What Are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually progress gradually over weeks and months and, in some cases, years. The first symptoms may be pain in the wrist and hand or numbness and tingling of the fingers (except the little finger). Patients may also experience a sense of weakness and a tendency to drop things. They may lose the sense of heat and cold or feel that their hands are swollen even though there is no visible swelling. Symptoms may occur not only when the hand is being used but also when it is at rest. In fact, the disorder may be distinguished from similar conditions by pain occurring at night after going to bed. In some cases, labor-related CTS symptoms first occur outside of work, so patients may fail to associate the symptoms with work-related activity. Anyone with recurrent or persistent pain, numbness and tingling, or weakness of the hand should consult a physician for a diagnosis.
