Carpal Tunnel
Numbness of the hand is a fairly common neurological symptom that patients report to their physicians. While there are many potential causes for numbness of the hands, one of the most common is carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Since the median nerve supplies sensation to the thumb, index, and middle finger, as well as strength of the muscles of the thumb, patients will often note numbness and weakness in these areas. Numbness may be most significant during night when it can actually wake a patient from sleep or during the day when carrying out activities requiring bending of the wrist.
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome includes rest, the use of a wrist splint during sleep, or in some instances, a relatively mild operative procedure under local anesthesia that relieves the pressure on the median nerve. The results of surgery are quite good, with most patients getting relief of their symptoms.
Reproduced with permission from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons 5550 Meadowbrook Dr., Rolling Meadows, IL 60008; www.neurosurgerytoday.org, 2005