Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Diagnosis

The physician will first want to locate the source of the symptoms. One diagnostic key is if the numbness in the fingers does not include the little finger. The median nerve does not provide sensation to this finger.

The physician will also want to test feeling in the fingers and the strength of the muscles in the hand, which can be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. Pressure on the median nerve at the wrist — produced either by bending the wrist, tapping or simply pressing on the nerve — can bring on the symptoms in many people.

If someone has signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, the physician may recommend a nerve conduction study to indicate whether the electrical impulses traveling along the median nerve are slowed in the carpal tunnel. The physician may also recommend an electromyogram to see if muscle has lost part of its nerve supply. These tests are also useful to check for other conditions that might mimic carpal tunnel syndrome, such as a pinched nerve in the neck. These tests typically can be done during the first visit, eliminating the need for another appointment.

The physician may also recommend that the patient see a rheumatologist, neurologist, hand surgeon or neurosurgeon for specialized treatment.