Carpal Tunnel From Work

How work contributes to carpal tunnel symptoms

Hours of gripping, keying, scanning, cutting, assembling or using vibrating tools, especially with the wrist bent, load the median nerve where it passes through the wrist. Symptoms build over weeks or months rather than from a single incident, which is why describing your job duties in detail matters.

Symptoms worth getting examined

• Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers
• Symptoms that wake you at night or show up while driving or holding a phone
• Weak grip or dropping objects
• Pain or aching that runs from the wrist up the forearm
• Shaking the hand to make it "wake up"

What the first visit covers

• A history of the repeated motion involved and your job duties
• A physical examination of the hand, wrist, elbow and neck, including nerve and grip testing, since symptoms in the hand can start higher up the arm
• A treatment plan written for your injury and the work you do
• A work status note describing what you can and cannot do while you recover
• Referrals for nerve testing, imaging or a specialist when the provider finds they are needed

Treatment for work-related carpal tunnel

Conservative care comes first: reducing the irritation, restoring nerve and tendon movement, hands-on treatment of the wrist and forearm, and changes to how the task is done. Chiropractic care and physical therapy are the core of the plan. When symptoms are advanced or not improving, the provider refers for nerve conduction testing or a specialist consultation.

Your work status note

Restrictions often cover repetitive gripping, keying or scanning time, vibration tools and wrist position. The note is updated as you improve.