Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during Pregnancy

The extra fluid retention of pregnancy can exacerbate a common condition known as . Between 25 and 50 percent of pregnant women will notice some symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

This condition occurs because one of the nerves that supply sensation to the hand, the median nerve, has to pass through a very narrow space in the wrist, called the carpal tunnel, where the nerve enters your hand from your arm.

During pregnancy, even slight swelling in the hands can cause the nerve to become compressed as it goes through the carpal tunnel. The severity of nerve compression is also related to the amount of weight you gain during pregnancy.

The most common symptoms are pain and numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers, and weakness in the muscle that moves your thumb. The main treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy is usually limited to simple things like wearing a splint at night to help reduce pressure on the nerve that occurs when the wrist is bent. About 80 percent of women will notice a reduction in symptoms just with splinting.

If you develop severe carpal tunnel syndrome, you mayr be referred to an orthopedic specialist who may recommend steroid injections into the wrist to reduce swelling and inflammation. Do not take oral anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen while pregnant, and trv to avoid sleeping on your lower arms and hands.

Symptoms usually improve within about 4 weeks of giving birth to your baby.