Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a form of neuropathy that occurs when the nerve of your wrist, known as the Median Nerve, gets compressed. It is a very common condition and affects 50 out of 1000 individuals in the United States. It is also considered one of the most common types of neuropathy and accounts for 90% of all neuropathies occurring all over the world. Individuals with Carpal Tunnel report pain, numbness, and paresthesia; however, what makes the Carpal Tunnel pain unique is that it may radiate up to involve the entire arm.
What Does Carpal Tunnel Feel Like?
As mentioned previously, the Carpal Tunnel signs and symptoms are very different from other neuropathies, and they may vary from mild to severe. When the condition first starts in an individual, they may experience pain at night time, when they lie down to sleep. This pain does not continue in the day and is reported to be relieved as they get out of bed. However, as the condition progresses, the pain may also start to be experienced during the daytime, particularly as they indulge in activities like typing, drawing, or playing video games for prolonged periods of time. This is why this condition is most commonly seen in teenagers who play video games regularly or construction workers who are required to repeat the same movement frequently.
Stages of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be divided into different stages, based on the progression of the condition. This usually includes three stages which may be referred to as the first, second, and last stage.
First Stage
In the first stage of the Carpal Tunnel, the individual may find themselves waking up from sleep feeling numbness and swelling of the hand. On inspection, they realize there is no swelling, and it is just the numbness of their hand that is making them feel that way. In other cases, the individual may feel severe pain that spreads from their wrist all the way to their shoulder. They may find this pain starting to fade after shaking the hand vigorously; however, this relief is temporary, and the symptoms may come back after a while.