The distance at which you can feel only one point will help them figure out nerve function and compression - two important components of carpal tunnel syndrome. They’ll start with two points touching your skin a few centimeters apart and move them closer together until you feel just one point of pressure. They might do the test several times on each finger. The doctor may use a gadget called a 2-point disk-criminator, a small, flat, eight-sided tool with needle-like prongs sticking out from all sides. This means you can tell if two objects touching your skin are two distinct points instead of just one. If your fingers tingle or get numb, you have carpal tunnel syndrome. You’ll stay that way for a minute or two. The doctor will tell you to press the backs of your hands and fingers together with your wrists flexed and your fingers pointed down. This is also known as the wrist-flexion test. If your fingers tingle or if you feel an electric-shock-like sensation, the test is positive. The doctor will tap or press on the median nerve in your wrist with a reflex hammer. When that nerve gets pressed or squeezed through the carpal tunnel, it causes carpal tunnel syndrome. And they’ll check the strength of the muscles in your hand.Īfter that, they may do tests focusing on the median nerve, which runs through your forearm into your hand. They’ll probably test each finger to see if you’ve lost any feeling. The doctor may focus on your wrist to see if the area is tender, swollen, warm, or discolored. They’ll also make sure your daily activities aren’t to blame. Then they’ll examine your hands, arms, shoulders, and neck to figure out if your pain results from another condition, like an injury or arthritis.

They’ll probably start with questions about your medical history. Your doctor may use a handful of tests to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome and rule out other causes of hand and wrist pain. How Do I Know if I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Ncv test painful