Why carpal tunnel pain at night

Individuals who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks are more likely to experience symptoms at night because there are fewer distractions to prevent them from worrying. Not only does this increase in anxiety lead to poor quality of sleep, but it can also lead to an increase in carpal tunnel symptoms.

This is because emotional and physical stress takes a toll on the body. While there is no single cure to anxiety, establishing a healthy routine and engaging in a relaxing nighttime routine can help reduce this problem. Furthermore, a study by the University of Louisville showed that sleeping on the side is associated with increased instances of carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients who have carpal tunnel or who are at risk of developing carpal tunnel should be mindful of their sleeping positions.

When it comes to wrists in particular, changes in position by as little as 20 degrees can alter nerve compressions. Examples of ideal sleeping positions for these individuals include:. When you sleep on your back, there is less stress on the cervical spine and decreased risk of nerve compression at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. If you would like to take pressure off of the lumbar spine as well, propping up the legs is advisable. If it is too difficult or uncomfortable to avoid sleeping on the side, holding a body pillow can prevent you from moving into a position such as fetal position that would increase tunnel pressure.

In general, patients who suffer from neuropathy tend to experience disrupted sleep patters and poor sleep quality. This is because the pain that comes with peripheral neuropathy can make falling asleep difficult. The key to avoiding this type of pain interfering with your sleep schedule is to break this cycle of sleep deprivation. In order to sleep better with any time of nerve pain like carpal tunnel syndrome, we recommend taking some basic steps such as:.

If identified and treated as early as possible—with underlying causes such as diabetes or arthritis treated first—most people with CTS can relieve the pain and numbness and restore normal use of their wrists and hands. Treatment focuses on identifying and removing or correcting the underlying cause of the nerve dysfunction. Log In Become a Member. What is PN? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Print This Page. It helps to relieve pressure on the nerve.

You wear it at night while you sleep. You'll have to wear a splint for at least 4 weeks before it starts to feel better.

Stop or cut down on anything that causes you to frequently bend your wrist or grip hard, such as using vibrating tools for work or playing an instrument. Painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen may help carpal tunnel pain short-term.

But there's little evidence to say they can treat the cause of CTS, so it's important not to rely on them. There's a small amount of evidence to suggest hand exercises help ease the symptoms of CTS. If they're not sure it's CTS, they may refer you to hospital for tests, such as an ultrasound scan.

If a wrist splint does not help, the GP might recommend a steroid injection into your wrist. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. The good news is that there are a number of methods you can try at home to ease your pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a fairly common condition that affects the hand and wrist, says hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder surgeon William Seitz, MD.

Seitz says. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve, which runs from your forearm to your hand through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel, is compressed or pinched, Dr.