Question

During 2nd trimester, a pregnant 38 y/o F has numbness in both hands, particularly thumb, forefinger, middle finger bilaterally. Dorsal part of hand unaffected. Arms aches in morning from shoulders to hands. Diagnosis:

Answer 1

The diagnosis for the pregnant 38-year-old female experiencing numbness in her hands is likely carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition during pregnancy due to increased fluid retention leading to median nerve compression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient, a 38-year-old female in her second trimester of pregnancy, is experiencing numbness in the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger of both hands, with aching arms from shoulders to hands, particularly in the morning. The dorsal part of the hand is unaffected. Based on the symptoms described, which include numbness and tingling in the distribution of the median nerve and worsening symptoms in the morning, a likely diagnosis is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). During pregnancy, particularly in the second and third trimesters, women may experience swelling due to increased fluid retention, which can result in compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel of the wrist. This could lead to the symptoms of CTS as described. Often, treating CTS involves non-surgical methods such as wrist splinting, especially during pregnancy, with options for corticosteroid injections or surgery postpartum if symptoms persist.