Up to 60 percent of birth mothers experience carpal tunnel while pregnant. The increased blood flow and fluid retention, common during pregnancy, increase your risk of developing this condition.
What is the carpal tunnel?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in your wrist, formed by bones and tissue. Tendons, blood vessels and nerves run through this narrow tunnel, and the limited space available can lead to problems. The median nerve runs from the neck, down the arm and to the hand and is responsible for feeling in the fingers. When the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel, it can cause pain and discomfort; this is known as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel symptoms in pregnancy
Unfortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome is common during pregnancy – mostly during the last trimester, although some women experience it earlier. Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect one or both hands.
Common symptoms are:
- Numbness and tingling in the wrists, hands and fingers
- Pain or throbbing sensation in the forearm
- Burning sensation in the hands
- Weakened grip
- Reduced dexterity.
Symptoms tend to be worse at night and first thing in the morning. If you perform repetitive wrist movements at work, symptoms might be worse during work hours.
If you notice sudden or severe swelling in your hands, contact your healthcare provider immediately. This could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy condition that requires urgent medical attention.
To learn more, read Pre-eclampsia | Signs, Symptoms And Causes.
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy?
A 2021 article published in The Archives of Bone & Joint Surgery states, ‘Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the second most common musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy after low back pain’.
The median nerve is located in the arm, wrist and hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed or squeezed in the carpal tunnel. Due to increased blood flow and fluid retention, pregnant women have an increased risk of developing this condition.
According to a 2012 study published in Advanced Biomedical Research, it is most likely during the later stages of pregnancy; only 11% experience carpal tunnel symptoms during the first trimester. An additional 26% develop symptoms during the second trimester, but the majority of women (63%) only develop carpal tunnel syndrome during the third trimester.
Risk factors for carpal tunnel while pregnant
According to a 2014 study published in Obstetric Medicine, risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy are:
- Being overweight at the onset of pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes
- Excessive weight gain during pregnancy
- Two or more previous live births.
How does pregnancy cause carpal tunnel syndrome?
According to a 2016 article published in the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, maternal blood volume increases by 45% during pregnancy. If there is fluid retention during pregnancy, some fluid can build up in the carpal tunnel. Both of these factors increase the risk of carpal tunnel symptoms during pregnancy.
When to tell my doctor about carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy
Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause permanent nerve damage, so it’s important to seek medical advice from your healthcare provider. Your doctor might advise you to wear a removable wrist splint to keep your wrist in the correct position. It allows you to use your hand but keeps your wrist in an optimal position.
Speak to your doctor about ways to relieve pain, to determine which medicines are safe during pregnancy.
If you have a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome, your doctor might refer you for occupational therapy. An occupational therapist will teach you strengthening exercises, stretches and massages to help you manage the condition. Steroid injections are sometimes used to help ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy
To diagnose the condition, your doctor will examine your hand and ask questions about your symptoms and where you experience pain. Based on your answers, it’s possible to diagnose carpal tunnel and suggest treatment options. In some cases, your doctor will use electrodiagnostic tests to make a diagnosis.
Are there any treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Your doctor might suggest a thumb splint to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Wearing a wrist brace or splint at night helps keep your wrists in the optimum position, reducing compression of the median nerve and helping to relieve hand and wrist pain. Speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacy for advice.
Ice therapy can alleviate swelling and reduce symptoms. Wrap ice in a towel and apply it to the affected wrist. Hold in place for up to 10 minutes and repeat several times a day.
Occupational therapists can recommend wrist exercises and stretches to strengthen your wrists and alleviate symptoms.
Some women find yoga helps ease their symptoms, although these claims aren’t backed by science. There are plenty of other benefits to practicing yoga during pregnancy, including relaxation, help with aches and pains, and learning breathing exercises, so it’s worth giving it a go at a local prenatal yoga class. Be sure to mention your carpal tunnel syndrome before the class, so the yoga teacher can modify moves where necessary.
Can I prevent carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy?
There’s no guarantee you won’t get carpal tunnel during pregnancy. If you notice symptoms, however, you can take steps to reduce them.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is often associated with repetitive wrist movements. Typing at a computer, for example, can worsen the symptoms. It’s essential to take regular breaks from repetitive hand movements.
An ergonomic keyboard, mouse and mouse pad might help alleviate symptoms. While you type, pay attention to the position of your wrists; it’s best to avoid bent wrists as much as possible.
Rest your wrists whenever possible. Avoid heavy lifting and other actions that put your wrists under strain.
How to sleep with carpal tunnel syndrome
Symptoms are often worse at night, making it hard to sleep. The positioning of your wrists could be the cause. Keep your wrists well-positioned, even when you’re in bed to get some much-needed sleep.
Avoid sleeping on your wrists. If you wake up in pain, try moving and gently shaking your hands until the pain subsides. If your carpal tunnel only affects one wrist, avoid sleeping on that side, if possible. Sleeping with your affected wrist propped up on a pillow might help.
Will carpal tunnel syndrome affect my baby?
Although carpal tunnel syndrome is a problem for you, it won’t harm your developing child. The important thing is to manage the condition so you can go about your daily life. If you are struggling with pain, ask your healthcare provider for advice.
Does pregnancy carpal tunnel go away?
The good news is that carpal tunnel syndrome should clear up after the birth of your baby. For most women, the symptoms disappear as soon as any pregnancy-related swellings subside. For some, however, the condition continues during the postnatal period.
Feeding and holding your baby can put pressure on the wrist, and repetitive wrist movements involved in caring for a baby can aggravate carpal tunnel symptoms. If your symptoms persist, inform your healthcare provider, who will refer you for additional support.
Carpal tunnel syndrome and breastfeeding
Carpal tunnel syndrome is linked to breastfeeding, as the way you hold your baby can put additional pressure on your wrists. If your flexed wrists support your baby’s head, you might notice your symptoms continue or worsen.
Speak to your midwife or lactation consultant for advice on how to breastfeed your baby without worsening your symptoms.
Here are some breastfeeding positions that might help:
- Side-lying feed. Lie on your bed, tummy to tummy with your baby. Make sure your baby is well positioned for the breast and gently guide her towards the nipple. This position is excellent for carpal tunnel because your arms are free and not needed to support your baby
- Football hold. Sit up in a comfortable and supportive chair. Instead of placing your baby across your tummy, have your baby lie against your side. Position your baby with her body down the side of yours, nearest the breast you want to feed from. Support your baby’s head with the hand on the same side, and gently guide your baby to the breast
- Hands-free feeding. Breastfeeding in a sling can take pressure off your wrists and hands. Experiment with different carriers and positions until you find one that works. Contact your local sling library for advice.
