Helping Hands Heal since 2005
From Dr. Z - Carpal tunnel syndrome specialist
This simple and quick carpal tunnel syndrome test can tell if you have carpal tunnel or wrist tendonitis. Both of these conditions have very similar symptoms. And sometimes they can be severe. If you have hand or finger pain, numbness or tingling, then both carpal tunnel or tendonitis can cause it.
The results of the carpal tunnel syndrome test are crucial for getting the proper treatment. Knowing which condition you have means you can properly treat it, instead of treating a condition you "think" you have.
I developed this quick & easy carpal tunnel syndrome test ("self-test") to help you tell the difference between these two hand disorders. Moreover, when you learn about carpal tunnel and wrist tendonitis you'll know why one treatment works while another does not.
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Essentially, wrist tendonitis is a type of Repetitive Strain Injury. However, carpal tunnel syndrome is a pathology that can result from repetitively straining your hand. That’s because carpal tunnel syndrome is a true disease like diabetes or arthritis. If you repetitively strain your hand, it can trigger carpal tunnel syndrome.
Unlike with wrist tendonitis, you don’t necessarily have to perform stressful and repetitive motions of the hand to get carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, if you’re a woman you're at higher risk to begin with.
Furthermore, pregnancy, taking oral contraceptives, and menopause increase a woman's risk. Likewise, obesity, have thyroid problems, rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney disease put you at higher risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. And since this is a hereditary condition, family history will best predict if you get it or not.
Another major predictor is if you perform regular, repetitive motions of the hand. This results in a repetitive stress injury or RSI. Certain occupations are infamous for having a high incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you answer YES to any of the following tests, then you may have carpal tunnel syndrome instead of tendonitis:
1) First, with your fingers straight, flex your wrist gently and as far as possible (i.e., bring your fingers as close to your wrist as you can). Then hold this position for 1 minute. (This carpal tunnel syndrome test is called the Phalen maneuver.)
Do your symptoms appear or get worse? Do you feel numbness?
2) Second, with your hand straight, lightly tap the skin over your wrist-crease. Tap left to right, and back again (This carpal tunnel syndrome test is called the Tinel test.)
Does it result in a tingling or “pins-and-needles” in the hand?
3) Third, with your hand straight, use your opposite thumb to apply firm pressure to your hand. Press your thumb firmly, just above your wrist crease, in between the big bumps at the base of your hand. Do this for 30 seconds. (This carpal tunnel syndrome test is called the Durkan test.)
Does this make your symptoms appear or get worse? Do you feel numbness?
If you answered NO to the above questions, then you might have tendonitis. Try the following test:
If you answer YES to the following test, then you may have wrist tendonitis.
Use one or two fingers to tap your flexor tendons just below your wrist crease. The tendons are the rope-like structures on the palm side (not the back side) of your forearm. Tap each tendon all along its length, halfway to your elbow. Tap several times up and down on each tendon. Then tap vigorously all around your forearm. (This is called a percussion test.)
Does any of that reproduce your symptoms or make them worse?
The proper carpal tunnel syndrome test can tell the difference between carpal tunnel & tendonitis. This is important because you need to apply the proper treatment for your condition. The self-tests shown here can give you a good head start so you can manage the pain, numbness, and tingling in your hand and fingers before they worsen.
Legal Note: These tests do not constitute a diagnosis. Only your doctor can diagnose your condition.
