Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) are two distinct yet sometimes overlapping conditions that affect the hands and wrists, often causing pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility. While they share some similarities, they have different underlying causes and require specific treatment approaches.
Both arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome cause hand pain and numbness. Additionally, arthritis raises the risk for carpal tunnel syndrome – so it is possible to suffer from both arthritis raises and carpal tunnel syndrome simultaneously. Since carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms – hand and wrist pain, numbness & tingling – can be very similar to arthritis symptoms, how do you know which condition you have?
In this article board certified hand surgeon Doctor Rehman discusses the differences between arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
The narrow space that’s between the bones and ligaments in the middle of your wrist is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve runs through this space, controlling the sensation in your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. When the tendons in the carpal tunnel become inflamed, they irritate this median nerve, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in your hand and arm.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, on the other hand, is a specific condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This compression leads to symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. CTS is often associated with repetitive hand and wrist movements, such as typing, using a computer mouse, or assembly line work, but it can also be caused by factors such as wrist fractures, arthritis, or hormonal changes.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a broad term encompassing various conditions characterized by inflammation of the joints. The most common types of arthritis affecting the hands and wrists are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium, the lining of the membranes that surround the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage.
Do I Have Arthritis or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
While both arthritis and CTS can cause hand and wrist pain, there are some key differences between the two conditions. Arthritis typically affects multiple joints in the hand and wrist and is characterized by symptoms such as joint stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion. In contrast, CTS primarily affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers and is characterized by symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness, especially at night or after repetitive hand movements.
There are two common types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. When either are present in the wrist, they may causes inflammation of the carpal tunnel tendons, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome. Since both types of arthritis already cause symptoms such as pain and tingling of the hand, it can be confusing to distinguish arthritis from carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are some distinctive symptoms that are unique to carpal tunnel syndrome, which are not typically found in arthritis.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may cause numbness and/or tingling that:
- Affects only the thumb and first 2 or 3 fingers, but not the pinky
- Wakes you up at night and/or is worse first thing in the morning
- Gets better if you shake your hand
- Is triggered by grasping, such as holding a cell phone or steering wheel
- Is triggered by repetitive motion(s) such as typing
- Extends all the way up your forearm
Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects both sides of the body equally, whereas carpal tunnel syndrome is more commonly found (or worse) on one side or the other. Stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis is often worse after periods of inactivity – while carpal tunnel is generally aggravated by use of the hand.
The only way to determine the underlying cause of your hand and/or wrist pain is to see a doctor specialized in conditions of the hand. Board certified hand surgeon Doctor Rehman will examine your hand and wrist, and can conduct precise tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
Dr. Uzma Rehman, a specialist in hand and wrist conditions in the West Bloomfield, MI area, can provide comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment plans for patients with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or both. Treatment options may include medications, splints, physical therapy, injections, or in severe cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve or repair damaged joints. By addressing the underlying causes and symptoms of arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, Dr. Rehman helps patients regain function, alleviate pain, and improve their quality of life.
West Bloomfield Area Carpal Tunnel Doctor
Doctor Rehman can develop a treatment plan for you to help you obtain the relief you need through medication, physical therapy and other non-surgical or surgical treatments. If you think you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, contact Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection, awareness, and a prevention or treatment plan is the most effective way to combat the effects of conditions like arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Doctor Rehman will assess your individual situation, and prescribe the treatments that are best for your condition.
