Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. This compression causes numbness, tingling, pain, or discomfort in the fingers (usually in the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger). The symptoms first appear during the night and worsen thereafter.

The initial treatment involves resting the affected wrist and changing work habits. A splint may be prescribed. The injection of a corticosteroid medicine into the wrist may help improve the symptoms. Ultimately, a surgery is often necessary. A small incision is made in the palm under local anesthesia to relieve the pressure exerted on the nerve by a wrist ligament.