Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can usually be diagnosed by your GP, who will examine your hand and wrist and ask you about your symptoms.
Your GP will assess your ability to use your hand, wrist or arm and look for signs of weakness in the muscles surrounding your thumb.
Physical tests
Your doctor may tap your wrist lightly to see if you feel tingling or numbness in your fingers, although this test is not reliable.
Flexing your wrist for a minute or holding it elevated above the head for a minute are other commonly performed simple tests for CTS, and should induce the same pain, numbness or tingling in your hand if you have the condition.
Any of these sensations may be the result of your median nerve being compressed. These tests are often enough to diagnose CTS if you have common symptoms.
Further testing
Further testing is usually only required if your GP is uncertain and wants to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms. Further tests include:
Blood tests
A blood test can determine if you have an underlying condition relating to CTS, such as:
- diabetes
- rheumatoid arthritis
- underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
Nerve conduction study
A nerve conduction study is a test that measures how fast signals are transmitted through your nerves. During the test, electrodes (small metallic discs) are placed on your hand and wrist, which produce an electrical current that stimulates the nerves in the wrist, fingers and forearm.
The results from the test will be used to assess any possible damage to your nerves.
Electromyography
Electromyography (EMG) provides useful information about how well your muscles are able to respond when a nerve is stimulated, indicating any nerve damage.
During the test, fine needles are inserted into your muscles. The needles detect any natural electrical activity given off by your muscles.
However, electromyography is rarely used for carpal tunnel syndrome in the UK because nerve conduction studies are usually able to confirm the diagnosis and measure the degree of damage to the nerve.
Electromyography and nerve conduction studies can help to establish how severely the median nerve is being compressed and the effect it is having on your symptoms.
Imaging studies
An X-ray may be recommended, but usually only to aid in the diagnosis of fractures and other disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. An X-ray is a procedure that produces images of the inside of your body.
To thoroughly examine the structure of the median nerve in your hand, your GP may also suggest you have an ultrasound scan, which uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of your body.
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