Do you feel pain, numbness, or tingling in your hands and fingers? You might have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, but did you know that other conditions can cause similar symptoms?
However, it can be confusing because both problems have similar symptoms.
So, in this article, I will discuss two conditions that are often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome and why they occur. Let us begin.
Understanding carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve in your wrist is squeezed. This nerve runs from your forearm to your hand through a narrow space known as the carpal tunnel.
CTS can cause pain, tingling, or numbness in your hands and fingers. However, it could improve on its own in some months, but if it worsens, you may require medical assistance.
CTS is more common in women than in men and typically develops between the ages of 50-54 and 75-84.
What are the two conditions that are often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome?
Arthritis is one of the most common conditions misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. Arthritis can affect all of the fingers, but CTS does not affect the pinky finger.
Another significant difference is that CTS worsens at night, whereas arthritis is not affected by time. So, while the two conditions have similar symptoms, there are some significant differences.
Thus, in the early stages, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frequently confused with CTS.
Wrist flexor tendonitis is another condition that has similar symptoms to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Both conditions can result in tingling, pain, and numbness in the hands or fingers.
However, the key distinction is where the discomfort is felt. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects the palm side of the wrist.
This can lead to tingling in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. On the other hand, Tendonitis impacts the opposite wrist and can cause numbness in the pinky finger.
If you have symptoms in your pinky finger, it cannot be CTS because carpal tunnel syndrome does not affect the pinky finger.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
In the following section of the article, I will be discussing the common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Let us look at them:
- Weakness in one or both hands.
- Pain or numbness in one or both hands.
- Burning or tingling sensations, especially in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
- Increase in pain or numbness at night, affecting sleep
If you have symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome, you should see a doctor and start with medication.
How can I prevent carpal tunnel syndrome?
You can prevent carpal tunnel syndrome by making lifestyle changes that lower your risk of developing it. Here are some tips which will prevent you from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Stretch your hands and wrists regularly before, during, and after doing repetitive tasks.
There is no guaranteed way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but you can reduce strain on your hands and wrists by following these tips:
Stretch your hands and wrists regularly before, during, and after performing repetitive tasks. This helps to strengthen your wrists and relieves pressure in the carpal tunnel.
To reduce wrist swelling, take frequent breaks throughout activities that require repetitive hand and wrist movements.
Keep your hands and wrists in comfortable positions while using tools or working on a computer.
If you spend a lot of time on the computer and frequently use a mouse and keyboard, it’s critical to keep your hands and wrists in the proper position.
However, some keyboards, mice, and office chairs are designed to keep your wrists and hands in a natural position, reducing the risk of nerve issues and swelling.
Wear wrist splints, especially at night.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is frequently linked with movements, but how you sleep can also influence it. When you sleep, your elbows and wrists bend, compressing the nerve in the carpal tunnel.
This can cause tingling, pain, and weakness when you wake up. Wearing a wrist splint while sleeping helps to keep your wrist in a neutral position and relieves pressure on the nerve.
How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?
Carpal tunnel syndrome treatment is determined by the severity of your pain and symptoms. Below are some non-surgical options to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Avoid bending your wrist excessively.
- Wrist splints can help to maintain your hand in a neutral position, especially while sleeping.
- Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications.
- Steroid injections will reduce swelling.
If your median nerve is severely damaged, you may need surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
During the surgery, the doctor will cut the tissue band in your wrist that is pressing on the nerve to relieve the pressure. However, the decision to have surgery should be made in consultation with an orthopaedic specialist.
Summing up
Lastly, it is important to be aware of other conditions that may be confused with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Hand and finger pain, numbness, and tingling are all common symptoms of arthritis and wrist flexor tendonitis.
Arthritis and wrist flexor tendonitis can both cause hand and finger pain, numbness, and tingling.
However, they differ in some ways, such as arthritis affecting the pinky finger and tendonitis causing discomfort in specific wrist areas.
Consulting a doctor is critical for determining your condition and getting appropriate treatment.
