Most Googled Injury: Here's What to Do About Carpal Tunnel

Who is at risk for carpal tunnel?

“People who are at most risk for carpal tunnel syndrome have swelling inside their wrist, which reduces the amount of space in the carpal tunnel,” Dr. Karan Desai, a hand surgeon with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, told AARP Experience Counts.

This includes pregnant women, anybody with a wrist fracture or wrist injury and people with certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Activities in the military that cause swelling could exacerbate the issue.

Women have a 3 percent risk of developing the condition in their lifetime, while men have a 2 percent risk. Dzwierzynski pointed to hormonal changes as a potential reason for the difference. 

What military roles are more associated with CTS?

Repetitive work involving the hand or wrist increases risk. “There is an association with very high force jobs and extreme repetition,” said Dzwierzynski. “It’s a combination of the gripping strength and repetition.” Tasks cycled every 30 seconds or so, keeping the hand and wrist in the same position, are especially problematic. 

Dzwierzynski said: “There are military equipment and ammunition types that have a lot of vibration, which certainly has high evidence of association with carpal tunnel.” 

What are the treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome?

The condition isn’t one that just goes away or regresses. Some patients seek help at the first sign of numbness, while others wait decades, by which time there might be permanent harm.

“If you have symptoms of carpal tunnel, you should seek help as there are solutions that can fix the problem for good,” said Desai. “It is important to take the pressure off the nerve to prevent permanent damage and permanent muscle loss. If the disease is treated in a timely fashion, there can be a complete cure without any residual symptoms.”

Treatment starts with wearing a splint to prevent the hand from getting stuck in various positions during sleep. From there, some patients get a steroid shot to help with pain, though Dzwierzynski said this was only effective in around 10 percent of his patients. “Most people will eventually need surgery.”

The good news is that this operation has advanced significantly and is now an outpatient procedure performed with a local anesthetic. It has a 95 percent success rate.

Dzwierzynski said that surgery should be seen as a last resort but is preferable to giving up exercise and hobbies. “It’s something that could really get your life back quite easily.”