Carpal tunnel is NOT from typing
Does your hand wake you up at night, numb and tingling? That can be carpal tunnel, and it is usually not what people think. The median nerve runs through a narrow tunnel in your wrist, and when it gets squeezed you feel it in your thumb, index and middle finger. Here is the surprising part: it is usually not from typing, and if your little finger goes numb too, it often is not carpal tunnel at all.
Dr. Jesse Dashe, hand surgeon, San Leandro CA. DrDashe.com, (510) 297-0550.
Educational only. Not medical advice.
Transcript
If your hand wakes you up at night, numb and tingling, this one [music] is for you. That is carpal tunnel. One of the main nerves to your hand runs through a narrow tunnel in your wrist. The tunnel cannot stretch, so when pressure [music] builds inside it, the nerve gets squeezed. It shows up as numbness [music] or tingling in your thumb, your index, and your middle finger. Your hand falls asleep, often worst [music] at night, and you shake it out to wake it back up. But here is what surprises [music] people. It is usually not from typing, and your little finger is the [music] tell. If your pinky goes numb, too, it often is not carpal tunnel at all. Carpal tunnel [music] is one of the best understood problems in all of hand surgery. If this sounds like your hand, a hand specialist [music] can help.