Did my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develop as a result of my typing?

ITAHARI: JAN. 13 – There are several causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, but overwhelming data indicates that using a keyboard is not one of them.

The median nerve in your wrist is pinched in carpal tunnel syndrome. This usually results in numbness and tingling in the fingers at night, when talking on the phone, or while holding a newspaper.

These symptoms do not fit to the normal aches and pains associated with repetitive motion injuries. But while typing and texting don’t cause carpal tunnel, they can make symptoms more noticeable.

No one really knows what causes this syndrome.

But three things increase your risk:

• Your gender: Carpal tunnel strikes three times more women than men.
• Hormonal changes: Pregnancy and menopause exacerbate the condition.
• Lifestyle factors: Obesity, being sedentary and smoking raise your risk.

The good news is that minor carpal tunnel syndrome usually goes away after a few weeks of wearing a wrist splint at night. NSAIDs and acetaminophen can help with pain relief. A cortisone injection into the carpal tunnel may also be beneficial.

More severe cases may require surgery. The goal is to get treatment before you acquire constant numbness. At that point, even surgery won’t completely resolve your symptoms.