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| Patient Education -- Carpal Tunnel |
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 Carpal
Tunnel
Numbness of the hand is a fairly common neurological symptom
that patients report to their physicians. While there
are many potential causes for numbness of the hands, one
of the most common is carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel
syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve
at the wrist. Since the median nerve supplies sensation
to the thumb, index, and middle finger, as well as strength
of the muscles of the thumb, patients will often note
numbness and weakness in these areas. Numbness may be
most significant during night when it can actually wake
a patient from sleep or during the day when carrying out
activities requiring bending of the wrist.
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome includes rest, the
use of a wrist splint during sleep, or in some instances,
a relatively mild operative procedure under local anesthesia
that relieves the pressure on the median nerve. The results
of surgery are quite good, with most patients getting
relief of their symptoms
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