Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The median nerve and the tendons which connect the fingers to the muscles of the forearm are housed in the passageway of the wrist known as the Carpal Tunnel. Swelling of the median nerve and/or tendons can result in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) which can cause pain in the hand and wrist. CTS, while most common in women ages 30-50, can occur in any person who performs repetitive motions of the hand and wrist such as typing, driving, writing, etc. or plays sports which involve a heavy dependency on hand and wrist movements.
Symptoms may include:
- Pain in the hand and wrist
- Tingling and numbness
- Weakness
- Typically, patients will wake at night with a burning or aching pain with numbness and tingling and will shake their hands to obtain relief and restore sensation.
Trigger Finger
Trigger finger is a condition in which your finger or thumb locks or catches in a bent position. The finger or thumb may straighten with a snap (like a trigger being pulled and released). In a severe case, the finger may lock in the bent position. This is caused by inflammation of the tendons in the finger being pulled through a narrowed tendon sheath.
Symptoms may include:
- Soreness at the base of the affected finger
- Painful clicking or snapping when attempting to bend or extend
- Clicking, snapping, or catching worsens after periods of inactivity
- In more severe cases, the affected finger may lock in to either an extended or flexed position
