Why you might be at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome

🫳 Contrary to popular belief, the traditional 9-to-5 comes with its own set of occupational hazards. If your job involves sitting in an office all day, you’re probably familiar with some of them: a stiff neck, tense shoulders, and an aching back. And with modern office work revolving increasingly around computers, there’s another orthopedic complaint to add to the list: carpal tunnel syndrome.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome? One of the most common nerve entrapment syndromes, it occurs when the median nerve — which runs from the forearm into the palm — is compressed as it passes through the narrow passageway of bones and ligaments called the carpal tunnel inside the wrist. The tissue around the wrist can swell and reduce blood flow. The result can be numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, and an electric shock or burning sensation in the fingers, wrist, hand, or forearm.

You may have heard of the term, particularly in connection with manual labor involving repetitive hand movements. But for all the efficiency and convenience technology has given us, spending your workday with one hand glued to a mouse and your fingers poised over a keyboard can come with unwanted ailments.

For most people who suffer from carpal tunnel in Egypt, the culprit is computers, neurology consultant and Professor of Neurology at Cairo University Ahmed Abualhasan (LinkedIn) tells EnterpriseAM. “I work in a clinic affiliated with an office, and most patients who come to me are working in corporate offices. There is a large percentage of cases of carpal tunnel between the ages of 20-30,” Abualhasan tells EnterpriseAM.

How to know if it’s carpal tunnel

Abualhasan explains the mechanism in more detail: “The median nerve is a sensory and motor nerve that controls the movement of three fingers and a part of the fourth — the thumb, the two next to it, and mostly a portion of the ring finger.”

In its early stages, carpal tunnel syndrome usually manifests through sensory symptoms before progressing to motor symptoms in more advanced cases. “Someone might come and say, for example ‘while holding the mouse, I have to let it go. I can’t keep holding it.’ There is a sensory change in the [affected] area, especially in the fingers,” Abualhasan describes. This is where the numbness, tingling, burning sensation, and pain come in as warning signs.

If left untreated, motor function in the hand could start to weaken. Suddenly, everyday tasks become harder: turning a key to open a door, squeezing a lemon, buttoning a shirt, or simply using your hand the way you normally would.

Why it happens — and what to do about it

Besides repetitive hand movements, carpal tunnel syndrome can develop from forceful gripping or pinching, sustained or awkward wrist positions, using vibrating hand tools, high-force hammering, and other repetitive activities typically associated with people who work in drilling, digging, hairdressing, cooking, and other forms of manual labor.

For office workers, Abualhasan says that gripping a mouse and typing while keeping the wrist in a bent or fixed position can contribute to carpal tunnel. He adds that people who drive long distances are also susceptible because “the position of gripping the steering wheel itself also puts the wrist in a harsh position.”

“Generally, the earlier the condition is treated, the better the outcome,” says Abualhasan, before the nerve is permanently damaged. “In the advanced stages, usually the solution then is surgical, where they perform a release for the nerve from under the tissue, the tissue that is pressing on it” — aka carpal tunnel decompression surgery.

Before surgery, an electromyogram and nerve conduction study can be used to determine the extent of damage to the median nerve. The prognosis then helps determine the course of the treatment, including whether surgery is likely to resolve the symptoms completely or whether symptoms may persist. “They might need anti-inflammatory medications, tonics for the nerves, or local injections. If they developed weakness in movement, they will need physical therapy after the surgery,” Abualhasan explains.

Certain underlying factors can make some people more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome. People with thyroid issues, diabetes, obesity, or rheumatoid arthritis, for example. Women, especially those between 45 and 54, are three times more likely to develop carpal tunnel, according to Franciscan Health, with hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause playing a role.

Aside from treatments, popular recommendations for CTS patients are wearing wrist splints during sleep, especially during early stages, and getting plenty of rest. Physical therapy is also always on the cards, although for Abualhasan, it’s a last-resort treatment if surgery or other interventions don’t yield desired results.

Prevention is easier than you think

Abualhasan advises keeping your wrist aligned with your hand in a neutral, level position and avoiding bending it at an angle when using a mouse or typing. It’s also highly recommended to take regular breaks and rotate tasks when you’re working at a desk for long stretches of time.

For a longer-term fix, start with your workstation. We’re all probably tired of hearing it, but good posture matters — back straight, shoulders relaxed, and feet flat on the floor. To go the extra mile in keeping carpal tunnel at bay, keep your forearms level and your wrists straight rather than bent up or down toward the keyboard. Avoid gripping your mouse too tightly, or pounding away at the keyboard out of stress or hurry. And if you’ve already been diagnosed, consider investing in ergonomic input devices to ease discomfort.