By Steve Gamel
Like many people, Dr. Nilpesh Patel is constantly on his cell phone. Sometimes, he’ll need to be on it so much between surgical procedures and visiting patients that his hands and fingers might cramp and become tired from back-and-forth texts with friends, family, and physicians on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center — Lake Pointe. We’ve all been there when it comes to mild hand pain or discomfort, leading many to wonder if firing off countless texts in a single day can also cause a much more severe condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. After all, carpal tunnel is one of the more common hand conditions in the United States and has been said to be caused by various factors, including repetitive movements ranging from excessive typing to knitting.
But how much truth is there to that claim — especially when it comes to repetitive texting? Dr. Patel, a board certified orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White – Lake Pointe who specializes in hand, wrist, and elbow issues, says the act of texting — and even other repetitive motions we don’t always think about in our daily lives until they become too painful — won’t cause true carpal tunnel syndrome.
“Someone visited me the other day and said, ‘My hand hurts. It must be carpal tunnel.’ It was something else entirely,” Dr. Patel said. “We hear in the media that office work such as typing and other repetitive motions cause carpal tunnel. In most cases, however, it’s probably not the direct cause. And the same is true for texting. This isn’t to say texting and other repetitive motions won’t lead to pain and symptoms of overuse. But texting by itself won’t lead to carpal tunnel.
“If anything, you might already have carpal tunnel — texting can aggravate those symptoms. It is crucial to notice the little things going on in your hands and wrist and get them checked by an orthopedic specialist.”
Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in your wrist that extends to the hand and comprises tendons, ligaments, and bones. It’s only about an inch wide, yet it’s big enough to house the all-important median nerve. When everything is working correctly, the median nerve passes effortlessly through the tunnel and provides feeling to your hand and fingers. If that nerve is pinched at the wrist or compressed, you will likely experience symptoms ranging from numbness and tingling to shooting pains along the hand, wrist, or forearm, cramps, and weakness.
According to the American Medical Association, carpal tunnel syndrome affects roughly 10 million people in the United States. Most people experience these symptoms in their thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of their ring finger on one hand. In mild cases, the symptoms will come and go. However, in severe cases, CTS can affect both hands simultaneously, making performing everyday tasks like typing, tying shoes, and buttoning a shirt difficult and extremely painful.
Dr. Patel said that carpal tunnel syndrome is often directly caused by an injury (sprain, strain, dislocation, or fracture) or an underlying medical condition such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Some people may have been born with an anatomically narrower carpal tunnel — women are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome than men due to the size of the carpal tunnel. Frequent and repetitive movements, such as construction and labor-intensive work, can cause the tissues around the carpal tunnel to swell up, become inflamed, and eventually press on the median nerve.
How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treated?
Carpal tunnel syndrome treatments include wearing braces at night to prevent positional issues, ice to reduce swelling, using ergonomic equipment to relieve pressure on the median nerve, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and pursuing various therapies that promote stretching and movement. Your fingers, hands, wrists, and elbows are integral in daily living. With them, you play music or sports, text your friends, work, or hold hands with your loved ones. While many upper-extremity conditions can be treated through medication or rest, some may require surgery. The good news is that Baylor Scott & White — Lake Pointe has delivered advanced carpal tunnel and orthopedic surgical care to Rowlett and surrounding communities for decades and offers an effective process.
“We call it ‘releasing the carpal tunnel.’ Essentially, we cut the roof of the tunnel open to decrease pressure and create more space in that area for the patient,” Dr. Patel said. “The main thing with surgery is that you must do it for the right reasons. This is where having an evaluation and exam is crucial. If you’re younger and have off-and-on symptoms that haven’t progressed too far, then surgery may help improve all your symptoms and keep them from getting worse. If you’re older and experiencing permanent numbness, the benefit of surgery may be to eliminate or reduce the pain that prevents you from sleeping and living your life.”
Dr. Patel added, “You can rest easy that texting itself won’t cause carpal tunnel syndrome. But if you’re noticing changes in your hands and fingers and are concerned, getting evaluated soon provides proper diagnosis and treatment.”
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community, or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers.
CONTACT
6800 Scenic Drive | Rowlett, Texas 75088
(972) 520-8000 | BSWHealth.com/lakepointe
