Will it go away?
Your symptoms should go away after six weeks following the birth of your baby as the hormones and fluid levels return to normal and you lose the weight gained in pregnancy. However, while breastfeeding, these hormones stay at higher levels in the body so it may take some women longer than others to find their symptoms settle.
Sometimes, the extra demands of looking after a baby can put a strain on the wrist. During activities such as feeding, lifting and holding the baby, make sure you do not over stretch or strain your wrist.
Further information
NHS Choices website:
Patient Advice and Liaison service (PALS)
PALS can provide information and support to patients and carers and will listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries.
The service is available between 9am and 5pm.
Tel: 0208 510 7315
Email:
For information on the references used to produce this leaflet, please ring 0208 510 5302/5144 or email
Author(s): Women’s Health Physiotherapy
HomertonUniversityHospital NHS Foundation Trust
Homerton Row, London, E9 6SR
T020 8510 7835
W
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Patient information
Women’s Health Physiotherapy
Integrated Medical and Rehabilitation Services
Tel: 0208 510 7835
Incorporating hospital and community health
services, teaching and research
This booklet provides information about carpal tunnel syndrome and what you can do to help this condition.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the name given to the squashing of the nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist.
The tunnel is made up of small hand bones on the bottom and a strong ligament over the top. Muscles, tendons, blood vessels and nerves lie in the tunnel going into the hand.
Ref: British Society for Surgery of the Hand
Why in pregnancy?
There is little free space left in the carpal tunnel as the nerve passes through. Any change in the tunnel will lead to the symptoms you are feeling.
During pregnancy many hormonal changes occur. There is an increase in the amount of hormones in the body, which means that the body will retain a lot of fluid. (You may feel your hands and feet are swollen.) The extra fluid will settle in the tunnel, putting more pressure on the nerve and squashing it.
As you gain weight during your pregnancy, the nerve can be squashed further, which may also increase your symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually start in the night when you are woken up with crampsin the hand, which require shaking out. You may feel burning, tingling, numbness and pain in the hand, and sometimes the arm. Usually both hands are affected, but you will find that symptoms in your dominant hand are a little more severe than the other hand.
These symptoms are first noticed at night because we sleep with our wrists in a bent position. This lessens the space in the tunnel even more, but as symptoms continue, you may feel the tingling and numbness during the day as well.
Some people may have weakness of the thumb muscles. This means that holding the toothbrush or the phone can become more difficult.
How is it treated?
Sleeping and getting rest is very important, especially in preparation for labour and giving birth. Therefore, the aim of treatment is to manage the symptoms. This can be done in the following ways:
1. Make a fist and open and close it quickly. Do this for about 30 seconds to increase circulation. If you can, try and elevate the hand and elbow above the shoulder, supported on a pillow.
2. Try bathing your hands in alternate bowls of warm and cold water to help reduce the pain.
3. Massage the fluid back up in the direction of your elbow. This will help to circulate the fluid back into the body.
4. Try the following stretches to help improve circulation
of fluid:
5. If you have wrists splints, use them at night. These will keep your wrist in a better position and maintain the space in the tunnel. Most of all, it will help you sleep better.