Dr. Dennis Sagini is an orthopedic surgeon with Lee Memorial Health System.  He says, “A lot of people will hear the term carpal tunnel and think they have it based on any problem they have in their hand.”  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects tendons and membranes in a specific part of the wrist.  He says, “The carpal tunnel is an area in your wrist that transmits tendons and a nerve called the median nerve.  When these tendons get inflamed the median nerve gets compressed.”  After a period of time that compression can cause pain, numbness and decreased function of the hand.  Dr. Sagini says, “Patients will complain of difficulty holding forks, with buttoning shirts and that’s when it’s significant.”  Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome include everything from splints to steroid injections.  Surgery is also an option but no matter which route you choose it’s best to get the condition treated as soon as it becomes problematic in your day to day life.  “The longer that someone has carpal tunnel syndrome the more damage to the nerve and the less likely they will gain a full recovery after surgery,” says Dr. Sagini.  On average carpal tunnel surgery can be done in a matter of hours and patients are advised to take pain medication for one to two days.  Classic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include tingling over the wrist, decreased sensation in the thumb and fingers and pain when holding the wrist in a bent position.