02 Aug Finger tips tingling, must be pregnancy

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition that is incorrectly to blame for every ache or pain in your hands, but sometimes it is actually the reason.

There are so many changes to your body during pregnancy especially in the later stages. One common condition to affect your hands is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But what actually is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? The Carpal Tunnel is a small space in your wrist where you tendons that bend your fingers and a nerve called the Median nerve run into your hand. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often caused from repetitive movements or poor positioning in the workplace but in pregnancy it is usually caused from swelling.

Carpal Tunnel can occur at any time during pregnancy but is more common at the end when you start to retain more fluid in your body.

When this affects the wrist, the carpal tunnel becomes crowded and the median nerve gets squashed in this small space. The nerve is then unable to get a message or sensation to the finger tips giving you pins and needles or even numbness and pain. Not like we didn’t have enough on our plate growing a small human.

Nearly all cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that occur in the last 2-3 weeks will resolves 2 weeks after baby is born with fluid reducing and symptoms settling. When the symptoms start early in the pregnancy they are more likely to last for up to 1 year after birth and it is even more important to seek treatment as soon as possible.

One way that we can reduce these symptoms is by providing you with a splint to keep your wrist straight and the carpal tunnel as big as possible to reduce pressure on the nerve. Another way is exercises to encourage gliding of the tendons and nerve through the tunnel and reduce fluid out of the wrist. Elevation and compression bandages also help reduce swelling and don’t forget to rest. It is hard work creating this new person after all.

If you are still having trouble with fluid, speak to your doctor about other options that are safe for you.

As you can see there are many options for treatment and it’s not necessary to put this down to another uncomfortable part of pregnancy. Once you have the Carpal Tunnel under control, then all you have to worry about is all the other aches and pains, the birth and looking after your new baby. Easy right?!?!?!