their splints at night only and others wear their splints both day and night, depending upon when the symptoms are at their worst.

If carpal tunnel syndrome persists for a long time, permanent nerve injury is possible that will cause numbness and weakness in the hand.

Treatment is directed at the preservation of hand function. Anti-inflammatory medications such as “motrin”, “Aleve” may provide some relief but they do not cure carpal tunnel syndrome.

The direct local injection of corticosteroids into the carpal canal has been shown to be an effective treatment for some people with mild carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a procedure that must be done in the doctor's office .