Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen To Call Your Doctor
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When To Call Your Doctor
Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is a condition where there is compression of themedian nerve. This nerve is located on the palm side of the hand. CTS can affect one or both of your hands.
CTS is common in pregnancy and can occur in 31% to 62% of people who are pregnant.Researchers aren’t sure why CTS is so common in pregnancy. They speculate that pregnancy-related hormones might contribute to increased swelling throughout the body.
Learn more about carpal tunnel in pregnancy, including signs and symptoms, causes, and treatment.
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The median nerve provides feeling to your thumb, index finger, long finger, and part of your ring finger. It is also responsible for pressures associated with the muscle going into your thumb.
When there is swelling inside the wrist, it can lead to compression that causes CTS. The compression of the median nerve leads to feelings of weakness, numbness, and tingling on the area of the hand closest to the thumb.
Additional symptoms of CTS that might be experienced in pregnancy include:
CTS can affect one or both of your hands. A study from 2012 in the journalAdvanced Biomedical Researchfound 47.5% of pregnant study participants had CTS that affected both of their hands.The study’s researchers further note the prevalence and severity of CTS will increase as the pregnancy progresses.
CTS is the result of the median nerve becoming compressed as it passes through thecarpal tunnelin the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a very narrow passageway containing the carpal bones and ligaments. When there is swelling occurring in the carpal tunnel, you get nerve compression. This results in pain and CTS symptoms.
Research has shown that many risk factors associated with pregnancy might be to blame for the frequency of carpal tunnel in pregnancy.
Risk factors for CTS in pregnancy might include:
An EMG can measure nerve function in your arm, wrist, and hand to confirm CTS. EMG can also check for nerve damage and help your doctor determine your treatment options.
During the EMG study, the clinician will attach small electrode stickers to your hand and arm in different areas and apply low-level electrical stimulation to measure nerve activity response.
Next, the clinician will insert a fine acupuncture-like needle in areas of the arm and hand to check muscle activity. This part of the study might be a bit uncomfortable, but it should not cause any long-lasting discomfort or pain.
CTS during pregnancy is treated conservatively using nonmedicinal, natural treatment approaches. Research shows CTS symptoms for most pregnant individuals will resolve within weeks or months after giving birth.
One study reported in 2017 in theEuropean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biologyfound that 34% of study participants reported CTS symptoms during pregnancy.
Only 11% were experiencing symptoms six weeks postpartum (after giving birth) and 6% at four months postpartum.Only 5% of the study participants were reporting CTS symptoms at 12 months postpartum.
The following treatments are generally safe for treating CTS in pregnancy:
Long-term nerve compression can cause damage that might become permanent. You should reach out to your doctor if you experience pain and numbness that lasts for days or affects your sleep or the ability to use your hands.
While it is known that CTS is common in pregnancy and the result of swelling and fluid retention during pregnancy, you should always seek help for severe pain and symptoms in your hands and wrists.
Swelling is also a common sign of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that causes dangerously high blood pressure. Much like carpal tunnel syndrome, preeclampsia also causes tingling and numbness of the hands.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Even if your doctor has diagnosed your symptoms as CTS, it is wise to keep an eye out for symptoms of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Symptoms of preeclampsia include severe headaches, vision changes (blurred or double visions), sudden weight gain unrelated to diet, dark urine, and swelling (edema) of the legs, hands, face, or entire body.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Food and Drug Administration.FDA warns that using a type of pain and fever medication in second half of pregnancy could lead to complications.
Tylenol.Dosage information for infants, children, and adults.
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American Pregnancy Association.Preeclampsia during pregnancy.Medline Plus.Preeclampsia.Preeclampsia Foundation.What is preeclampsia?
American Pregnancy Association.Preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Medline Plus.Preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia Foundation.What is preeclampsia?
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