Why is my pregnant wife experiencing pain in her right hand?

Question

Hello doctor,

My wife is pregnant and has completed eight months. My concern is that she is experiencing extreme pain in her right hand due to the pregnancy, and it has become quite swollen. During her routine visit a few days ago, the doctor advised her to avoid cold water and prescribed some medicines and ointment. However, there has not been much improvement. She continues to get hand massages from her mother, but the pain persists, and the swelling is still significant.

She has also started to feel some pain in her left hand, although it is not as severe as in the right one. The doctor suspected thyroid issues, but the tests confirmed everything is normal. At times, her right hand feels numb, as if the blood has frozen inside, similar to what happens in cold weather. Because of this, she experiences occasional tingling, and sometimes the palm area near the lines turns slightly red, although it is not always red.

Apart from this, both her health and the baby’s health are completely fine, except for the ongoing issues with her right hand.

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The symptoms you described for your wife, extreme pain, significant swelling, numbness, tingling, and occasional redness in her right hand, along with discomfort in the left hand, are commonly seen in pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This condition affects up to 60 percent of pregnant women, especially in the third trimester. The swelling during pregnancy increases pressure on the median nerve at the wrist, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and sometimes discoloration in the hand and fingers.

Key points about pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome:

It is caused by increased fluid retention during pregnancy, which compresses the median nerve.
Symptoms are often worse at night and can disturb sleep.
The pain and swelling in the dominant hand (usually the right) tend to be more severe.
Symptoms can include burning, aching, tingling, numbness, and sometimes weakness in the hand.
The redness of the palm near the lines can be related to increased blood flow or mild inflammation.
Thyroid issues can also cause similar symptoms, but since her thyroid tests are normal, CTS due to pregnancy-related fluid retention is the more likely cause.

Treatment and management typically involve:

Wearing a wrist splint or brace to keep the wrist neutral, especially while sleeping.
Gentle stretching and shaking of the hands to reduce pain and improve circulation.
Avoiding activities that strain the wrist.
Reducing salt intake to minimize swelling.
Hand therapy and exercises may help.
Medications are generally limited in pregnancy, but doctors may recommend safe anti-inflammatory options such as Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) or corticosteroid (steroid) injections if symptoms are severe.
Symptoms usually improve after delivery within a few weeks.

Since the swelling and pain are significant and not improving, her condition must be closely monitored by her healthcare provider. If symptoms worsen or do not improve after delivery, further evaluation or treatment may be necessary.

Your wife’s symptoms are strongly indicative of pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which is common and usually temporary but may need careful treatment to relieve discomfort and prevent nerve damage.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.