Gamer Wrist (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)

What is it?

Gamer wrist, otherwise known as carpal tunnel syndrome, is a pinched nerve in the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a compartment in the wrist that contains the median nerve and various tendons.

What are the symptoms?

You may feel pain, numbness, or tingling in your hand, especially your thumb, index, and middle finger. Sometimes the symptoms may travel up towards your shoulder. Often, the symptoms are worse at night. If they are severe, you may experience weakness, such as trouble button clothes, picking up small objects, or dropping things.

What are the causes?

Possible causes include:

• Repetitive wrist use

• Improper wrist positioning

• Genetics

• Pregnancy

• May be associated with other medical problems

How is it diagnosed?

Sometimes, your doctor can diagnose it without doing any tests. Other times, testing may be needed to rule out other potential causes, or to evaluate how severe the problem is. Tests that can be done include:

• Ultrasound - evaluate nerve directly, looking for compression or swelling.

• Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography (NCS / EMG) - measures how fast a signal can travel through a nerve, looking for areas of slowing down, or looking for abnormal electrical activity.

How is it treated?

For many people, adjusting your gaming setup is enough. Others may need to wear a brace. A physical therapist can show you exercises to improve the movement of the nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel. Severe cases may need injections (preferably under ultrasound guidance), or worst-case scenario, surgery. There are newer surgeries that can be performed under ultrasound, with much quicker recovery and a very small scar.

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