Pregnancy-Induced Carpal Tunnel: Why Fluid Retention Triggers Wrist Numbness and How to Treat It Saf

Your carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in your wrist that contains your median nerve and several flexor tendons that control finger movement. CTS occurs when pressure inside your carpal tunnel compresses your median nerve. Swelling of nearby tissues, including tendon sheaths, can contribute to that pressure.

When you have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), you may find it difficult to carry out everyday tasks, such as typing or turning a doorknob. Symptoms can include:

• Tingling fingers and thumb
• Numb fingers and thumb
• Weak grip
• Electric shock feeling in your fingers

CTS is often associated with repetitive hand and wrist activities, as well as conditions that increase pressure within your carpal tunnel. But you can also develop CTS during pregnancy, even if you don’t type, paint, play a musical instrument, or engage in other activities typically associated with the condition.

At Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine, we understand how important it is for your baby to stay safe when you receive medical attention. The procedures we offer at our Addison, Texas, office are designed with both maternal and fetal safety in mind.

Why do you have CTS when you’re pregnant? Read on to find out why and learn what to do about it.

CTS is common in pregnancy

Although you may never have read a reference to it in your “what you need to know about pregnancy” books, CTS is fairly common in women carrying a child. In fact, more than 33% of pregnant women report musculoskeletal pain in their hands and wrists. 

CTS is considered one of the most common hand and wrist conditions during pregnancy and may be second only to lower back pain among musculoskeletal complaints.

Women are more likely than men to develop CTS in the first place, even if they don’t have an increased number of risk factors. The hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy — including the tendency to retain water — increase their chances of getting CTS.

How to get relief

When you come to Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine for a CTS diagnosis and treatment, we take the most conservative approach to relief that we can to keep you and your baby safe. 

Fortunately, pregnancy-related CTS often improves with conservative treatment and may resolve after delivery. It often responds faster to treatment, too.

Our first-line treatment may be to immobilize your wrist to relieve pressure on your carpal tunnel. We may recommend a brace or even kinesiology tape, which may provide additional support and help reduce discomfort:

• Massage
• Nerve-gliding exercises
• Myofascial release
• Splints

If your carpal tunnel is extremely swollen and the above methods don’t provide relief, we may administer low-dose corticosteroids. Any medication use during pregnancy should be discussed with your obstetric provider. 

Many cases of pregnancy-related CTS can be managed with conservative measures such as splinting, activity modification, and exercises.

You may need to modify activities

To keep your wrist straight at night, you may benefit from wearing a brace or splint while you sleep. If you type or do other tasks with your hands and wrists that you can’t avoid, you might keep the splint or brace on during those daytime activities, too.

We may recommend changes to your computer station to improve ergonomics. We might also give you exercises and stretches to perform before and after tasks to minimize pressure on your swollen median nerve. 

You may need to take short, frequent breaks from repetitive tasks. You should also check your posture to ensure your spine is straight and aligned when sitting. 

You shouldn’t have to worry about or be worried by CTS when you’re pregnant. Get the safe relief you and your baby need by calling our team at 972-380-0000 today or requesting an appointment online.