Work with your hands? Watch out for carpal tunnel syndrome

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By Kristin Karim, M.D.
Posted on February 06, 2025

Dear Mayo Clinic: I’m a homebuilder and have begun experiencing numbness and tingling in my hands. Sometimes I drop things because I can’t get a good grip. A friend suggested I might have carpal tunnel syndrome. But doesn’t that mostly affect people who use computers all day? Can you explain more about the condition?

A: Working with your hands day after day can take a toll on them, causing pain, numbness and weakness. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one condition that can affect many types of occupations, including farmers, truck drivers, factory and construction workers, and others.

Carpal tunnel is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve located in the wrist. This nerve provides feeling to the thumb and the index, middle and part of the ring fingers, and also sends signals to the muscles around the base of the thumb.

Some causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include medical conditions such as arthritis, gout, diabetes, amyloidosis, infections, masses and severe wrist injuries. Other causes are environmental or workplace conditions that involve forceful and repetitive gripping, and using heavy machinery and vibrating manual tools.

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

Numbness and tingling in the fingers
Swelling and discomfort of the hands and fingers
Weakness, especially when pinching and gripping
Dropping things
Waking up at night to shake out the hands
Numbness of the fingers first thing in the morning

Diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome

To determine if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, an orthopedic specialist will discuss the history of your symptoms and perform a physical examination of your hands and wrists.

Other tests may be performed or requested, including:

Two-point discrimination test on your fingertips to identify which fingers have decreased sensation
Tinel’s test, which is conducted by tapping the nerve in the carpal tunnel at the wrist to see if it causes tingling in your fingers
Durkan’s test, which involves pressing a thumb over the nerve in the carpal tunnel at the wrist to see if the numbness or tingling gets worse
X-rays of your affected hand

Treating the condition

Treatment strategies are divided into nonsurgical and surgical measures.

Nonsurgical treatments include wearing a wrist brace during the night and undergoing cortisone injections.

Surgical intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome is a carpal tunnel release. The roof of the carpal tunnel is divided, which relieves pressure on the median nerve. Surgery may be open or endoscopic. Both open and endoscopic surgery are outpatient procedures.

For the best results after surgery, be sure to consult an orthopedic hand surgeon while numbness and tingling are still intermittent rather than constant.

Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome

There are no proven strategies to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but you can minimize stress on hands and wrists by:

Reducing your force and relaxing your grip. If your work involves a cash register or keyboard, for instance, hit the keys softly.
Taking short, frequent breaks. Gently stretch and bend hands and wrists periodically. Alternate tasks when possible. This is especially important if you use equipment that vibrates or requires you to exert a great amount of force. Even a few minutes each hour can make a difference.
Watching your form. Avoid bending your wrist all the way up or down. A relaxed middle position is best.
Improving your posture. Incorrect posture rolls shoulders forward, shortening the neck and shoulder muscles and compressing nerves in the neck. This can affect the wrists, fingers and hands, and can cause neck pain.
Keeping your hands warm. You’re more likely to develop hand pain and stiffness if you work in a cold environment. Use fingerless gloves to keep the hands and wrists warm.

If you’re experiencing symptoms, consult with an orthopedic specialist to determine the best treatment to keep you on the job or get you back to work. — Kristin Karim, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. This Mayo Clinic Q&A represents inquiries this healthcare expert has received from patients. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.