PREGNANCY AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

The tingling, numbness and painful hands are seen in some women during pregnancy could be what we know as the “carpal tunnel syndrome”. How, why and when, depends on various factors.

The sensation of tingling, numbness, and/or pain typically involves the thumb, the index, middle and ring fingers.

Women, whose work involves a lot of fingers and wrist movement and extensive use of their hands are more prone to Carpel tunnel syndrome during their pregnancy.

In the second or third trimester, hormonal changes, trigger fluid retention in the body and cause mild generalised swelling of the body. This swelling when it involves the wrist compresses the median nerve in the “carpal tunnel” of the hand and causes discomfort. The symptoms usually disappear when the baby is born and may continue for a couple of weeks or months, post-delivery. The condition may reappear during successive pregnancies.

There is no prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome, but the discomfort can be relieved by activity modification, oedema(swelling) control, splinting the wrist, steroid injections and if all fail, surgical release of the median nerve (minor surgery).

Carpel tunnel syndrome has no impact on the growth and development of the foetus. It is only discomfort and affects the mobility of the hands.

The author is a Senior Consultant – Obstetrician and Laparoscopic Gynaecologist, Manipal hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore.