Keyboarder’s Curse: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has become one of the best-known causes of hand and wrist pain. It is a common complaint of people who type on keyboards in an unergonomic way, but it has also been reported by frequent knitters, and others whose activities involve repetitive hand and wrist motion.

CTS occurs when a nerve called the medial nerve that passes through the middle of the hand (an area called the carpal tunnel) becomes compressed.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

 

• Numbness or tingling in the hand and wrist
• Weakness in the hand and wrist that makes it hard to hold things
• Pain radiating from the wrist up the arm
• Loss of feeling in the fingers

CTS symptoms may resolve with rest, but a specialist can help treat the pain and give advice on how to prevent it from recurring.

 

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