Hand and wrist pain is often mistakenly attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome, but it’s not always the sole cause. One of the conditions frequently misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel is ESS, leading to potential treatment errors. Here’s a closer look at these confusion-causing conditions:
Chronic low-grade inflammation can lead to serious health issues like certain cancers and heart diseases. In the wrist and hand area, tendonitis is a common issue. This condition occurs when tendons—crucial connections between muscles and bones—become swollen. The inflammation can occur in tendons responsible for bending (flexor tendons) or extending (extensor tendons) the fingers.
Symptoms that Resemble CTS: Like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis can bring pain, tenderness, and weakness, especially with repetitive wrist and hand movements. However, the pain from tendonitis is usually localized to the inflamed tendon. For example, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, a form of tendonitis, affects the tendons at the base of the thumb, causing significant pain on the thumb side of the wrist. In contrast, carpal tunnel syndrome generally causes pain and numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger.
Additionally, these conditions can appear differently in various age groups. Carpal tunnel syndrome often acts up at night, causing numbness and tingling that disrupt sleep. Tendonitis pain, however, may persist all day, potentially keeping you up at night.
Cervical radiculopathy might sound complex, but it simply refers to neck nerves that are compressed, leading to further problems. The neck, or cervical spine, has nerves extending to your arms and hands. If these nerves are pinched by something like a herniated disc or bone spurs, it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness extending into the hand.
Symptoms that Resemble CTS: Cervical radiculopathy can mimic carpal tunnel syndrome by causing hand pain, numbness, or weakness. However, the pain often extends along the affected nerve up to the arm, and you may experience neck pain or stiffness and sometimes weakness in the arm or shoulder, which are not typical of carpal tunnel syndrome.
If hand or wrist pain is affecting your daily life, it’s crucial to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. They’ll review your medical history, conduct an examination, and might use tests like X-rays or nerve conduction studies to determine the cause. Identifying the right issue is essential to getting the proper treatment and addressing the actual problem causing your discomfort. While carpal tunnel syndrome is a common assumption, an accurate diagnosis ensures that the real cause of your hand troubles is effectively treated.
