Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is when you have numbness and pain in your thumb, index and long fingers caused by pressure on the nerve in your wrist. This wakes people up at night and can happen while driving or holding a phone.
We don’t know why only some people get CTS. Typing does not cause CTS, but it makes your fingers feel bad if you already have CTS.
Try anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen with Tylenol and gently wearing a wrist cockup splint at night. Avoid using power tools that vibrate.
If the above doesn’t fix you, try endoscopic surgery: “Surgery Friday, back to desk work Monday.”
Walker Wynkoop, MD, lives in Los Banos and is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with 30 years of experience. He works at Surgical Affiliates of California. Please email questions to: Doc@Wynmd.com.
