Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause pain, numbness and tingling in the fingers and hands. Sometimes this pain can spread up the forearm as far as the shoulder.
Symptoms are often worse at night and may be aggravated by repetitive wrist movements such as typing or hammering. The carpal tunnel is a narrow tract between the wrist bones below and a thick fibrous layer above. The syndrome is caused when the nerve connecting to parts of the hand is squashed. It’s not always clear what causes this compression, though some things can increase your risk.
A family history of the syndrome, for example, or previous injuries to your hand, frequently using vibrating tools or pregnancy are just some.
