Hand and wrist pain is often mistakenly attributed solely to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but that’s not always the case. One of the common conditions misdiagnosed as CTS is ESS, which can lead to improper treatment. Let’s explore these conditions further.
Chronic low-grade inflammation can lead to serious health issues like certain cancers and heart diseases. Tendonitis is a well-known condition affecting the wrist and hand. It occurs when tendons, which connect muscles to bones, become inflamed. This can happen to the flexor tendons, which bend your fingers, or the extensor tendons, which straighten them.
Tendonitis shares symptoms with CTS, such as pain, tenderness, and weakness, especially during repetitive wrist and hand movements. However, the pain from tendonitis is usually more localized to the inflamed tendon. For example, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, a type of tendonitis, affects the tendons at the base of the thumb, causing pain on the thumb side of the wrist. In contrast, CTS typically causes pain and numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger.
The symptoms of these conditions can vary with age. CTS often causes nighttime numbness and tingling that disrupts sleep, while tendonitis pain can persist throughout the day and night.
Cervical radiculopathy, despite its complex name, refers to nerve compression in the neck. The cervical spine contains nerves that extend to the arm and hand. If a nerve root is pinched by a herniated disc or bone spurs, it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness that radiates down the arm to the hand.
Cervical radiculopathy can mimic CTS by causing hand pain, numbness, or weakness, but it also involves neck pain or stiffness and sometimes weakness in the arm or shoulder, which are not typical of CTS.
When hand or wrist pain interferes with daily life, it’s crucial to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. They will review your medical history, perform an examination, and may order tests like X-rays or nerve conduction studies. This thorough evaluation ensures you receive the right treatment for your condition. While CTS is often suspected, a proper assessment can identify the true cause of your hand pain.
